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Signs of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 1.

OUR PERIODICALS for 1903
Earlier text: A HUMBLE HERO

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

A CAMP-MEETING is announced for this month at Uitenhage, Cape Colony, South Africa.
A VISITOR recently came into the office of the Messenger, at Perth, West Australia, and related this experience: “Meat, pickles, vinegar, pepper, mustard, tea, coffee, beer, and tobacco—all gone through Adventism.”
IN the Messenger, of Perth, West Australia, Brother Jesse Pallant reports the baptism of eight candidates in that city, with ten others soon to follow. A sister there sells 210 copies of Bible Echo every week, and has also sold sixty copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”
BROTHER J. V. WILSON reports to the Fortnightly Review from Kimberley, South Africa, that “the work in the line of medical treatments has been largely increased of late. Calls are coming in for massage treatments at the homes of the people, sometimes more than we know how to fill. The doctors are prescribing massage for their patients, and this gives us work.”
DID it just happen? The Workers’ Record says: “Two gentlemen passing through Kansas City happened to attend the dedicatory services, became interested and decided to remain a day or so to hear more of the truth. As the meetings continued they became deeply interested and postponed their journey from day to day. They stayed through the entire series of meetings and both decided to obey the Lord in keeping all His precepts.”
BROTHER J. W. WATT, president of Vermont Conference, notes that within a short time seven persons have accepted the Adventist message without any special personal effort from any one. The same thing is true elsewhere, but that is no reason why any who know the truth should become lax in making it known. Of course the Lord can do the work without us, but it would be a great loss to us if He should have to do so because of our negligence. Dependence on Him does not mean slothfulness on our part. The branch that does not abide in the Vine and bear fruit will surely wither and die.
WRITING to the Welcome Visitor from Tokyo, Japan, Brother F. W. Field tells of attending a meeting at Shiba Koyen, November 9. Brother Okohira preached in Japanese, and two candidates were received for baptism. The name of one other was mentioned. There were twenty-seven persons in attendance. Brother Field says: “We have three classes, one in English, one in Japanese, for grown people, and a class of Japanese children. This refers to the Sabbath-school held in a class room in his own house. He is asking for funds to publish tracts in the Japanese language.”
IN announcing a special course at Berrien Springs, Mich., January 7 to March 17, Prof. E. A. Sutherland says: “For several years a summer school has been conducted for the training of Christian teachers. As a result there are schools for children all over the land. A great educational movement has been inaugurated. It is gathering in the children, and these children will go out a few years hence as missionaries to all the world. But what about the young men and women of to-day? The cause needs the help of those who are now doing little or nothing to spread the Gospel. There is buried talent. God wants it.”
APROPOS of a printing office in connection with one of our industrial schools, the Workers’ Bulletin aptly says: “The printing office rightly conducted is one of the best of schools, but a person of experience should be in charge. With amateurs in both the editorial and mechanical departments, it becomes a most tedious process.” But that is not all. To attempt to do or to teach printing with worn-out or otherwise inadequate material, always results in a product disgraceful to the trade. Under such circumstances it is impossible to turn out competent workmen. The time young persons spend in such a printing office is worse than wasted, for they are apt to imagine they are printers, after a given time of apprenticeship, when a really good establishment would rather take one who never had tried to work at the trade at all.
IN a recent number of the New York Indicator we find the following from Brother George B. Thompson, president of that conference: “Recently while visiting one of our churches I heard of a lady who accidentally secured a copy of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and from reading it was convicted of her duty to keep the Lord’s Sabbath, and has ever since been trying to do so. Why should we not be more diligent in circulating this most excellent missionary weekly? Souls in darkness should get hold of it some other way than by accident. We should be sending it by the thousands into the homes of the millions in our conference. Churches and individuals should take clubs, and send these good messengers of the Gospel into every home. Come, brethren and sisters, here is a neglected work. The time and opportunity are here. Shall they pass by unimproved?”
BROTHER GEORGE B. WHEELER, reporting to the Atlantic Union Gleaner, says: “The case of Brother W. T. Gibson who was arrested last summer for Sunday work in Everett, which was appealed from the lower to the Superior Court, came up at that court Thursday, the 13th inst. The chief of police offered to loan Mr. Gibson the money to pay his fine, which he refused. He was then asked what he wished done with the case, and replied that he wished to have the case discharged on the grounds of rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Rights in the Constitution of the State, or that the case be tried. The chief of police called the attention of the district attorney to the case and gave him the Sentinel with an account of the previous trial. Mr. Gibson also gave him his brief, which he had prepared for the defense, the result of which was that when the case came up before the court it was non-prossed (not prosecuted). The result of this trial has been a victory for the truth, and Brother Gibson is profoundly grateful that it has terminated so favorably.”
FROM Brother George W. Reaser we learn that the first annual meeting of the Natal-Transvaal Mission Society was held at Sweetwaters, Natal, November 6–11, at which it was decided to organize the mission into the Natal-Transvaal Conference. The constituency of the field has nearly doubled during the past year, and the increase of funds will enable them to carry on the advance work for the evangelization of the European population without financial aid from America. They are in great need of laborers in the Lord’s vineyard. Young men need not be afraid to undertake the work even if they understand only the English language. Those who go there for commercial purposes readily acquire a sufficient knowledge of three languages to transact business, and “it should not stagger any of our younger workers to undertake to acquire a new language for the purpose of presenting the message of life and salvation.” Brother Reaser was elected president of the new conference with Brother J. H. Camp as vice-president and C. H. Pretyman as secretary, treasurer, and business manager. By the present date the new school building near Pietermaritzburg is completed and school in progress. There are eight acres of land in the school lot, on which can be raised all kinds of subtropical fruits. Arrangements are being made for opening a school in Johannesburg.

PUBLICATIONS WANTED.

SIGNS, Little Friends, and tracts, for missionary work. Address, post-paid, Otis Flum, Kearney, Neb.
LATE clean copies of the SIGNS, Review, and tracts, for missionary work. Address, post-paid, W. B. Jenkins, Blythewood, S. C.
CLEAN, late copies of Life Boat, SIGNS, Bible Training School, Instructor, Good Health, and tracts on the Sabbath question. Address, post-paid, Miss Alice Veitch, Burt, Saginaw County, Mich.
ANY of our denominational papers and tracts, for missionary work. Address, post-paid, Frank Jeffers, Woodland, Cal.
OLD copies of any of our papers and tracts for missionary work. Address, post-paid, W. A. Chatfield, 1929 Grand Avenue, Beaumont, Texas.

THE SABBATH SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON 4.—JANUARY 24.—AN EXHORTATION TO MAKE KNOWN THE WONDROUS WORKS OF GOD.

Lesson Scripture, Psalm 105:1-13, A. S. R. V.
(1) “O give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon His name; Make known among the people His doings.
(2) Sing unto Him, sing praises unto Him; Talk ye of all His marvelous works.
(3) Glory ye in His holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.
(4) Seek ye Jehovah and His strength; Seek His face evermore.
(5) Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
(6) O ye seed of Abraham His servant, Ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones.
(7) He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth.
(8) He hath remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
(9) The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath unto Isaac,
(10) And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
(11) Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;
(12) When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.
(13) And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.”

QUESTIONS.

  1. With what urgent appeal does this psalm open?
  2. What are we asked to make known?
  3. How is praise to Jehovah to be expressed?
  4. What is to be kept before the mind?
  5. In what is all boasting to be done?
  6. What brings rejoicing to the heart?
  7. What are to be always sought?
  8. What are to be called to mind?
  9. How are these works specially mentioned?
  10. Who are first called upon to do this?
  11. How are they further designated?
  12. What relationship is declared between us and God?
  13. Where are His judgments to be found?
  14. What has God never forgotten?
  15. How is this covenant defined?
  16. With whom did He make this covenant?
  17. What is it called as renewed to Isaac?
  18. How was it renewed to Jacob?
  19. What is it next declared to be?
  20. What gift was promised in this covenant?
  21. How is this gift defined?
  22. Under what circumstances was this promise made?
  23. What experience did the people have even after this promise was made?

NOTES.

1. CONTINUING the subject of the previous lesson, the psalmist exhorts us to call upon the name of the Lord, giving thanks to Him. He would have this done intelligently, and so suggests that the deeds of the Most High be made known among the people, both in song and in conversation with our associates. This, followed out, would work reform in many ways.
2. WE in these days are especially to consider the dealing of God with His children in olden times. Isa. 51:9-11; Ps. 44:1-3.
3. NOTICE the promise to Abraham (Gen. 13:14-17), oath confirmed to Isaac (Gen. 26:2-5), and then to Jacob (Gen. 35:10-12). It is the promise of the inheritance and everlasting life through faith. Gal. 3:29.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MISSIONARY CONVENTION

By C. A. Pedicord

The brethren of Southern California are planning for a Missionary Convention and Canvasser’s Institute to be held in Los Angeles, beginning Jan. 12, 1923, and continuing two weeks. All who wish to learn how to canvass, and at least one representative from each church in Southern California, should attend.
Among those who will be present to assist are Eld. Clarence Santee, H. H. Hall, and J. H. Parritt; the latter is the conference canvassing agent for this conference. We trust that a goodly number of our canvassers will attend this meeting.
Room rent will be furnished free to those who attend. Let all who will attend write at once to J. H. Parritt, 143 Carr Street, Los Angeles, Cal. C. A. PEDICORD, Conf. Sec.

FARMS FOR SALE.

$50.00 CASH, $6.25 monthly, buys a nineteen-acre farm, house, out-buildings, abundance of fruit. Price, $350.00. Near Adventist church. Mild, healthful climate. Soft water, free range, valuable timber. Larger farms cheap. Address, with stamp, Robert Boram, Monteer, Shannon County, Mo.

Refreshing Sleep Comes after a bath with Glenn's Sulphur Soap

It heals while it cleanses. Its medicative qualities render the skin free from impurities. Prickly heat, burns, cuts, dandruff, submit quickly to its healing effects.
CAUTION:—Glenn's Sulphur Soap (the only “original”) is incomparable and wonderful in its remedial effects. Take no other.
At all drug stores, or mailed on receipt of 30 cents by THE G. N. [illegible] CO., 115 Fulton Street, New York.

LESSON 3.—JANUARY 18.—PAUL AT THESSALONICA AND BEREA.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 17:1-12, A. S. R. V.
(1) “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (3) opening and alleging that it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
(4) “And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. (5) But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people. (6) And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (7) whom Jason hath received: and all these act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. (8) And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. (9) And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
(10) “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea; who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. (12) Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.”
Golden Text.—“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet.” Ps. 119:105.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Where did Paul and his companions go from Philippi? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What did Paul do there, according to his custom? For how many Sabbaths was he permitted to do this? What was his manner of teaching? Verse 2. Note 2. Upon what point did he specially dwell? Verse 3. Note 3. (4) What was the result of his teaching during these three weeks? Verse 4. (5) What effect did this success have upon those who rejected the truth? How did they manifest their bitterness of heart? Verse 5. Note 4. (6) Failing to find the apostles, to whom did the mob turn? What charge was made against the apostles? Verse 6. (7) What had Jason done that was particularly offensive? And what general charge was urged against all the believers? Verse 7. Note 5. (8) What effect did this clamor have upon the people and the rulers of the city? Verse 8. (9) How did the rulers compromise the matter? Verse 9. Note 6. (10) What was done to protect the apostles? On arriving there what course did they pursue? Verse 10. Note 7. (11) What comparison was made between the people of these two cities? Verse 11. Note 8. (12) What was the result of the apostles’ labors in Berea? Verse 12. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. Amphipolis, about thirty-three miles southwest from Philippi, where Paul and Silas had been beaten and imprisoned, and where the jailer and his household were converted. Apollonia, about thirty miles further on in the same general direction. Thessalonica, the largest city and commercial center of Macedonia. It was about thirty-seven miles from Apollonia. The city was named after the sister of Alexander the Great, and was noted as a resting-place of the great army of Xerxes, and the residence of Cicero for a time during his exile from Rome. The city had a population of 100,000.
2. Paul’s custom was, on going to a strange place, to first introduce himself to the Jews; for there was always opportunity to speak in the synagogue on at least one Sabbath day, and he could thereby introduce the Gospel to his “kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3), for whom he had a special desire that they might be saved (Ch. 10:1).
3. The Jews adhered to the Scriptures, and were looking for the Messiah; therefore the apostles had reason to believe that they would accept Jesus Christ when His claims were presented from Scripture evidence. And these initial efforts were always productive of more or less fruit. It was hard for Jews—who believed in a grand temporal messiah who would be invincible to all enemies—to accept of One who had been put to death. So Paul dwelt especially on the fact that the true Messiah must suffer death, according to the Scriptures. This is a vital point in the Gospel.
4. The envy of the Jews was intensified by the large number of people who believed the teaching of the apostles, especially because they were of the classes who had adhered to the synagogue. So they called to their wicked purpose a low, wicked class of men who could be incited or bribed to do any outrageous deed.
5. Like their prototypes in modern times, these enemies of the true Gospel sought some pretext of law and order for the execution of their unlawful purpose. Their appeal to Caesar was against Christ, persecuting Christ in the persons of His disciples.
6. Because the rulers of the city were perplexed, they took security against further cause of trouble. This was a kind of compromise with the Jewish complainants, because of a dread of the general government and a fear of the loss of the city’s freedom. The security of so large a number was no doubt a large sum of money, which would be forfeited in case of further riot from this cause. It was a scheme of Satan, evidently, to keep Paul out of the city. See 1 Thess. 2:17, 18.
7. That the decision of the rulers was not all that the Jews desired is manifest in the necessity of the apostles’ departure at night. It is evident from this that bodily harm was designed against them.
8. As in other places, the initial Gospel effort at Berea was in the synagogue of the Jews. Here, however, was a general disposition to test the apostles’ doctrine by the Word. And this is styled the “more noble” way. The study of the Scriptures is by Inspiration deemed a “noble” occupation. By this all teaching should be tested. “To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.
9. Therefore, not altogether because of the preaching, but because of the Scripture study, a large number of people believed the Gospel. And, be it remembered, they had only the Old Testament Scriptures.

Lace Curtains

By Mrs. Rev. J. D. E.

I have used Pearline to-day for washing lace curtains and like it very much. Washed easier and cleaner than with any soap used before. I like it very much.
Mrs. Rev. J. D. E.
One of the Millions.

THE NEW GOOD HEALTH BATH CABINET

ONLY $5
A portable appliance for stimulating the activity of the skin by hot vapor, causing profuse perspiration. Beneficial for breaking up a cold, “breaking chills,” relieving soreness of the muscles, rheumatism, inactivity of skin, diabetes, and disorders of the liver, kidneys, and other chronic ailments. Full directions for use sent with each cabinet. Our cabinet is well made, and we guarantee satisfaction in every way.

THE NEW GOOD HEALTH BATH CABINET

Sold by the Good Health Publishing Company, is the only cabinet indorsed or used by the physicians of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Order to-day.
Write for descriptive circulars with full information. Agents wanted to represent us.
GOOD HEALTH PUBLISHING CO.
Dept. A  Battle Creek, Mich.

Take a Tourist Car

—A Santa Fe tourist car—if you would enjoy your trip across the continent.
The cars are so comfortable, the route so interesting, the people so pleasant, the excursion manager so accommodating, the porters so obliging, and the meals so good, that you simply can’t help being satisfied.
Personally conducted east and west three times a week—Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays—to Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Folder giving full information furnished on request by any Santa Fe Agent.

NOTICE

By Alfred Mallett

AGENTS who have been handling the E-Z Washing Tablets and those desiring an agency on the Pacific Coast should write the manufacturers for terms. Remember the name is still E-Z not “Easy.” See “ad” on another page.
ALFRED MALLETT, Nyack, N. Y.

STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING.

By W. T. Knox; J. M. Bowen

There will be a meeting of the stockholders of the Rural Health Retreat Association at Sanitarium (formerly Crystal Springs), Napa County, California, on Monday, January 19, 1903, at 12 o’clock M.
W. T. KNOX, President.
J. M. BOWEN, Secretary.

TO OUR PATRONS.

By Editor

Please be careful to write all names of persons and places plainly.
Send money by Post-office Money Order, Express Order, or Bank Draft on New York, Chicago, or San Francisco.
Orders and Drafts should be made payable to the Pacific Press Publishing Co.
Paper money or silver should be sent in a registered letter.
Registered mail is safe. Unregistered mail is at the risk of the sender.
Postage-stamps in five or ten cent denominations will be accepted for small amounts.
The address label on your paper will indicate the time to which your subscription is paid. In case of non-receipt of papers, or any other irregularity, please notify us immediately.
When subscriptions expire, no more papers are sent to the party except by special arrangement.
You are requested to watch the date on your label, and renew early, and save the loss of papers. We can not always furnish missing numbers.
When requesting change of address, be sure to give both old and new addresses.
Important.—If you order Signs, Our Little Friend, books, etc., at the same time, use a separate sheet of paper for each. If this request is complied with, it will materially assist in the prompt and accurate despatch of the business.
When writing to the editor, be sure to use a separate sheet of paper.

TO ADVERTISERS.

The fact that an advertisement appears in this paper indicates that as far as its managers can ascertain, it is reliable. Extreme care is taken in the securing of advertisements, and losses incurred through misrepresentation of firms advertising in this journal, have been made good by publishers. We can give no editorial notices or assurances at the request of advertisers.

Lovers of Pleasure.

An announcement was handed us some time ago of a grand popular concert under the auspices of the improvement fund to aid a certain M. E. Church, by a regular concert company of a large city. Some of the numbers on the program are “Fading Day Waltz,” “When Pa Got ’nishiated,” “Since Katie Got Struck on the Stage,” “Mrs. O’Flaherty at the Spiritual Seance.” There was no particular redeeming feature in it, unless it was the object of the concert, and in the face of the program, the helping of a church which sought such aid would be as questionable as the program. The “Fading Day Waltz” would be appropriate to the church which would countenance such means of raising money. It would be a fitting thing to mark the close of her day of usefulness and her entrance to a new era in the world. Yet every soul who loved God must have heard in it the sound of a dirge. We do not mention this instance to strike at the particular denomination mentioned, but to show this one token of many of the fulfilment of the words of Jesus and Paul. See Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1.

Fatal Railway Collisions

A most disastrous railway accident occurred at Byron, Cal., on the evening of December 20. The “Owl” train, standing on the track on account of a break in its engine, was struck by the Fresno Flyer, running at the rate of sixty miles an hour. The rear Pullman on the Owl was telescoped, the top of the car resting upon the engine, as in our illustration from a photograph, reproduced from the Examiner. See page 9. Twenty-seven deaths have resulted. Others were severely injured. It does not seem possible that one soul could come out of that telescoped car alive, yet some did. The accident was unaccountable, in a clear night, on a straight track, with rear lights and special signal, it is said. A few days later the Owl was in another wreck near Los Angeles, in which happily no lives were lost. Two freight trains collided at Trinidad, Col., on the 24th, and ten persons were killed. On the same day there were collisions at Rogers, Neb., and at Leetsdale, Pa., in which a number were seriously injured. On December 26 a terrible head-on collision occurred at Wanstead, Ontario, between a freight and a fast passenger, in which twenty-eight persons lost their lives, and about forty were injured. The following day a collision occurred between a passenger-train and a work-train in central Kentucky, in which three were killed and two injured. How near is death to life!

Signs of the Times

By Editor

We shall soon begin a series of independent articles on the signs of the times. These will be of interest to every reader.

Rejoice Evermore

By Editor

“Rejoice Evermore.”—On our third page will be found a beautiful opening in our general department, the poem, “Rejoice Evermore,” by Mr. Llewellyn Morrison, author of “Heart Bells,” a fine book of excellent song and poetry, ringing with Christian melody and cheer.

Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions for 1902.—

By Editor

In this issue is a valuable list of seismological phenomena for 1902. We have greatly enlarged the list gathered by the New York Times and printed by the Scientific American. We believe it to be reliable. There were many slight shocks and eruptions not noticed. This list alone makes this issue worthy of preservation.

OUR FIRST PAGE ILLUSTRATION.

Our New Year's number greets our readers with a first page which is a sermon in itself. It will bear much study. The design is by Mr. W. H. B. Miller, and its execution by Mr. Pedro Lemos, both connected with this office. Its story is thrice told. In the four corners of the picture—upper left and right, and lower left and right, in order—are scenes typical of the four seasons of the year. Opening spring, with her wealth of bloom; summer, with her fields of grass and grain; autumn, with its falling leaves and store of fruit; winter, with its silent forests, its covering of pure white snow, old age and death of the year.
Within the circle of the season-sketches are four typical scenes in the life of man: bouyant childhood, filled with brimming life, engaged in vigorous sport; strong young manhood, launched upon the business sea of commerce, trade, and manufactures; middle manhood in his house, surrounded by family, bound by home ties; and ripe old age, drinking from the Guide and Fountain of life cheer and comfort and strength for the rest of life's journey. The sunrise above, the night scene below, the hour glasses, one just beginning to empty its sands, and the other with the sands almost spent, are also typical of life's brief day and its fleetness. In the center are the words of life from the Book of God, teaching the lesson which the picture, as well as all life, ever suggests to the thoughtful heart, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” May the words of Moses, the man of God, be the prayer of every one of our readers, together with the closing petition of the beautiful psalm: “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.”

Tell Us How You Like It.

By Editor

—The last part of the motto of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is, “not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Yet when we can make any part of our paper better pleasing to our large circle of readers, without sacrificing any principle of truth in method or matter, we wish to do it. In the past we have been giving two columns of news notes, gleaned mostly from the dailies, aiming to present only authentic news from reliable information. Notwithstanding every precaution, “news” must be frequently reversed or modified. We propose for four weeks a change: that instead of presenting the bare, bald news, to fill up the same space in note and comment on the great striking movements of the world. These will not deal so much with detailed news unless of striking importance, as with great general movements, signs of the times, and matters of vital interest. News at the best becomes old when it reaches our subscribers, tho it is frequently copied without credit by papers 2,000 miles away as well as nearer; but these notes which will be substituted for them will be timely for a longer period, as well as giving news of world interest. Read for four weeks, and tell us how you like it.

Review and Herald Publishing House Destroyed

By Editor

Our hearts were made sad beyond all expression at 9 o’clock last night (December 30) to learn by wire that our sister publishing house, the Review and Herald, of Battle Creek, Mich., was in ashes. The loss is estimated at $350,000; insurance $150,000. No lives were lost. Particulars have not come to hand, and we break into our forms to say this. We sympathize with our brethren, and bid them hope in God. He lives, and His message which the publishing house was built to herald to the world lives; and He will overrule all for good to them that love Him.

Suffering from Cold.

A well-known correspondent writes the Hearst papers from Europe that during this early winter, “the misery and sufferings endured by the poor in Paris and London during the Arctic weather have been simply appalling. In London, it has been practically impossible to cope with the evil. London has 940,000 poor; that is to say, people who can not afford to obtain the comforts of life. There are 320,000 who have not enough to eat, and can not afford to buy coal or wood to warm themselves with, and nearly 100,000 who have to receive relief from the parish. It may, therefore, be said that 1,300,000 people in London live just on the border line of want, and nearly one-third of them on the line itself. The slightest dislocation of trade, a few days’ frost, or what not, and these are over the brink, submerged, and starving.” In this country, throughout the great northwest, there is a great coal famine. The municipality of Battle Creek, Mich., for instance, thought it necessary to buy ten carloads of coal to sell at cost to the suffering people.

The Interstate Commerce Commission

The Interstate Commerce Commission in a recent report emphasizes anew its complaint concerning the discriminations against the small shipper practised by the railway. It points to Congress as the source of more effective laws for railway control. It says: “The fullest power of correction is vested in Congress, and the exercise of that power is demanded by the highest considerations of public welfare.” But Congress will do nothing, even as it has been doing for years with knowledge of conditions. By and by there will be a revolution, and the revoluters will promise themselves better government; but the spirit of greed will corrupt new law-makers as it has the old. The only thing which will stand against the fearful corruptions of these times is a heart in which the principles of righteousness are written by the grace of Christ. But such ones are not politicians.

A Great Issue of a Great Journal

A Great Issue of a Great Journal.—In its class the Scientific American, New York, stands at the head. Every number is good, up to date, full of interest to the live men of movement. Its issue of December 13, 1902, is a special number of fifty-two pages, profusely illustrated, well-written, and put together with that discriminating good taste and excellent judgment characteristic of the paper. It has a vast fund of statistical information to tell in a most interesting and readable way. The story of growth in steamship and locomotive building, together with illustrations of the best types in all classes, is of more interest than a romance. This issue, with its fine, colored cover, costs but ten cents, and it ought to have a large sale.

The Disciples as a Denomination

The Independent says: “If we call the Disciples a denomination, we must be pardoned, for we do not know what else to call them. . . . And they have a name by which they are denominated, as a denomination. They are Disciples in a sense in which other Christians are not disciples of Christ.” In the same article it says again, in speaking of the Disciples with the Christian connection: “Both are pronounced denominations that deny that they are denominations, the only evidence that they are not such being in their names.” And this is true.
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