The sixth annual session of this society was held on the camp-ground near Salem, Oregon, June 15, at 2:30 P. M. Eld. C. L. Boyd was called to the chair. Prayer by Eld. E. W. Barnes. Minutes of last meeting were read and approved. Committees were appointed as follows: On Nominations, W. L. Raymond, R. D. Benham, and J. Donaldson; On Resolutions: J. H. Waggoner, O. Dickenson, and J. E. Wilson.
SECOND MEETING, JUNE 16, 4 P. M.
The Committee on Nominations reported for President, Eld. C. L. Boyd; Vice-President, O. Dickenson; Secretary, Sister C. L. Boyd; Director, of Dist. No. 1, W. G. Meyers; No. 2, T. H. Starbuck. The persons were elected separately.
THIRD MEETING, JUNE 18, 5 P. M.
The Committee on Nominations reported the name of J. C. Hall, for Director of Dist. No. 3, who was elected, after which the Secretary read the following report of the financial condition of the Society:—
ASSETS
Due from districts...............................$183.75
“ “ individuals........................... 34.25
“ “ N. P. Conference...................... 9.57
Books, Tracts, etc., on hand .................... 178.98
Cash on hand .................................... 10.11—$416.66
LIABILITIES
Due to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES ................. 194.50
“ “ Review and Herald ....................... 39.16—$233.66
Present standing of Society ..................... 183.00
CASH STATEMENT
On hand July 1, 1881............................. 10.70
Received from districts ......................... 231.93
“ on Reserve Fund............................ 132.40
“ “ Sales...................................... 130.93—$495.26
$505.96
CASH PAID OUT
To SIGNS OF THE TIMES ........................... 382.00
“ Review and Herald.............................. 105.25
“ Individuals ................................... 8.60— 495.85
Cash on hand..................................... 10.11
A subscription of $262.60 was made on the Reserve Fund.
FOURTH MEETING, JUNE 19, 10 A. M.
Remarks upon the general work were made by Eld. Waggoner and others, and the session adjourned.
W. L. RAYMOND, Sec.
Help from the Lord.
By Methodist Recorder
"My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." So said the Psalmist, and so may every Christian say. This is sufficient. Some men, with their telescopes, put God far from them; but the Psalmist, with the eye of faith, brings him near. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help." Philosophies and systems, speculations and theories but too often hide our Father's face; while simple faith—the uplifted look of the soul—puts our hand in his, and brings the promised help. Are you afflicted or bereaved? Have you been tempted to doubt your Father's care? Do not fear. Amid all the worlds his hand upholds, you shall not be forgotten. His love is as great as his power. Trust in him, and help will come in time of need.—Methodist Recorder.
Temperance.
By Editor
Good and Bad Wine.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Sunday-school Times writes as follows:—
"A question has arisen here, and is helping to keep some from signing the temperance pledge; 'tis this: Did Jesus make fermented or intoxicating wine at the marriage feast in Cana? Also, were there any wines in use at that day that were not intoxicating? Please give us your judgment and authority on the subject."
To all of which that excellent paper answers in the following judicious manner:—
"To be frank with our correspondent, we have no positive information about that miracle, outside of the Bible text. The text says that that wine was made of water, and that it was drawn off from the stone pots as soon as it was poured into them. Not much time for fermentation there. If any man wants to limit his abstinence pledges to the fair bounds of that miracle, he can safely pledge himself against all liquors—except wine that is made exclusively of water which has not been allowed to stand over night. Why wouldn't that be a good compromise for our Indiana friends? Whether there were any wines in that day—not made exclusively of water—which were non-intoxicating, is a much-disputed point. For our part, we see no special importance in the controversy, whichever way it were settled. One thing is very sure; there were wines in that day which were intoxicating, and Jesus never commanded his disciples to drink them. He even commended John the Baptist—who was an out and out total abstinence man—as the greatest man of all time up to that day. There are wines at the present day which are intoxicating; and we do not know of a single commandment in the Bible, or of any fair inference from the Bible, which forbids our letting them wholly and absolutely alone. In the absence of any positive commandment to drink wine, we think that all such wines—all intoxicating drinks whatsoever—ought to be let alone. But if one of our Indiana friends feels bound by the example of the miracle at Cana of Galilee, why, then, let him follow it to the letter. Let him set six water-pots of stone, containing two or three firkins apiece; fill them with water up to the brim; then draw off and drink to the last drop. Having done this, he would certainly be inclined to swear off from farther drinking. And this would be a great deal more sensible than his refusal to sign a pledge before doing this."
Alcohol and Mortality in New York
ONE of New York's most famous physicians, Dr. Willard Parker, makes the astounding statement that one-third of the deaths in New York City are the result, directly or indirectly, of the use of alcohol, and that in the last thirty-eight years 190,000 persons have died of its use in the city.—Life-boat.
"I Want To be Gooder."
By George F. Pentecost
It was at the close of a preaching service in connection with a series of gospel meetings in a manufacturing town in New England. The meetings were held in a large hall, and the custom with us was to dismiss the congregation, and ask all those to remain who were interested in the matter of their salvation. Probably one hundred persons remained to be spoken to and conversed with by Christians who had tarried for that purpose. By half past ten most of the inquirers and Christian workers had left. I had been engaged all the evening with a most obstinate unbeliever, anxious for his salvation, but full of difficulties and excuses, which were not reasons for not accepting Christ. I had finally to leave him that night. He was so utterly wedded to his "own ideas" that there was no opportunity left in his mind to hear or consider God's thoughts, which are not our thoughts.
Somewhat disappointed and sorrowful that I had been able to win no soul to Christ that night, I turned to get my coat and hat, to go to my lodgings. As I walked toward the platform, where my wrappings were, I noticed seated alone on one of the benches, what seemed to be a little boy. As I passed him, I thought to myself: Why is that boy sitting there alone and at this late hour? So I went back to him, and sat down by his side. On this closer inspection I found him a lad of perhaps fifteen years. He was very dirty, face and hands grimmed with factory grease; hair uncombed; mouth defiled with tobacco, which made its appearance in juicy coloring about the lips, and amber drops lingering in the corners of his mouth. Meantime, he was chewing his "quid" vigorously. He was small of his age, being one of the stunted factory children often seen in New England towns, having been put in the mill almost before he was old enough to leave his mother's side. After this survey of him, I put my arms kindly about his shoulders and said: "Well, my boy, what are you waiting here for?"
The reply was the laconic "I dunno."
"What made you come in for at all?"
"I just wanted to see what was going on and to hear the singing."
"Well, why do you stay longer, now that nearly everybody has gone?"
"I dunno. 'Cause I don't feel good."
"Do you want to be a Christian?"
"I d'no. I dunno what that is."
"Why it is to be saved from your sins and become God's child. Would you not like to be God's child? That is to be a Christian."
"I'd like to be gooder. That's what I like to be."
"Well, my boy, that is what Jesus will do for you if you will take him for your Saviour. He will not only make you "gooder," but he will forgive all your sins and give you a new heart."
"I dunno what you mean by that."
And therein he was like Nicodemus. Indeed, he was a young Nicodemus come to Jesus by night. He knew that he wanted to be "gooder," but he did not know how he was made so. In fact, under the preaching and singing of the gospel, that poor, ignorant boy had been made to feel his sin, his moral short-coming and spiritual need. I talked with him a little while about and of Jesus, and how he had come into the world to save sinners; how he had died for us; and that God had raised him up from the dead; and that he was now in Heaven, looking down upon him then and loving him; and that the Holy Spirit was now opening his blind eyes, to see his sin and need, and so prepare him to give himself to Christ. A good deal of this he did not seem to understand, especially how Jesus could be "away up in Heaven," and yet know anything about him; and particularly he did not know how he was to give himself to Christ. Nevertheless, I went on preaching or talking Jesus to him, trusting the present Holy Spirit, who had awakened him and detained him in the inquiry-room, to enable him to "understand these things" which are dark not only to ignorant factory-boys, but are alike incomprehensible to the natural man when grown to years, and "wise and prudent" in the knowledge and wisdom of the world. Finally, as thousands older and younger have done before him, he asked:-- "What must I do to be saved?"
I at once replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." But this he did not understand. I tried to explain to him the nature of faith in relation to Jesus Christ; but was unsuccessful, for at length he said:-- "I don't know what you mean by believing on Jesus Christ."
Apparently dropping the subject, I turned to him abruptly, and said:-- "Where do you work?"
He looked up, evidently greatly surprised at this sudden turn in the conversation, and told me that he worked in a certain factory, naming it.
"What do you do in it?"
"I works in the picking-room."
"Is it a good job?"
"No, sir; 'tain't! Its long hours and poor pay."
"How long do you work?"
"Oh! different. Sometimes ten hours and sometimes fourteen, according to the way the mill runs."
"And what pay do you get?"
"Only but fifty cents a day."
"Well," said I, "now, Johnny, suppose Mr. So-and-so," naming the manager of a large mill in another part of the town, "should come to you, and say: 'Johnny, I want a boy to work for me in my mill, and I will tell you what I want him to do. I want him to work four hours a day in the mill with two of my own boys, that I am bringing up to know the business. Then I want him to go to school a half-day. I will give him a dollar a day, and he shall eat at my table and live in my house with my boys; and, indeed, I will be a kind father to him and take good care of him.'" The little fellow listened intently to this imaginary proposition, with an amused smile of incredulity upon his face; but when I had finished, and asked him "Johnny, if such an offer was made to you, would you accept it?" with a smile that spread all over his face, and even up out of the grime and dirt, and far quicker than I can record it, he answered:-- "You bet I would! And mighty quick!"
"But, Johnny, what would you do with the old job?"
"I'd throw it up higher'n a kite."
"And then what would you do?"
"Why, of course, I go to work for the new boss. But, say, Mister, you are 'chaffing me' now." With something of a sorrowful look upon his face, as the momentary vision of a better job, which I had conjured up, faded away from his imagination.
I saw the cloud move over the smile that a moment before had been upon his face, and, with a great throb of pity and love in my heart for the boy, I said to him:-- "No, Johnny, I am not chaffing you. You are working for a hard master now, and are having long hours and poor pay. Every one who is living in sin is serving the devil, and the only pay you will get by and by is death. But, my boy, God loves you, and he has sent Jesus into the world to tell you so and to offer to make you his child, put you to work for him, and finally take you to Heaven. Now, Johnny, will you accept this new situation and become God's child? That is what I mean by believing on Jesus Christ and accepting him. Will you take him for your Saviour and new Master?"
Once more the smile came back into his face, and, with straightforward, honest love in his eye, he said:-- "Is that it? Then I'll take Jesus Christ for my Saviour."
"But, Johnny," said I, "what will you do with the old job of sin?"
Still another ray of light came into his face, and, with compressed lips and firm and determined voice, he said, evidently remembering his other answer: "I throw it up."
"That's it, my dear boy. That is what it is to become a Christian. It is to take Jesus for your Saviour, who forgives all your sin, and for your new Master, and God for your father in Heaven, and throw up the old job of sin. And now will you kneel down here with me, and tell Jesus that you have taken him in your heart, to be your Saviour and Master?"
"Yes, sir." And, with that, he fell upon his knees beside me, and, after I had offered a prayer of thanksgiving, and for the Lord to keep him and make him steadfast, I asked him to pray, which he did, substantially in these words: "Lord Jesus, I take you for my Saviour, and I throw up sin. Help me to be gooder than I am and to serve you right." I said the "Amen."
I introduced him to one of the pastors, who had been waiting for me the half hour I had been with my little inquirer, and told him how he had thrown up his old job and asked him to look after him.
I was in that city months afterward, and asked the pastor after "Johnny," and he told me he was walking uprightly. Amongst other things, he had "thrown up his tobacco."
"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thought, and let him return unto the Lord, who will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, who will abundantly pardon." -- Rev. George F. Pentecost, in Independent.
The Baby's Autograph.
THEY gave it to me at Christmas—the pretty new autograph album—and I was proud of it; the binding was so gay, and the white, gilt-edged sheet so spotlessly pure. I could hardly make up my mind who should have the honor of dedicating that album, or what verse was grand enough to be inscribed on its pages; and before I had quite decided, baby found it. She had toddled into the parlor, and taken it down from the table before I had missed her, and was sitting cross-legged, like a Turk, with the precious book in her lap. That would not have been worth recording, and I should not have valued my album beyond all price now if it were all. But she had a pencil—for she dearly loved to scribble on bits of paper—and she had made her mark on the front leaf, the title page of my beautiful book. She had made a dozen marks, criss-cross and zig-zag; and there she sat, her bright hair tossed down over her face, her little demure mouth pursed up, her blue eyes full of mischief, half shy, half defiant, and we three women looked at her.
“Oh, you naughty, naughty baby!” I cried; “you’ve just ruined my new album, you bad little thing.”
“Bless her dear little heart,” said my mother; “doesn’t she make a picture?”
“Whip her!” cried aunt Harriet, in a vindictive tone. She has no children of her own, and knows just how to bring up other people’s.
I was angry enough to do it, and had made one step forward, intending to wrest the book out of the clasping baby hands, and then—what, beat my own child? I was saved that degradation by my own good mother, who shook her head at me over Aunt Harriet’s shoulder.
How long is it since Christmas? Counting by heart-throbs, I would say years! years! It is only a couple of months, and to-day I would give, oh! what would I not give to have those little hands doing their sweet mischief. Peace, foolish heart! “He giveth his beloved rest.” The baby is gone, but when I look at the little short lines311that dedicate my album—the sweetest, saddest lines to me that were ever written—soon ended like her little life—I am glad that I took her in my arms, kissed her rosebud lips, and put the book away without one reproving word—glad that I caused no angry feelings in that baby heart, or left memories for myself that would now have power to wound.
That is why all the leaves of my new album are blank—pure, spotless, just as the fair page of her little life was; but you, who think these characters on the dedicating page unmeaning, have never had the key to them. Mothers can tell what they are. Angels will be glad over this record without blot or stain. There is no handwriting so fine that I would exchange it for my baby’s autograph.—Sel.
The Home Circle.
By Eben E. Rexford
THE TANGLED SKEIN.
Two men were talking by the sea
Of what had been and what might be,
And as the first his hopes made known,
The tide upon the bar made moan.
“The boon I ask of fate, is fame—
A world-known and an honored name.
I ask not love. Let that pass by,
If fame be mine that cannot die.
Those in the valley seek for love;
My feet must climb the heights above.”
“I ask not fame,” the other said.
“What matters praise when I am dead?
Be mine the boon of love and home,
From which my feet may never roam.
The lowliest path will pleasant be
If love is there to walk with me.”
Ah, strange indeed the ways of fate,
The tangled threads will not come straight!
Love came to him who asked for fame,
The world has never heard his name.
With wife and children by his side,
His neighbors think him satisfied.
But by his hearth he often hears
The great world's praises in his ears,
And wonders vaguely which were best,
The hill's wide view, or valley's rest?
To him who asked for love and home,
Came fame, and ever he must roam.
Through all the world his name is known,
But he goes on unloved, alone.
Men envy him. They cannot know
The human heart that hungers so
For love and home. Below he sees,
With longing eyes, the valley's peace.
But up the hill he climbs alone;
He asked for bread and found a stone.
Oh, sorely-tangled skein of fate!
Some time, God grant, the threads come straight.
—Eben E. Rexford.
News and Notes.
By Editor
-Several more assassinations are reported from Ireland.
-Two Chinamen in Philadelphia were naturalized a short time ago.
-The prohibition amendment was carried in Iowa by 21,000 majority.
-In Prague, thirteen Socialists have been sentenced to imprisonment.
-Thurlow Weed, the veteran journalist, now eighty-five years old, has become blind.
-One hundred and sixty acres of standing grain were burned on a ranch near Stockton last week.
-During the past fiscal year 46,632 agricultural patents were issued from the General Land Office.
-The United States' debt was diminished more than twelve and a half millions of dollars, during the month of June.
-Hurricanes have been very frequent for the last two weeks. A somewhat detailed account is given in another column.
-The evacuation of the city of Elm, Switzerland, has been ordered, on account of the threatening condition of the mountain.
-It is stated that the orange crop in Florida this year will be very light, owing to the ravages of an insect that is working in many groves.
-The usual list of Fourth-of-July accidents is reported. Toy pistols, bombs, and fire-crackers have maimed very many for life.
-From Bakersfield, Cal., the weather during the first week in July is reported as being the hottest that has been known for several years.
-The city of Tokio, Japan, which is getting to be quite a literary center, has a free library of 80,000 volumes, 15,000 of which are in European languages.
-The Sultan is about to issue a firman, granting the Jewish refugees from Russia, fertile tracts of land in Syria and Mesopotamia. Thus the Sultan shames the Czar.
-The total number of sheep in the United States, as reported by the Census Bureau, is 42,381,389. Of this number, California has about 5,000,000, more than any other State.
-There are 3,197 persons in the United States Internal Revenue Service, and of the $800,000,000 collected during the last six years, not a cent has been lost to the government by defalcation.
-The murderer of President Garfield was hung, according to sentence, June 30. The world would have to be pretty thoroughly searched to find a more hardened, blasphemous villain than he was.
-The Utah, Idaho, and Oregon stage line, John Hailey proprietor, has purchased all the mail contracts through Idaho, Washington Territory, Oregon, and to Shasta in California, a total amount of 2,265 miles.
-Reports from Minnesota say that there is quite an epidemic of small-pox in various parts of the State. Advices from Central Indiana say that twenty cases of small-pox have proved fatal, and the disease is still raging.
-A shock of earthquake was felt quite generally throughout this State, June 27. In several towns in the interior, it is said to have been the heaviest since 1868. No serious damage was done anywhere, but many people were badly frightened.
-The rather surprising report comes from Victoria, B. C., that the Fourth of July was the occasion of a general holiday there. Business was entirely suspended; and the Stars and Stripes, and the Union Jack floated from innumerable flag-staffs.
-A large venire was exhausted in a Police Court in San Francisco last week without a jury being obtained, to try a man charged with violating the Sunday Law. Two jurors only were obtained, and a venire for 175 was issued returnable this week.
-An express train was wrecked on the Central New Jersey Railroad, near Long Branch, June 29. Four passenger-cars were thrown off a bridge into the water. Three men were killed, and many injured. Ex-President Grant was among the injured.
-The authorities of Nevada City, Cal., have increased the license of Chinese laundries by $30 a quarter, and as a consequence there are no laundries in the place now, all having suspended. The object was to drive out the Chinese, that white labor might be substituted.
-The steamer Scioto, with 500 excursionists on board, collided with a tug-boat near Mingo Junction, O., on the night of the 4th. The Scioto sunk almost immediately in fifteen feet of water. The latest reports place the number of persons drowned at seventy. As usual, whisky did it.
-Nihilism is cropping out in high places. It is stated that 9,000 copies of a revolutionary proclamation, printed in secret and signed by Nicholas Constantinovich, cousin of the Czar, have been discovered at the Ministry of Marine. The author of the document anticipated the executioner by committing suicide.
-General Skobeloff, the famous Russian General, whose recent speech caused so much sensation, died suddenly at Moscow, July 7, aged thirty-nine years. His death is attributed to heart disease; but there are rumors of foul play, and it is more than likely that some parties wished to have the zealous General out of their way.
-A discussion has been started in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, since the great prohibition victory in Iowa, which seems likely to bring the prohibition question to a vote at an early day in each of the States named. Indiana seems to be the next objective point of the temperance people, and they express great confidence in their ability to carry the measure there.
-Complaint is justly made because the liquor dealers of Cincinnati do not pay their share of taxation. The whole amount of taxes paid by those engaged in the liquor traffic in that city is $13,274 of which the eighteen brewers together pay $7,052, and the 3000 saloon-keepers pay $6,229. But a single dry goods house pays more taxes than all the liquor men combined.
-Superintendent Thompson, of the United States Railroad Mail Service, has failed in his efforts to secure a more rapid transmit of mails between Chicago and San Francisco. The Union and Central Pacific Roads were not willing to increase the speed of their mail trains, which is twenty and a half miles an hour. The average time between New York and Chicago is thirty-five miles an hour.
-There were 46,222 post-offices in the United States on the 30th of June, 1882, an increase of 710 over the previous year. For the year ending June 30, over a billion three-cent stamps, and 350,000,000 postal cards were sold. The value of stamped envelopes sold was nearly $40,000,000. The department officials feel warranted in asserting that when the final statement of receipts and expenditures for the year is completed, it will be found that the postal service is self-sustaining.
-A list of the members who have joined the revolutionary party in Russia, since 1872, together with the names of the members of the Executive, have been discovered by the police. The ramifications of the conspiracy extend over eleven governments. There are altogether 680 names on the list. They have also found and destroyed three more bomb and dynamite factories, and have found several secret printing establishments. And yet nihilism is as powerful a force in Russia as ever.
-During the six months just past, there have been 5,000 miles of railroad laid in the United States. These figures show only the main track, and do not include sidings, nor second, third, or fourth tracks. How extraordinary has been the work of the past season in comparison with its predecessor, may be seen by the fact that while it shows 5,000 miles of new road, the aggregate reported for the same period last year, was only a little over 2,000 miles, and during the same period of no previous year has it equaled even that amount. The total railway mileage of the United States is now more than 107,000 miles.
-The situation in Egypt remains practically unchanged, except that it is getting more and more critical. All foreigners have left for safety. There is a large English fleet in the harbor of Alexandria, and General Seymour, the English commander, has threatened to bombard the city if the building of fortifications by Arabi Pasha, and the placing of guns in positions threatening the fleets, were not stopped. The French Mediterranean squadron has been ordered to Alexandria, and more French troops are in readiness. That war is imminent is confidently expected. Troops have been sent to guard the Suez Canal, as it is feared that the Arabs will attempt to destroy it.
-Commodore Shufeldt, who has been recalled as Consul at Shanghai, has just negotiated a treaty between the United States and Corea. Provision is made for the United States to have a Minister, a Consul-General, and Consuls resident in the kingdom, and three ports are to be open to the commerce of this country. Corea has hitherto maintained a policy of almost complete isolation, Japan being the only country enjoying commercial relations with it. Even China, to which Corea is tributary, has had no intercourse with Corea, save on the occasion of the annual embassy which is accomplished by a few privileged traders. The European powers are making preparations to take advantage of the diplomacy of the United States.
-Some months ago it was stated that a Mohammedan prophet in the eastern part of the Soudan, on the Upper Nile, not far from Abyssinia, had collected a band of fanatics, revolted against Egyptian authority, and defeated some of the local forces. His uprising was at the time considered a part of the antichristian movement so popular at present among people of his religion. The Khedive sent some forces against him, and a battle has recently occurred, in which the Egyptians were defeated with a loss of 2,000 men. The victorious prophet and his army of 7,000 men are said to be advancing northward and probably receiving accessions of strength from the Bedouins of the desert as they proceed. Sennar, where the battle took place, is about 2,000 miles south of Alexandria. The troubles have no connection with the revolt of Arabi Pasha, but should they increase, and the prophet's army become powerful, they might lead to a general Mohammedan uprising, or holy war, the consequences of which might be serious. Should Arabi be defeated he might join his forces with those of the prophet, a course which he has vaguely threatened.—Chronicle.
Religious Notes.
By Editor
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Battle Creek, Mich., reports a membership of 492.
The corner-stone of the new Garfield Memorial Christian Church was laid July 1.
The steamer Nevada brought 727 Mormon converts to New York en route to Utah, July 2. This is the largest importation that has been made for several years. The greater number of them were Scandinavians.
The Pope, in an allocution in consistory, recently, said the position of the Church in Italy was becoming worse than ever. The Government, he declared, was guilty of bad faith in refusing authority to twenty Bishops he had nominated.
W. C. Dupuy, of Indiana, evidently thinks that there is at least $2,000,000 in a name. He is reported to have offered an endowment of that sum to Asbury University provided the institution shall bear his name. It already has a good name, but will probably change it for such an inducement.
It is very evident that a new and very important factor has entered into the formation of church creeds. The Scotch Presbyterians have adopted a new one which is much better than the old one, and differs materially from the Westminster Confession. It is stated that "it is shaped by the progressive spirit of the day." The Bible is getting to have very little influence in the church, compared with the spirit of the day.
The Rev. Mr. Cooks, of Sag Harbor, said recently that of 500 families visited by him, 100 had never seen a Bible. The Rev. Mr. Wheeler stated that at Calverton, near Riverhead, there are ninety people anxious for spiritual regeneration. "There was only one Christian lady in the place," said Mr. Wheeler, "and she had formerly resided in Brooklyn." Of course there was no school, no church within five miles of Calverton, and "very few of the people had even seen a Bible." Mr. Campbell, of Blue Point, found an old couple over eighty years of age, who, together with their daughter, had never heard of Christ. Surely it is useless to send missionaries to Asia and Africa, and build Baptist chapels in Rome, while such a state of spiritual darkness exists within a few miles of the city of churches.—Brooklyn Eagle.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
A twelve-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.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Michigan.
MISS ELIZA THAYER, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
W. L. RAYMOND, Gaston, Oregon.
Obituary.
GREENLEAF.—Sybil Greenleaf died in Milton Plantation, Maine, May 26, 1882, aged 83 years. Mother Greenleaf was a person loved and respected by all who knew her. For years she professed to be a Universalist; but about five years ago she began to read our tracts and at once accepted the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and was faithful in observing it to the last. She never murmured nor complained, but was ready and longed to be at rest. We believe she sleeps in Christ, and hope to meet her in the morning of the resurrection. A good discourse was preached by Eld. A. A. Abbott, First-day Adventist, from 2 Tim. 4 : 6-8. H. DAVIS.
DE FOREST.—Died in Oakland, Cal , June 26, of inflammation of the lungs, George Willard, son of, Brother and Sister De Forest, aged nine months. This is the second time that death has bereaved this family the present year. They have the sympathy of many friends, but, more cheering than this, they are comforted by the "blessed hope" of meeting the dear little one on the return of the "Life-giver." Words at the funeral from Ps. 103 : 13. EDITOR.
An Apology for the Overlooked Letter
By Editor
Arriving from our northern trip soon before the last number of the Signs went to press, we found the "local" entirely prostrated by overwork in our absence. That is the reason why Bro. Gardner's letter from Europe was overlooked in the "make up"—an omission which we very much regret. This shows the reasonableness and necessity of our determination to drop other labor, and attend to our duty on the paper while we remain connected with the office.
The Interchangeability of U and V
By Editor
In answer to a question concerning the use of the letter U as a numeral, the editor of the Advent Review quotes from Webster, Worcester, Goold Brown, the People's Cyclopedia, American Cyclopedia, and old translations, to show that U and V were identical, and used interchangeably. We add that, to this day we conform to this fact, the printer's "upper case" still omitting J and U from their places in the alphabet. The letters are "laid" thus: I K L and T V W, the letters J and U being assigned places below Z. The first paper printed in California in English was printed with an old font in Monterey in which for W (double U) was used VV.
Trouble in Alexandria.
At this time, July 10, there is a strong probability of the difficulties in Egypt coming to an immediate crisis. The English Admiral is prepared to open fire on Alexandria, and has given notice that he will do so in thirty-six hours unless certain preparations are discontinued.
From private sources we learn that Dr. Ribton has been killed. This will shorten the journey of Eld. Haskell, as Alexandria was a point which he intended to visit.
Oakland.
LAST Sabbath was the best day enjoyed by the Oakland church in a long time. Sister White was with us, and her feelings in behalf of the church were so strong, that she said she felt more like exhorting than preaching. She spoke from Rev. 3, on overcoming. It was a calm but very impressive discourse, and the Spirit of God moved the hearts of the people. An unusually good meeting followed, and we believe the blessing of that day will not prove a temporary one.
Since her deep trials and great bereavement a year ago, we are pleased to be able to say that the Lord is greatly blessing Sister White in her public labors and in her writing. In an experience of about thirty years in the Third Angel's Message, we never had more confidence than we have at present, that the Lord is leading the "remnant" by the direct teachings of his Spirit. See Rev. 12:17; 19:10.
Immoral Religion.
By Editor
THE "spiritual advisers" of condemned murderers seem to be a reprehensible set of beings. "Dr." Hicks, the clerical companion of the assassin of President Garfield, is one of the worst of the lot. In his prayer on the scaffold he insulted Heaven by speaking of the murderer as "this, Thy servant." The criminal was an impenitent murderer, boasting of a crime which put a nation of fifty millions of people in mourning. The fact that he manifested great disappointment, and for a time was much cast down because certain politicians and political papers did not indorse his action, was sufficient proof of his guilt and depravity. Could Dr. Hicks inform us in what sense this impenitent assassin and vile blasphemer was a servant of God? His prayer was shocking to the moral sense of all right-minded people. Under such a clerical teacher, it is no wonder that the condemned was confirmed in his impenitence, and his blasphemous assertion that he has done the will of God. And with such teachings passing for Christianity, it is no wonder that irreligious people look upon the Christian religion as countenancing immorality, and are confirmed in their skepticism.
Health Retreat at St. Helena.
By Editor
WE learn that the managers have made arrangements by which Dr. Chase, of Genessee Co, Mich., is to become a resident physician at Crystal Springs, St. Helena. On our last visit to the East we had the privilege of forming a brief acquaintance with Dr. Chase at his home. He is a courteous Christian gentleman, of fine ability, and good acquirements. We congratulate the managers of the Retreat for their acquisition, and hope they will be able to increase their facilities as fast as the patronage will demand. We have no doubt that success is before this institution, the most beautiful of all the resorts that we have seen in California.
Healdsburg College.
By Sidney Brownsberger
A FEW REASONS WHY STUDENTS SHOULD BE PRESENT AT THE OPENING.
THE opening of the new school year of the College is on Wednesday, July 26th. It has been placed on WEDNESDAY, in the middle of the week, because of the importance of the first few days of the term. By leaving home on Monday all students that reside anywhere in the State can arrive here in ample time for the opening. There are several reasons why the first few days are of special profit to the students.
1. New classes are then formed which will continue their work during the entire year without any interruption. At the very beginning these classes have special instruction to teach them how to study. They are drilled in the principles that underlie much of the work that follows. The success of the student in his classes is almost wholly dependent upon a knowledge of these principles. Many a student has been compelled to take a place in a lower class, because he was not present at the beginning of the term, and consequently lost this instruction.
2. The publishers of the books used in the College have extended the introductory rates until the opening of our fall term. The books were introduced at the beginning of last term, and the usual time allowed for introduction has long since expired, but by request they still give us the books at introductory prices at the opening. Students purchasing at the opening will save quite a little item in the expense of books.
I would advise those who do not care to keep their old books, and can sell them at reasonable rates, to sell them at their homes, rather than bring them with them. It is more than likely that you have no books that you could use here.
3. Valuable information is given at the beginning, in regard to the character of the school, the relation of the students to teachers and the college, and such other instruction as would enable students to know just what is expected of them.
At the opening all meet, or nearly all, as strangers to the place, and to one another. In this respect they are on an equal footing, and as a consequence their sympathies should be mutual. It is not so with one unacquainted coming in late. It is then more embarrassing for him. It is especially so since he has everything to learn in regard to what is expected of him, and there are so many who are well informed to note his mistakes. We trust all will make a commendable effort to be here at the opening.
S. BROWNSBERGER.
Prohibition.
By Editor
THE official returns give the majority for the prohibition amendment in Iowa, as 21,000. This is a good showing. We heartily congratulate the temperance people of Iowa for the good result of their labors. We also congratulate those who have opposed this movement, on their defeat. It is the best thing that ever happened to them; and we predict that the increased prosperity which Iowa will enjoy if this amendment is rigidly enforced, will soon convince them of the fact.