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CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.—Healdsburg, per Wm Thomsen $5, Mrs E G White $27, W C White $12.95, M C Israel $75, Vacaville, per W S Swayze $13, San Francisco, per E A Stockton $8.46, San Francisco, per Mrs Chittenden $20, R H Blackwood $3, Petaluma, per E A Chapman $5, San Francisco, per E Spath $15, San Francisco, per L N Whisby $26.70.
HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.—Grace Glenn $1.25, E Spath $10.
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ORDERS FORWARDED.
By Editor
BOOKS SENT BY FREIGHT.—Captain C Eldridge, Lizzie A Stone, S N Haskell, Mrs N H Drullard, Mrs P A Holly, W C Sisley, Dan T Jones, S Fulton, Mrs B C Saxby, Mrs C L Boyd, C Maynard, Mrs R Robbins.
BOOKS SENT BY EXPRESS.—Eld J O Corliss, Eld Wm Ings, George H Derrick.
BOOKS SENT BY MAIL.—Miss Effie Marshall, H C Blake, E T Sargent, Hiram Smith, L L Howard Jr, Ursla T Cushing, Mrs John Fulmer, Charles Lindenen, R E Barnes, Wm Klindt, Mrs W H Bone, Mrs Annie Wright, Mrs R H Hyzer, Mrs D W James, Charles Albrighton, Mrs Henry G Collins, W L Harper, Mrs J J Denworth, Mrs A L Layton, Mrs H Hughes, Mrs S T Williams, Mrs Margaret Coleman, Mrs S Symons, Miss M M Taylor, Miss Flora Morrell, Nora Wallace, Mrs David Ford, Mrs E A Hoffman, Dr Wm Banta, Isaac Miller, Mrs R E Sheckler, Miss Mary R Stem, J M Hartman, Horace Munn, George Wood, Mrs E A Turner, Mrs S Fales, Mrs Wm Davison, W C Wales, Mrs Mary McPhie, S W Chedel, G W Cody, George Vickery, O Darling, Abel Striplin, Mrs W B Goodfellow, J Judson, Mary R Stem, Josephine Newlon, A T Brown, John M King, Clara A Bell, S R Dilley, Mrs P F Pearson, Mrs Martha Bratton, Fred Haub, J B Brannen, Mrs P Phillips, G N Holcomb, S K Ross, Minnie Navy, Sadie F Prescott, Mrs P D Fisher, Mrs Josie Bacon, Berrien L Brooks, Mrs O H Herreman, David M Cooper, Mrs George F Nourse, Mrs H C Marks, Miss Daisy Nourse, W S Evans, Mrs Fred Jordon, Charles A Hall, Samuel C Weatherford, Eld N Orcutt, Mrs Edith M Dow, H M Pritle, John S Hinds, Mrs H D Fletcher, Miss Lou Sprague, Miss S G Cobb, Mrs Kate E Brooker, Frank Lamb, W N King, Mrs C R Robbins, Rev I P Hale, L H Church, Mrs A S Gobin, D C Babcock, Wm Stewart, Bettie C Saxby, Wm Hutchinson.
Sunshine at Home.
By Editor
WE have sold over nineteen hundred of this beautiful and instructive book. Agents will meet with a large sale of "Sunshine" between now and Christmas.
The work comprises 112 large quarto pages, and 170 engravings, and is printed on fine calendered paper, in the best style of the typographic art. It is handsomely and substantially bound in fine cloth, embossed in jet and gold, and is a handsome ornament to any center table and an adornment to any library.
ITS FIELD OF USEFULNESS.
The character of the work is well calculated to give it a wide circulation. Bright and sparkling, without being frivolous or trifling; moral in its tone, without being sombre or dogmatical; religious, without sectarianism,—it finds a ready sale in all classes of society, and exerts its beneficent influence wherever it goes. Agents are meeting with great success. It readily commends itself to all who see it, and once brought to the attention of a family, its possession is earnestly desired. It will make a beautiful holiday gift for any person, and we commend it to those who are looking for suitable presents for any season of the year. Retail price, $1.50.
Great Controversy, Vol. IV.
By Editor
ORDERS for this valuable work are being filled in the order in which they were received. 'First come first served.' The orders, so far, call for over seven thousand copies.
The Iowa Camp-Meeting.
By A. G. Daniells
This meeting was held at Marshalltown, Aug. 14-26. The camp-ground was situated about one-half mile from the heart of the city, which contains twelve thousand inhabitants. The pavilion, which was used for all the large services, stood on the highest point of ground in the camp, and there was a gradual slope from the tent in every direction. Great pains was taken to seat the pavilion so that it would be comfortable for the audience and creditable to us as a people. The speakers' stand was neatly and tastily decorated with blooming plants of various kinds tendered us by the citizens of the place. This added much to the appearance of the tent. Besides the large tent mentioned above, there were three 40-ft. tents on the ground. In one, regular services were held in the Scandinavian tongue; another was used for the book-stand; and the third was called the Dining Hall Tent. There were about 90 family tents pitched.
The meetings began Thursday night with a fair representation from the different parts of the State. Two meetings of the Conference were held Friday. The usual committees were appointed and everything was prepared to begin action in business matters the first of the next week.
Sister White reached the ground Thursday night and began laboring with her accustomed earnestness and devotion, at the early meeting Friday morning. Although worn from travel, she attended nearly all the meetings, and spoke often. I have attended many of her meetings under various circumstances, but her discourses never seemed so clear nor her words so powerful, as at this time. She bore a plain testimony to the people, and we know of some precious souls who were greatly benefited. Her presence and council in the ministers' meetings were just what we needed.
On the Sabbath we had solemn meetings. The sermons were impressive, and when an invitation was given for all the unconverted and backsliders, who wanted to give themselves to God, to come forward, a large number responded with but little urging. After the offering of a few fervent prayers, the camp was divided into smaller companies, and the good work was carried on until nearly the close of the Sabbath.
It began raining early Sunday morning and continued all day. This was a great disappointment especially to those who had the burden of the meeting. Nearly every family in Marshall County had been visited and made acquainted with the nature of our work, and at many had promised to attend on Sunday. For this reason all felt anxious that Sunday should be a good day. As soon as it was seen that we could not have a good attendance from the city and country, all efforts were directed to the good of our own people.
Sister White left Monday evening for the New York camp-meeting. We would have been glad if she could have remained until the close of our meeting, but we felt in our hearts that her visit was a good and timely one, and will be of great benefit to those who heed the instruction she gave.
Elder Butler reached the ground direct from the Texas camp-meeting, Wednesday morning. He found plenty to do, and took hold in his usual earnest and impressive manner.
It seemed as though the enemy was doing all in his power to hold the people and keep them from gaining the needed blessing, and on the Sabbath many fasted and prayed earnestly for the power of God to be manifested. Some were blessed. After Elder Butler's sermon in the afternoon, a large number came forward to seek God's blessing. This work was carried on until the close of the Sabbath. While nearly all felt that we did not receive the light and blessing we should, for our future good, we could not doubt but that some souls were plucked, as it were, like brands from the burning.
It began raining early Sunday morning, and continued until the middle of the following night. But few were out from the city. Hence both Sundays were nearly lost as far as outside work was concerned. Monday was the closing day. After a stirring sermon by Elder Farnsworth, on the subject of baptism, sixty precious souls were buried with their Lord by baptism. As most of the brethren had to leave during the night, the parting meeting was held at the close of the evening service. A few appropriate remarks were made by Elder Olsen on the duties of the minister, after which brother John Wilson was set apart by the laying on of hands, to the work of the ministry. This was a solemn scene. The Lord came near. A good social meeting followed this, and although it was nearing midnight, it was difficult for the ministers to close the meeting.
I hardly feel free to close this report without saying a word respecting the children's meetings. These were very interesting indeed. At 5 o'clock each evening, from fifty to seventy-five children and youth would assemble in the 40-ft. tent, and after a little instruction, they would enter into a very spirited social meeting. These children's meetings are very important and beneficial. I fear that we have not done as much at our camp-meetings for the precious little ones as we should. Many made a good start in these meetings, and were baptized.
It was thought best that the tent should remain in this city during the remainder of the summer. Some interest is manifested.
A. G. DANIELLS.
Healdsburg College.
By Alonzo T. Jones
BEING at Healdsburg, on business, October 6 and 7, I took occasion to visit the College and the Students' Home. At the college I found more than ninety pupils, ranging from childhood to middle age, earnestly engaged in their studies, guided by a corps of seven teachers, besides the principal, Professor Brownsberger. I visited every room and listened to the recitations, all of which were very interesting; but that which impressed me most was the deep interest taken by the teachers. It seemed to be their greatest care that every one in the class should thoroughly understand the lesson. If there was anything that any one did not see clearly, he would state it frankly, then the teacher would take it up and go over it again, and even again and again, enlarging, and illustrating until every part of the lesson was made perfectly plain to every one. And all done with the most cheerful kindness; no sign of impatience, nor censure. It is inconceivable that any one should go to school there without learning well and thoroughly everything that he studies.
At night I had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of the Students' Home. I do not say "boarding-house" for that would be a misnomer applied here. It was indeed a pleasure. Everything so tidy and in such perfect order; everything done with such cheerful alacrity; all tends to give that peaceful, pleasant, home influence which is really soothing and restful, and by which one feels that the blessing of God, and his angels abide there. Nearly fifty of the students dwell at the "home," and every one seemed to be entirely satisfied with the place and the surroundings. Indeed I cannot see how it could be otherwise. Every dwelling-room is nicely carpeted and nicely furnished, the table abundantly supplied with the very best of food, and that well cooked. In truth nothing short of a first-class hotel could equal the accommodations, and nothing short of a first-class home in every sense of the word could equal the influences of the Students' Home.
And I would say to Seventh-day Adventist parents on all the Pacific Coast, who have children to send to school, Don't fail to send them to Healdsburg College, and have them dwell at the Students' Home. Some will probably say, "The expense is so much more than at the public school at home." Admitting that the expense is somewhat more, it is absolutely true that the benefits are infinitely greater. So send them along. And to Seventh-day Adventists on the coast, who have not children to send, as well as all those who have, let not your hands be slack in furnishing means to the institution, that it may never lack in its splendid efficiency. He who will be a friend of the Healdsburg College is the friend of the Third Angel's Message. ALONZO T. JONES.
Missionary Work.
By Editor
A BROTHER handed us the following letter:—
"Dear Friend: I received your letter of the 10th inst. Was truly glad to hear from you. I must tell you that I never read any paper, nor anything except the word of God in which I took so much interest as I did in the papers you sent to me. I am more than happy to inform you that through the paper my eyes have been opened to the true Sabbath, which my son and I both keep, and have ever since we got the truth in the blessed SIGNS OF THE TIMES. May God bless you for your kindness."
"MRS. H."
CHAS. C. RAMSEY
By Charles C. Ramsey
Notice for District No. 1, Cal. T. and M. Society.
YOUR attention is called to the changes recently made by the State Society, in the boundaries of District No. 1, by which it is now made to include the counties of Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte. Having been chosen director of said district, I have appointed Miss Alice Morrison, of Healdsburg, Sonoma County, district secretary, to whom all orders for periodicals and publications, also librarians' reports should be addressed. It will be a great favor to us if this suggestion is strictly carried out. No librarian or individual within the limits of the district, should order from, or report to, the State secretary or Pacific Press, as, under the present system of keeping the various sets of books, this causes much confusion. The district depository is located at Healdsburg, and we shall keep constantly on hand a full supply of our publications.
Let the orders come in from all our churches, companies, and isolated individual workers. Gems of truth lying idle on our shelves are powerless for good. Those who are really devoted to the cause and work of God will not permit them thus to remain. Dear brethren and sisters, those of us who have enjoyed the blessings of our late camp-meeting, let us not forget the exhortations to greater zeal and faithfulness which we there heard; but let us read the resolutions passed at that meeting, carefully and prayerfully, and begin at once to carry them into practical effect. Do not delay one day, but commence now to do more for the dissemination of our glorious present truth. In what way can we better manifest our gratitude to God for his mercies and blessings to us?
We shall endeavor to supply all our workers with names and addresses, to which to mail our periodicals and publications, and with which to correspond with reference to the truth. Yet our efforts should not be confined to this alone, but we should labor judiciously to set the truth before our neighbors, relatives, and friends. Shall we not all redouble our diligence in the Master's work, that we may enjoy the fruit of our labors in the kingdom of God?
CHAS. C. RAMSEY
Distribution of Labor.
By Editor
THE decisions made at Conference are never considered final in regard to the distribution of labor, because there is so little time to consider all circumstances, and so many contingencies are likely to arise. The brethren in Nevada would have been pleased with the return of Elder Ballou to that State, but the state of his wife's health would not permit. Therefore it was decided that he should hold a tent-meeting in Modesto. But since that time it has been judged advisable for Elder Ballou to take his wife East, which he will do immediately, probably before the day of publication of this paper. After weighing the matter carefully, the Committee called Elder Healey to take the place of Elder Ballou in the meeting at Modesto. This will somewhat delay Elder Healey's labors in the Upper Columbia Conference.
Elder Corliss goes to Mendocino County, to open up the work on the coast, probably beginning at Mendocino City.
Elder McClure returned to his work in Arcata, Humboldt County, where he left a good interest when he came to the camp-meeting. About thirty had signed the covenant.
Elder Raymond has gone to Healdsburg College according to the decision of the Council held in East Portland.
Elder A. T. Jones remains in Oakland. He will hold meetings in San Francisco on Sabbaths and on Sunday evenings, spending his time mostly at the SIGNS office.
Elder Briggs returned to his work in Los Angeles County.
Elder Loughborough is visiting the churches on the bay, and will visit San Jose, Lemoore, and San Diego. He will then join Brother Briggs in a general meeting in the southern part of Los Angeles County, at or near Norwalk, where he will be joined by Elders Ings and Israel. Thence they will all come northward to hold other general meetings.
Elder Rice, who was elected Director of District No. 2, will work in his district, going first to assist Brethren Lamb and Church in Siskiyou County. When the general meetings have been held as far north as Tulare County, Elders Briggs and Rice will go to Nevada.
Elder Loughborough will probably then go to Humboldt County, and then north to his own Conference.
The licentiates and colporters will work where they can best aid in the large meetings, or in other places as the Committee may advise.
It has been decided to have regular Sunday evening services in the Oakland church, the district meetings being changed to the evening of the Sabbath. The interest in Oakland demands that there shall be preaching here weekly, besides the Sabbath meetings.
These are the arrangements, which, we think, will not be varied from greatly. Of course other places not here mentioned will be visited by some of the laborers when they have performed the labor here indicated. And we ask all the churches to pray for the workers and for the success of their work; also that the Lord of the harvest will send forth yet more laborers, for the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.
THE ATONEMENT:
By Ellet Joseph 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 it final results as affecting the destiny of the human race.
368 pp.; cloth, $1.00.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
The Doctors Puzzled.
By Editor
A NEW phase of religio-scientific nonsense has developed in the South. Doctor Woodrow, Professor of Natural Science and Theology in the Theological Seminary at Columbia, South Carolina, has adopted a compromise between Darwinism and the Bible account of creation. His idea, as advanced in an address to his class, is that woman may have been specially created, but that man was evolved from a lower order of beings. Nothing is more common than for men to invent vagaries in science and religion, and this mongrel idea would not be noticed here if it were not for the action of the trustees of the seminary. A resolution enjoining the Doctor to cease teaching such theories in the seminary was voted down, and the Board, by a vote of eight to three, adopted the following resolution:—
"That in the judgment of this Board the relations subsisting between the teachings of Scripture and the teachings of natural science are plainly, correctly, and satisfactorily set forth in said address; that the Board is not prepared to concur in the views expressed by Dr. Woodrow as to the probable method of the creation of Adam's body, yet in the judgment of the Board there is nothing in the doctrine of evolution, as defined and limited by him, which appears inconsistent with perfect soundness in the faith."
The minority entered their protest, and the subject is to be carried before the four synods controlling the seminary, viz., those of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
The matter has an amusing and a serious side. It is amusing to see grave Doctors of Divinity so easily thrown off their balance by a theory absurd enough to entitle its inventor to be called a "crank;" and it is a matter of serious regret that men set not only for the defense of the gospel but to unfold Bible truth to those who shall themselves become teachers, have such a superstitious fear of going contrary to "Science," that in order to accept some fantasy to which that name has been tacked, they will throw the Bible away. And this also is a sign of the times.
That First-day Sabbath.
By Editor
ABOUT what time may we expect that decision of the college faculty in regard to the Greek of Matt. 28:1? Some time has elapsed since the correspondent of the California Christian Advocate announced his intention to submit it to the faculty of a college for decision. If the professors are capable of filling their position with honor to themselves and profit to their students, they can render a decision without any delay. As we said, we have the decision of an Eastern college on hand, ready to publish when we receive that of the Pacific Coast. Must we wait long? And, by the way, the editor of the Advocate has maintained a "dignified silence" as to the merits of its correspondent's position. Perhaps he stands on this case as he did on Armstrong's argument: It may be of no particular interest to him whether his correspondent is right or wrong!
Address of Elder Wm. Ings
By Editor
UNTIL further notice, the address of Elder Wm. Ings will be Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
Delay of the Iowa Camp-Meeting Report
By Editor
The delay in the report of the Iowa camp-meeting, which appears on page 623, is not the fault of the writer. It was sent in good season, and should have appeared two weeks ago, but it was unfortunately mislaid.
We lately received a request to give an exposition of this text. We do not know how we could better comply with the request than to republish an exposition which we wrote several years ago. The first part of the article appears in this number.
Honor Due to God.
By Editor
THE first edition of this pamphlet is exhausted. Last week we were not able to fill all the orders. But with good electrotyped plates it is impossible that orders should be much delayed. Let them come in; we are now ready to fill them to any extent.
There are several Conferences with a membership large enough to each exhaust an edition of 2,500 of this little work, and they would do it, too, if they studied their own interest, financially and spiritually.
An Important Article.
By Editor
OUR late camp-meeting in Oakland, with the liberal notices which it received from the Oakland and San Francisco papers, created such an interest in the Seventh-day Adventists and their work that the Farmer and Dealer, a monthly paper with a large circulation through all the coast country, published a descriptive article of us and of our work, occupying more than a page of the same size as that of an ordinary newspaper. This will go far toward bringing our work directly to the notice of many who knew little or nothing of us before.
An interesting fact in this connection: The manager of the Farmer and Dealer was present at our first camp-meeting in Wright, Mich., in 1868, and now at the late one in Oakland. The progress shown in this work since the first camp-meeting doubtless had much to do with the publication of so long an article concerning this people and their faith and work.
Consistency.
By Editor
A POLITICAL paper recently made loud lamentations over the confiscation or destruction of so much valuable property invested in the liquor business in Iowa. In the same number of that paper was an account of a man who returned to his home in a drunken condition, where he found that his neglected and abused wife had been delivered of a dead child. Seizing the child, he beat the helpless mother to death with it! Oh, yes; by all means license the liquor traffic. Defend it by law; it is a "legitimate business" in its way—and its way is to make maniacs and murderers; to abuse the suffering and the helpless; to fill jails; to support criminal lawyers; to make tax-payers bear the load of criminal trials, to increase the necessity for insane asylums and State prisons. License it, and defy the word of God, which has pronounced a curse upon him that putteth the bottle to his neighbor's lips. Can a man have the welfare of society at heart, and say a word in favor of the liquor traffic?