—Small-pox is raging in New York. Several hundred cases have been reported in the last two months. It has now assumed the form of black small-pox.
—The new Atlantic cable running from Rye Beach, N. H., to Ballinskellings Bay, Ireland, is now complete. The laying of the cable commenced the 10th of May, 1874. The cable connects with first class lines in both countries.
—The Khedive of Egypt is turning his African conquests to good account. He is building a railroad along the valley of the Nile, and has been transporting wire and posts for the construction of telegraphic lines.
—There are 348 theaters in Italy, 337 in France, 191 in Germany, 168 in Spain, 152 in Austria, 150 in England, 44 in Russia, 34 in Belgium, 22 in Holland, 20 in Switzerland, 16 in Portugal, 10 in Sweden, 10 in Denmark, 8 in Norway, 4 in Greece, 4 in Turkey, 3 in Egypt and 1 in Syria, making in all 1,522 theaters.
—Several instances of quick telegraphing have been brought under our notice of late, but the following shows the perfection to which the cable telegraph service has been brought: A message was sent from New York to London, and in thirty minutes, actual time, the answer was received in New York. Another dispatch was sent to London, to which a reply was received in thirty-five minutes, actual time. In neither of these instances was any special effort made to hurry the answers, but the party addressed sent the reply to the London office by the messenger delivering the original message.
LONDON, June 9.—The Times reports that several Russian men-of-war at Odessa have been ordered to proceed to Greece, and three others are expected at Greek ports from the Baltic.
BERLIN, June 12.—The circulation of the Catholic Gazette, published in Baltimore, America, has been prohibited in Germany.
SANTANDER, June 10.—The authorities of this city to-day seized a lot of Protestant books imported from the United States for its American mission in Spain.
LONDON, June 10.—The pope in reply to an address presented to him on the 1st inst. from the students of colleges in America, thanking him for the elevation of Archbishop McCloskey to the Cardinate, says "the harvest in America is ripe and laborers alone are wanting. You are preparing yourselves for that work; preach, especially by example, in order to convert that great nation."
HAVANA, June 11.—News has been received here, by way of St. Thomas, of a terrible earthquake in New Granada. The destruction was greatest in the valley of Cuena on the Venezuela frontier. It is reported that 16,000 lives were lost.
REFORMS IN JAPAN.—Budhism seems to be on the decline. Early in 1873 religious persecution was stopped, and the edict against Christians was suppressed throughout the empire. From June 22 of the same year, Budhist priests and priestessess were allowed to marry, but were at the same time deprived of the sallaries formerly paid by the State, and were left to be supported upon the American voluntary system. Now there is a movement on foot to do away with the Department of Religion altogether, and to use its funds for educational purposes. The Conservatives who object to this, say that it would throw the entire nation into the arms of Christianity.
An Appeal to Mothers.
MUCH has been said to mothers on the education of children, and much which ought to be imprinted on the heart, as with the point of a diamond. But there is one part of the lesson, which if noticed at all, has been superficially glanced over, as tangible only to the physician and anatomist; I mean the physical education of children; I mean the mechanism, in all its bearings and uses, and the best helps to keep its ten thousand strings in harmonious tune.
The untiring assiduity with which the mother watches over the tender infant, is a strong indication that nature has peculiarly adapted her for an office, which no one can so effectually fill. Yet thousands have withered in the mother's arms; and generations have gone down to the dust, not by neglect but through profound ignorance of the simplest and plainest laws of our nature; simplest, because it does not require the ingenuity to trace nature in her untrammeled windings, as it does to devise the artificial helps, which serve only to retard her healthy progress, and pervert all her rational laws.
When the watchful mother sees the high flushed cheek, and feels the accelerated pulse, what does she do? She immediately sets about devising specifics; and when this and that fails, she applies to her physician, without scarcely thinking of inquiring the cause, which requires not half the skill to trace, as to seek out effectual remedies. Disease does not come by miracle. Look at the vegetable kingdom. Does the shooting tree ever wither in its first putting out, without some blighting frost—some scorching fire—some worm at the root—or some knife of the mischievous truant is applied? No; it blooms on beneath the genial sun, and distilling dews, till matured into the wide-spreading tree, lodging the fowls of the air, giving shade to the way-worn traveler, and braving the tempests of years, and sometimes centuries. So in the animal kingdom. The lamb frolics in the meadows; the birds sing and hop among the branches; and do they feel pain? No, unless tamed and domesticated by man, they are free as the air they inhale, and their blood is as pure as the water they love.
And should you, mothers, love to see your little ones sporting about you in the sunshine of health? should you love to see their beaming eyes kissing the first dawning of light, with the happy lark? should you delight to see their expanding minds, drinking copious draughts at the perennial fount of knowledge, with untiring zeal? You may have it so, if you will; only learn that "nature's wants are few." And do you ask what they are? They are the pure breezes of heaven; the limpid waters that emanate from ten thousand hills, the nectarine milk from the lowing herds; the blushing orchards, and the whitening harvests of grain, to provide bread to "strengthen man's heart." These are the rich bounties of Heaven, scattered with a liberal hand, wherever the industry of man has been applied, and they bring no alloy.
But does the mother ask, "How am I to secure all these blessings of health to my children unless I am a physician?" Then be a physician. This is no difficult task. A few simple lessons are to be learned and the work is done; and these lessons are almost, if not entirely inherent in our natures.
When the infant is put into the mother's hands, what does the Master say? "Take this child and bring it up for me. It is the chief of all my work. I have fenced it about with bones and sinews." I have clothed it with flesh. I have placed sentinels at every dangerous post. I have provided food convenient for it, and to you I commit this charge. See that you mar not my handiwork.”
Now, what is the mother to do? If she be a judicious one, or one of common observation, she knows that milk is the wholesome nourishment provided for all its wants; she knows that this alone will give proper strength, and facilitate its growth; she knows that the body must be washed in pure water; that it must have quiet sleep, and be kept free from ligatures, so that its breathing may be free, and its growth natural. Now, as I am speaking of the judicious mother, let me ask what more does her infant want in the first months of its existence? Does the regular-moving machinery need any tonics, any decoctions of tea, coffee or warm toddy, to accelerate its motions? Does the healthy throbbing of its little heart need any urging forward, or its tender brain want steeping in any of these fumes? Let common sense answer. Let the aborigines of any country answer, who have followed nature in all its bearings. Then, as this is all the needed medicine, can you not be the physician?
State Quarterly Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
We hope to see all the directors at the State Quarterly Meeting, at Oakland, July 3 and 4, and would be glad to see also all the district secretaries, as important T. and M. business is to come up; but in case the district secretaries cannot attend, let the directors bring the secretaries' books. The directors can bring the S. B. funds from the churches in their respective districts to the State Conf. Treasurer, as he will be at the meeting, and thus they can save expressage on the money.
We shall expect the directors to come prepared to close up all credit accounts on periodicals, whether with SIGNS or Review Office, to the date of the meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. Cal. T. and M. Society.
Toledo, Ohio.
By John Norton Loughborough
Subscribers to the Signs of the Times in Toledo, Ohio, are requested to report to A. Gleason, 43 Summit St., Room 21, whether they wish their papers continued or stopped. J. N. L.
St. Helena.
By John Norton Loughborough
My meeting at St. Helena, Monday evening, June 14, on my way home from Lake County, was well attended. The house was filled with attentive listeners. I was glad to learn that the cause is still onward there. Another one has taken her stand with them since I last met with them, and still others are becoming interested by reading and attending the social meetings of the church. They report also an increase in the spirituality and interest of the church. This is cheering. We felt that God watered our own heart while speaking words of courage to them. J. N. L.
Waitsburg, Wash. Terr.
By John Norton Loughborough
By a private letter just received from Bro. Van Horn, we learn that the meeting at Waitsburg is not without its good fruits. Twenty-five voted in favor of the truth, and not one stood up for the Sunday institution. The meetings still continue there. J. N. L.
Interest in San Leandro
Bro. C. A. Cary writes from San Leandro, Alameda Co., Cal., where he has been holding meetings for two weeks, that there is some interest manifested to hear, and that four have commenced to keep the Sabbath.
Remarkable Iowa Camp-Meeting
By Editor
The recent Camp-meeting in Iowa was one of the most remarkable ever held in the State. The Spirit of God was in the meetings, and moved upon the hearts of old and young. Thirty offered themselves candidates for baptism. This is a good opening for the camp-meeting season. We hope that it is only a foretaste of what may be seen at the other meetings. Bro. White promises a full report of the meeting for the next Signs.
California Weather
CALIFORNIA weather seems to be terribly confused. For three days we have had heavy showers with no indications of a change. Much damage to the hay is the result. Snow flakes were noticed in the streets of San Francisco last Sunday.
Flowers Before Fruit
Nature gives us volumes of fruit, which she always prefaces with flowers.
Hold the Fort.
1. Ho! my comrades, see the signal Waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, Victory is nigh! "Hold the fort for I am coming," Jesus signals still, Wave the answer back to heaven,--"By thy grace we will."
2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on; Mighty men around us falling, Courage almost gone: "Hold, etc."
3. See the glorious banner waving, Hear the bugle blow; In our Leader's name we'll triumph, Over every foe. "Hold, etc."
4. Fierce and long the battle rages, But our Help is near; Onward comes our Great Commander, Cheer, my comrades, cheer! "Hold, etc."
A Converted Man’s Full Proportion
A GENTLEMAN of wealth who had been much addicted to frolics and sports, was converted, and became a member of one of our congregations. This congregation had adopted the ad valorem principle, as a means of defraying its expenses. In a few months, after this gentleman's conversion, the deacons waited on him in order to make their assessments; knowing that he was rich, and that his proportion of the expenses would amount to a pretty handsome sum, they feared that he would not be willing to bear it, and their demands might give him serious offense, and prove an injury to him. Hence they approached their business with some trepidation and great caution. At first he was at loss to ascertain the reasons of their apparent diffidence. The deacons perceiving this, became, of course, more explicit. The gentleman was surprised.
"What on earth," said he, "do you mean? Did you suppose that I would be unwilling to pay my full proportion? When I was a man of the world, and united with others in a scheme of pleasure, I would have deemed myself a mean man had I not paid my full proportion of the expense. Go to the assessor's book, and put me down for my full proportion of the expenses of the church. Do you think that I intend to be a meaner man now, since I have become a servant of God, than I was when a servant of the devil?"
Appointments.
By John Norton Loughborough
WOODLAND.—At the quarterly meeting with the Woodland church, June 19 and 20.
STOCKTON.—Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, June 22 and 23.
SAN FRANCISCO.—Sabbath, June 26, at 11 A. M., and First-day evening, the 27th. First-day, at 10 A. M., will meet the church, where the President and Secretary of the Society shall arrange, to take into consideration the size, plan, and erection of the house of worship for the Seventh-day Adventists of San Francisco.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
I. D. VAN HORN
By Isaac David Van Horn
The next quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists of the Walla Walla Valley and vicinity, will be held at Walla Walla City, on Sabbath and first-day, July 3 and 4. Friends from Pendleton, Weston, Milton, Dayton, and Mill Creek, are especially invited to attend. The house of worship will be dedicated at this meeting. We shall hope to organize a Tract and Missionary Society, and it is hoped that all will be prepared to pay their S. B. pledges as far as possible. Come brethren and sisters all make preparations to be at the meeting.
I. D. VAN HORN
Quarterly Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
The Quarterly Meetings for the third quarter will be held as follows:—
The State Quarterly Meeting will be held at Oakland, Cal., July 3 and 4.
District Quarterly Meetings will be held in District No. 1, at Bloomfield, June 19 and 20. District No. 2, at Healdsburg, June 19 and 20. District No. 3, at St. Helena, June 19 and 20. District No. 4, at Vallejo, June 19 and 20. District No. 5, at Woodland, June 19 and 20. District No. 7, in connection with the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, July 3 and 4. District No. 8, at San Jose, June 19 and 20. District No. 9, at San Francisco, June 19 and 20.
We will try to furnish ministerial labor for the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, and at the San Jose meeting, at Woodland, and at Vallejo. The other Quarterly Meetings will be presided over by the directors of the respective districts, except No. 3, which, as the director is absent, will be presided over by the Vice President of the Cal. T. and M. Society.
The blanks should be passed out by the church librarians June 5, and then filled out and returned to the librarians June 12, so as to give the librarians ample time to make up their reports for their district Quarterly Meeting. The report of each church should be sent, or carried, to the district secretary at the Quarterly Meeting, so that the district secretary can make a report of the workings of the district for the quarter.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres. Cal. State T. and M. Society.
Business Department.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2 EACH. A Howard 2-1, Geo. Maggs 2-1, W H Hall 2-32,
$1 EACH. Emma L Merry 1-25, Susan B Watrous 1-25 Thos. Barry 2-7, M Husted 2-30, Julia E Titns 2-7, Mrs Robt. Lang 2-5, F M Lamb 3-7 J S Woolsey 2-7, Mary Lamb 2-7, R Cobb 2-7, J W Cronkrite 1-25, Miss Lillie Button 2-8.
MISCELLANEOUS. Henry Munger 30c, L B Tremper 50c 2-7 Ellen Sanders 20c, P Commary 50c 2-13, Thos Andrews 24c, W N Harris 10c.
California Publishing Fund.
J W Cronkrite $25, W A Pratt $220, E J Church $60, J H Hall $100, Lucie Bush $70.
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, etc., etc.
By Editor
For Sale at this Office.
OUR BOOK LIST.—Any persons on the Pacific Coast wishing any of the publications named in our book list can obtain them by mail or express by writing to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, California, enclosing the published price of the same. When sent by mail, books will be post paid; when by express, at the expense of the one ordering the books; but in this case a liberal discount will be made when ten dollars worth or more are paid for with any one order.
PUBLICATIONS.
Cruden's Complete Concordance. In this any passage in the Scriptures can readily be found. $1.50 per copy, post. paid.
Bible Dictionary of Bible names, customs and countries, and maps of Bible lands. $1.50 per copy, post. paid.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week, by J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1.25.
Thoughts on Daniel. By U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. By U. Smith. $1.00.
Life of Wm. Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. By U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.
The Constitutional Amendment : or The Sunday, the Sabbath, The Change, and The Restitution. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the "Christian Statesman." Bound, $1.00. Paper, 40 cts. First part, 10 cts.
The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. By Ellen G. White; 416 pp. $1.00.
Autobiography of Eld. Jos. Bates. 318 pp. $1.
Hygienic Family Physician. $1.00.
The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In board, 50 cts.; in paper, 30 cts.
Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Camp Meetings and other Religious Gatherings. Compiled by Elder James White. 196 pp. Bound 50 cts. Paper 25.
The United States in Prophecy. By U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 20 cts.
The Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts. Gilt, 40 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. By J. N. Andrews, 25 cts.
Facts for the Times, revised and enlarged, 25c.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul, By D. M. Canright, 25 cts.
The State of the Dead. By U. Smith. 224 pp. 25 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary and Saving Faith. 20 cts.
Refutation of the Age to Come. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Atonement. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Bible from Heaven; a Dissertation. 20 cts.
Miraculous Powers. Evidences, Scriptural and historical of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts. 20c.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Ministration of Angels : and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. By D. M. Canright. 20 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Redemption, or the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness (Life of Christ, No. 2). By Mrs E. G. White. 15 cts.
The Saint's Inheritance, or the Earth made New. By J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Truth Found; The Sabbath. By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts.
Brown's Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the True Sabbath. Morton 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Seven Trumpets of Rev. 8 and 9. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. By James White. 10c.
Position and Work of the True People of God under the Third Angel's Message. Littlejohn. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel : What it is, and when it will be consummated. By J. N. Loughborough, 80 pp. 10 cts.
An Appeal to the Baptists, from the Seventh-day Baptists, for the restoration of the Bible Sabbath 10 cts.
Four-cent Tracts : The Second Advent.—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—The Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ.
Three-cent Tracts : Much in Little—The Lost Time Question—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture References—Who Changed the Sabbath?
Two-cent Tracts : Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Sabbath by Elihu—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Argument on Sabbaton—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists.
One-cent Tracts : Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Sign of the Day of God—The Two Laws—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day, and God's Answers.
** Address, Signs of the Times. OAKLAND, CAL.
Lists and Credits.
By John Norton Loughborough
It is no small job to get up a list of subscribers to a newspaper, and in any Office mistakes are liable to occur, especially if different clerks have to do with the account. It is our desire to do our business acurately, and with our present competent Secretary, we shall be enabled, we think, to give satisfaction to all.
Whatever mistakes have occured we shall be most happy to correct. We are now engaged in getting up printed lists of our subscribers in all the States. These lists will be used with our new machine in mailing papers. Let all examine the paster on their paper, and if there is any mistake in your credits please notify. We wish to have our printed lists right. If any of your names are spelled wrong, write and all these things shall be corrected.