Earlier text: THE HYDRA-HEADED MONSTERLESSON IX.—SABBATH, FEBRUARY 27, 1897. THE HUMILITY OF TRUE GREATNESS.
1 “Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, 4 riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. 5 Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 6 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter. 7 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 8 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 9 Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all. 10 For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 11 So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 12 Ye call me, Master, and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 13 If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 14 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 15 Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 16 If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. 17 I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 18 From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 19 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” - What is the time of the events of this lesson?
- Of what was Jesus aware?
- How is the measure of his love for his own expressed?
- What course had Judas now fully determined upon?
- What understanding did Jesus have of his own position and work?
- What preparation did he make for the service he was to perform?
- In what humble service did he then engage?
- To whom did he come? With what inquiry was he met?
- What reply did Jesus make?
- What positive objection did Peter make? How did Jesus meet it?
- What did Peter then say?
- What reply did Jesus make to his vehement submission?
- What reason did he give for limiting his statement concerning the condition of the disciples?
- Having finished his service, what inquiry did he make?
- What titles did he accept as properly belonging to him?
- What duty did he then enjoin upon his followers?
- How did he explain his own act of service?
- How did he then announce the true relationship between himself and his disciples?
- What blessing was pronounced upon obedience?
- What scripture was fulfilled in having a traitor among his disciples?
- Why did he refer to his betrayal at this time?
- What relation did he declare to exist between the Father, the Son, and a disciple?
1. THE record of the manifestation of Jesus to the world and its results has been completed. We now come to the closing scenes of his earthly life. In this and the three chapters next following we have his last lessons to his disciples. “This indeed was the last evening of his life. Within twenty-four hours he was to be in the tomb.” “This was virtually the last Passover that was ever to be celebrated; for type was to meet antitype in the slaying of the Lamb of God for the sins of the world.” “It was in accordance with his true human nature that the love he bore his disciples should be felt at its intensest just now, when he was about to leave them.” 2. TO BETRAY Jesus “was not the first thing that Satan had put into the heart of Judas. Satan does not begin by putting in such monstrous thoughts as these. . . . Anything that is in the heart is the heart’s own, and could not at all be there if the heart had not consented. . . . So it is with the sinful volitions of men at the present day. They choose to do evil; they are not made to do it.” 3. JESUS was conscious of his own true dignity and greatness. “It was not in forgetfulness of his divine origin, but in full consciousness of it that he discharged this menial function. . . . Not only does the dignity of Jesus vastly augment the dignity of the action, but it sheds new light on the divine character.” “We shall never have any proper conception of what true dignity is until we understand that love is upon the throne of the universe. He that sitteth upon the throne came into the world and washed the feet of those Galilean fishermen, that believers might be blissfully aware that love is wedded to Omnipotence.” “He into whose hands the Father had given all things, with those same hands washes, not the hands, but the feet of his disciples.” 4. “A CONTENTION had arisen among the disciples of Jesus as to who should be the most honored in his kingdom; for notwithstanding the express instruction they had so often received to the contrary, they had clung to the idea that Jesus would establish a temporal kingdom in Jerusalem; and the late demonstrations upon his entering the city, and the manner in which he had received them, revived this belief in their minds. Jesus had checked their aspirations for honor, and now strengthened the lesson by an act of humility and love, calculated to impress them with a sense of their obligations to one another, and that instead of quarreling for place, each should count the others better than himself.”—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 84, 85. “In self-love, self-exaltation, and pride, there is great weakness; but in humility there is great strength. Our true dignity is not maintained when we think most of ourselves, but when God is in all our thoughts, and our hearts are all aglow with the love of our Redeemer and love to our fellow-men. Simplicity of character and lowliness of heart will give happiness, while self-conceit will bring discontent, repining, and continual disappointment. It is learning to think less of ourselves and more of making others happy that will bring to us divine strength.” 5. WHEN the way seems dark to the believer, and the providences of God are utterly incomprehensible to him, he may remember the gracious promise, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” 6. NO ORDINANCE of the Lord’s house has been more clearly established or more explicitly enjoined than feet-washing. The same course of reasoning which makes all this a mere parable, will set aside the use of the bread and the wine, and in fact any institution of the church to which one does not wish to submit himself, no matter how plainly it is commanded in the Scripture. Those who exalt tradition above the plain Word of God, are not slow to point out the inconsistency of those who claim to follow the Bible and the Bible alone, and who do yet practice infant baptism, for which there is no command whatever, and omit feet-washing, which is among the plainest of commands. Thus has the cause of true Protestantism been hindered. The explanation of all this is found in the pride of the human heart. 7. “HAPPINESS consists, not in knowing, but in doing. . . . Be content to be as your Master, and your Master will not be content without making you as he is. There is a woe where there is knowledge unaccompanied by obedience. . . . The knowledge that leads to action is blessed.” “Let us look upon every Christian as one with whom Christ is identified, an ambassador in whom Christ is in a certain sense present with us.” Suggestions for Further Study.
- For what purpose did the Father give all things into the hands of Christ? When will that purpose be fully accomplished? Compare 1 Cor. 8:6; 15:24-28.
- The word “Master,” in verse 13, is used in the sense of Teacher. See Revised Version, margin. What was he teaching now? What are some of the characteristics of Jesus as “the Teacher”?
- The spirit which now casts aside this plain instruction of the Teacher, is the same as he met in his teaching. See Matt. 15:1-9.
- That the practice of literal feet-washing was followed in the early church, is suggested by 1 Tim. 5:10.
- To wash the feet of equals is regarded as an act of humility, but Christ took the place of a servant of his own servants. Compare Phil. 2:7; 1 Sam. 25:41; Matt. 20:27, 28, etc.
- What is the general teaching and purpose of the ordinance of humility? Has the promise of verse 17 been fulfilled in your case?
The Fruits of Christian Missions
An exchange says that the Rev. Mr. Banister, working in the province of Foochow, China, recently baptized eighteen lepers. A missionary who was present at the service called it “a truly wonderful work of grace. It was most touching to see these poor creatures, marred and maimed by the ravages of this terrible disease, coming forward and testifying to their faith in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.” AFTER Charles Darwin returned from his visit to heathen lands, says Bishop Whipple, he wrote thus: “The men who denounce missions forget that human sacrifices, infanticide, bloody wars, and cannibalism disappear with the advent of Christianity. A voyager wrecked on an unknown shore might well be thankful if these heathen folk had received the teaching of Jesus Christ.” PERIODICALS WANTED.
By W. H. Falconer
WILL the readers of the SIGNS please send late clean copies of our different periodicals by mail post-paid to my address. I can use 200 per week. W. H. Falconer,
284 Boyd Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba. Lesson IX.—Sunday, February 28, 1897. NOTE.—The present lesson treats of still another way in which the church achieves victory through the opposition of her foes. Let the teacher give a brief outline of the growth of the church up to this time, including her triumphs over the various obstacles thrown in her way. The church is now about seven years old. Hitherto the Jews had been careful and guarded in their treatment of the apostles and their followers, for they feared the common people; but through perjured testimony they had gained the sympathy of many, and had thus “stirred up the people.” With a substantial backing behind them they soon show what is in their heart. 1 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. 2 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 3 And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the Word. 5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. 6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. 7 For from many of those which had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. And there was much joy in that city. 8 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, which beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one; 9 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great. 10 And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 11 But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 12 And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed. 13 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John; 14 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 15 for as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 16 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” Golden Text.—“They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” Acts 8:4. (1) How did Saul stand with reference to Stephen’s death? Verse 1, first clause. (2) To what trial was the church subjected at this time? Ib., second clause. Note 1. (3) What was the result? Ib., last clause. (4) What is further mentioned in regard to Stephen? Verse 2. Note 2. (5) In what work did Saul engage? Verse 3, first clause. Note 3. (6) How thorough was this work? Ib., last clause. (7) What was done by those who fled from the hand of Saul? Verse 4. Note 4. (8) What did the persecution do for the Samaritans? Verse 5. (9) How was Philip received at Samaria? Verse 6, first clause. (10) What helped the Samaritans to believe in him? Ib., last part. (11) What work did Philip do in connection with his evangelistic labors? Verse 7. Note 5. (12) What followed Philip’s work? Verse 8. (13) Who is introduced in verse 9, and what had he done? (14) What influence had he exercised over the people? Verse 10, first part. (15) What had they come to believe in regard to him? Ib., last clause. (16) Why did the people hold him in such regard? Verse 11. (17) What was the result of Philip’s teaching? Verse 12. (18) How was Simon affected by the work? Verse 13, first clause. (19) What did he do? Ib., last part. Note 6. (20) What followed the report of this work among the Samaritans? Verse 14. Note 7. (21) What was the work of Peter and John? (22) What was the extent of the work then done among the Samaritans? Verse 16. (23) What was the result of the work of the two apostles? Verse 17. 1. At that time.—The original implies that this persecution commenced, or at least was in existence, on the very day of Stephen’s death. The leaders had seemingly gained two important points: they had stirred up the people, and compassed the death of one whose power was recognized by all; and they lost no time in following up and pressing this apparent advantage. 2. And devout men.—These were evidently Jews who deprecated the mob-like actions of the leaders, and testified to their sentiments by giving decent burial to the martyred Stephen. 3. Made havoc of the church.—To the onlookers it would seem that the church was being torn limb from limb and devastated, as a lion might ravish and rend his prey; but in reality it was like the blast of the gale through the ripened flower garden, bearing aloft and scattering far and wide the fluffy pappus with its pendent seed, to germinate and bear its fruit wherever the blast might suffer it to drop. And the fiercer the gale, the wider will the seed be scattered. 4. Went everywhere preaching the Word.—The bitterness of persecution should never cause any to lose faith or trust in God and his work. They may not have understood God’s purpose in permitting their dispersion, but a mighty, guiding hand was at the helm, and they were content to trust, believe, and work on. Many had lost their earthly possessions, but we would gain no hint of it from their zeal in the Master’s service. 5. And many . . . were healed.—Philip, following in the footsteps of Christ, combined the work of teaching the way of salvation with that of healing the sick; and we find this to be true in the work of others of the apostles. 6. Wondered, beholding the miracles.—The belief which was manifested by Simon was evidently the mere assent of the mind to the facts. It did not seem to affect or touch the heart. He saw what he knew was beyond his power. His former followers were turning to its influence, and he could at least lose nothing by following their example. His subsequent offer to purchase the power which the apostles possessed reveals his object in joining himself to the believers—that he might profit thereby. 7. Samaria.—This people has been called the bridge between the Jews and the Gentiles. For hundreds of years they had preserved their half-and-half condition. The Pentateuch was their Bible, but they had not come out from under the influence of heathen customs sufficiently to disregard the forms of heathen worship. The Christians made a test of this matter. If God accepted this new class of believers, Christians could not do less than to receive them. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the test. It would seem that God had designed a people for a keystone in the bridge over which his message should go to the regions beyond, and the Samaritans were that people. With this view of the work, how fitting for the Saviour to use a Samaritan as the one to succor the unfortunate man who had fallen among thieves. “EMPIRES OF THE BIBLE,” by Alonzo Trevier Jones, editor of the American Sentinel, author of “Two Republics,” “The Rights of the People,” etc. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich., or Atlanta, Ga. This book is the first of a history series, covering the great empires mentioned in the Bible from the confusion of tongues to the Babylonian captivity. Its object is to give not only the salient facts of history, but to show God’s overruling hand in the history of nations. The empires and countries especially considered are Shinar, Chaldea, Elam, Karvak, Accad, Babel, Assyria, Egypt, Israel. But we shall have more to say of the matter of the book hereafter. Its arrangement is excellent. It possesses a good table of contents, 21 maps, and an index of Scripture passages. It is nicely printed, has 410 large octavo pages, with numbered paragraphs. But it is too bad that it does not possess a good index of topics and authors quoted. It may be obtained of the publishers, as above, or by addressing Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., 39 Bond Street, New York City, or 18 W. Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo. “PERILS AND POSSIBILITIES.” A Voice of Warning and an Appeal to the Citizen and the Nation. By G. K. Owen. Published for the author by Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. Price, in neat cloth binding, $1.00; tag-board covers, 75 cents. This little work is what the French would call a mélange, we, perhaps, a medley. We have all fields, nearly, covered in this little work of nearly 200 pages. Here History, Religion, Theology, Psychology, Poetry, and Practical Life. The contents are as follows: Perils and Possibilities of Our Nation, What Is Life? Perils and Possibilities of Human Life, The Science of Memory, The Fountain of Life, An Elaborate Health and Temperance Analysis, useful to students in Physiology and Hygiene, and the poems of the Conflict, Algoma, Broken Bands, A Voice from Slumber Land, and the Burial Mound of Kalamazoo. We hope the little book will find plenty of readers, and will do them all good. VICK’S FLORAL GUIDE is, as ever, a thing of beauty. Its first-page cover is an illuminated wreath of double sweet pea blossoms in native colors, the name of which is “The Bride of Niagara.” The last-cover page is a fine cut in colors of the Snyder and Rathbun blackberries. There is another beautiful colored lithograph of garden vegetables, 13 in number. It contains all that is new and good in the business. If any of our readers wish good seeds of flowers, vegetables, grains, or potatoes, plants, or bulbs, we do not know where better can be obtained than of the always reliable seed house of Vick. Send ten cents for the catalogue—it is worth it—and deduct the price from your first order. Address James Vick’s Sons, Rochester, New York. “Copp’s Mining Code,” ninth edition, just out, published by Henry N. Copp, a lawyer of Washington, D. C., who has given many years to the study of mining laws. It is a book of more than 200 pages, and will be found of great interest to mine owners and prospectors, as it gives the United States mineral land laws and the official instructions thereunder, the various State and territorial mining laws, miners’ liens, rights of way, etc., numerous forms for use from the location to the patenting, lease, and sale of a mine, and also a large collection of abstracts of court and land office decisions and rulings. The San Francisco News Company handles Mr. Copp’s publications on the Pacific Coast. The book is for sale by the principal book stores, and by the publisher, in Washington, D. C. The price is 50 cents. We have received the “First Biennial Message of Governor James H. Budd to the Legislature of the State of California, Thirty-second Session.” It fills a good-sized pamphlet of 152 pages. It shows that Governor Budd has placed profound and diligent study on all the various departments of the State government. It is replete with timely and important suggestions, in better government and true economy, which the people will earnestly hope may be carried into effect by the Legislature. Pages 8 to 13 point out where more than twelve hundred thousand dollars have been saved to the State through economical legislation and the wise use of the veto power. A. J. Johnston, Superintendent State Printing, Sacramento, Cal. “Will Jesus Come Again?” is a little pamphlet by Mr. and Mrs. Geo. C. Needham (Albert Needham, East Northfield, Mass.). Fourth edition, 84 pages. This little tract is written in a most excellent spirit, and is decidedly scriptural so far as the fact and the literality of Christ’s coming are concerned. It is clearly shown that it is premillennial, and the nature of this age is plainly set forth. We do not think that these sweet Christian writers have the correct—Bible—view of the intermediate state, and of the millennium and “exaltation” of the “Jew.” But we trust that He who has given them so much light will lead them on to the fullness of the light of the Gospel of Christ, his great threefold message of Rev. 14:6–14. We have received through Miss Clara Barton, president of the American National Red Cross, a “Report of America’s Relief Expedition to Asia Minor under the Red Cross.” This is a specially illustrated edition and is published in response to a widespread demand. It gives reports of the various expeditions, financial and otherwise, and in its 144 finely-printed pages it gives nearly fifty half-tone illustrations. The returns from this edition, less cost of publication, will be used for the further relief of the Armenian sufferers. This fund is entirely independent, and will go direct from the Red Cross to the needs of the field so well known to it. This illustrated report may be obtained by sending thirty cents to the American National Red Cross, Washington, D. C. From the Anti-Vivisection Society, of Amora, Ill., we have received a copy of Anti-Vivisection, a monthly journal published at fifty cents a year, and the following tracts and leaflets: “Vivisection,” by Mrs. M. W. Rouse; “Inhuman Devils;” Canon Wilberforce on Vivisection; “American Vivisection;” “Study of ‘Biology’ in Public Schools;” “The Main Points Concerning Vivisection;” “Vivisection and Hospital Patients;” “Opinions of Leading Physicians Concerning Vivisection;” “An Exposition of Vivisection;” “Does Vivisection Need Concealment?” and “Does Science Need Secrecy?” by Albert Leffingwell, M.D., and many others. We need not say that every one of these publications is issued in behalf of the suffering animals, many of which are dissected alive without anaesthetics. It is to arouse public sentiment and sympathy against such cruelties in schools that the societies and publications exist. Among Christians they should not be needed; but all have not the Spirit of Christ that are called Christians. We hope these publications will rouse many hearts, and make vivisection so unpopular that it will die. A little tract has come to our table, “Christ’s Mission, New York, and Its Founder, James A. O’Connor.” It gives an interesting account of the founding of the mission and the faithful work of Mr. O’Connor, the editor of the Converted Catholic, in behalf of the Roman Catholics. Address James A. O’Connor, 142 West Twenty-first Street, New York. From the Converted Catholic publishing house comes also an interesting little tract, entitled, “Bible Reasons Why We Are Protestants,” by John Hall, D.D., pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York. “Against the Teaching of War in History Text-books,” by the Friend writer, Josiah W. Leeds, 528 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. One sympathizes with the author, and wishes that less of war and more of the acts of peace might be given in our school text-books. But, after all, the history of the people of the world is a history of strife, either against God or among themselves. The world never has known, never can know, peace. If one wishes motto letter paper, motto postals, tract envelopes, etc., they may be pleased to send a two-cent stamp for catalog to Rev. A. Smith, Utica, N. Y. —The Salvation Army in England, during its late self-denial week, raised the sum of $118,775 to be used in carrying on its work. —The Protestant foreign mission contributions of the world during the past year have exceeded those of the previous year by about $1,100,000. —The German consul to Siam was recently attacked in the streets of Bangkok by a Siamese mob, which was with difficulty dispersed by the police. —The Roman Catholic Church now claims 510,501 adherents in China, while the number of Protestant Christians in that country is computed at 100,000. —Bread riots have recently occurred at Madrid and Aranjuez, Spain, and the municipal authorities at the latter place have resigned because of inability to cope with the disturbance. —The premiers of all English colonies have been given a special invitation to be present at the celebration of the queen’s jubilee. A company of troops from each colony is included in the invitation. —A rebellion has broken out in Guatemala, which is the probable outcome of the feeling of discontent stirred up there some months ago. The government troops have had one battle with the rebels, and succeeded in dispersing them. —The students at the University of Athens, Greece, becoming incensed at one of the professors, armed themselves and took possession of the university buildings, which they held for several days; but were finally dispersed by the troops. —Fighting between “Christians” and Mussulmans has been resumed in Crete. Frequent skirmishes are reported, but details can not be obtained. The approaching feast of Ramadan is causing much apprehension among all classes in Constantinople, and the wealthiest Turks are removing their families to places of safety. —It is announced that 2,000,000 persons are now engaged in the relief work in India. Advices from Formosa report that the plague has broken out there. The sultan of Turkey has forbidden the usual pilgrimage to Mecca this year on account of the plague. It is thought that this prohibition will result in a serious insurrection. —In the House of Commons, February 3, the Woman’s Parliamentary Franchise Bill passed its second reading by a vote of 228 to 157. As there are 1,200,000 more women than men in Great Britain, the opposition pointed out the fact that the success of the movement would involve a fundamental change in the Parliamentary Constitution. —There is said to be embedded in the walls of the city of Singanfu, China, a marble tablet which bears the date of 781 A.D., and also a record of the work of the Nestorian Christians, who sent missionaries to China in the year 505 A.D. The tablet records the fact that the missionaries found many adherents even among the high officials of the empire. —The United States Government, through Minister Barrett, has made a formal demand on the Siamese Government for the appointment of a commission to investigate the assault on Vice-Consul Kellett. The Siamese Government has refused, holding that its own court should make the investigation. The outcome of the matter depends upon what action the Washington officials may take. —The paradoxical discovery that the speed of a sailing vessel may be increased by perforating its sails is claimed by Captain Vasallo, an Italian mariner. He supposes that the fixed cushion of air filling up the hollow of an inflated sail lessens the effect of the wind, and he has sought to prevent the collecting of this cushion by making a number of holes in the canvas. Several trials, made in all weathers, have given surprising results. In a light wind a vessel made 4 knots with ordinary sails and 5 knots with perforated sails; in a fresh breeze, 7 and 8¾ knots respectively, and in a strong wind, 8 and 10 knots. The ship’s value would be increased one-fifth—its trip of five weeks being reduced to four weeks—if the increased speed can be sustained throughout a long voyage.—Thrice-a-Week World. —During the past few weeks European war vessels have been quietly congregating in the immediate vicinity of the entrances to the Dardanelles. England now has over forty vessels stationed there. Some months ago she sent a fleet of twenty vessels to that locality to act in accord with Italy in forcing the sultan to adopt reformatory measures in Turkey. Italy’s war ships have been called to other localities, but England’s have remained and been strengthened. Russia’s Black Sea fleet is also showing unusual activity near the entrance to the strait, whether to assist in a demonstration against the Porte or to prevent such an action none are able to definitely state. Coupled with this, the present visit of Count Muravieff, a Russian envoy, to France and Germany, and the proposed visit of the kaiser to the czar, seems to add color to the suspicion that a definite move of some kind in relation to the Eastern Question is soon to be made by the powers. —The reports of the past week bring the following from bleeding, burning, starving Cuba: The slaughter of pacificos (those not bearing arms) and those suspected of sympathy with the insurgents continues unabated, and criminal assaults on defenseless women and girls by Spanish officers and soldiers increase rather than decrease. General Weyler is marching through Havana and Santa Clara provinces with a large army, but finds no rebels. The rebels, however, seem more successful in finding the Spaniards. Insurgents entered the town of Palmas Alta, plundered stores, burned Spanish residences, and escaped unharmed, though a Spanish garrison occupied the place. Insurgents attacked Fort Alfonso XII, but were repulsed, and burned the surrounding cane fields as they retreated. General Weyler sent 300 men in small boats up the Cuanac River to destroy Cuban fortifications. The expedition was defeated with a loss of over 100 men. Many of the boats were sunk by Cuban cannon. Insurgents attacked a Spanish guerrilla company, killing 125 and taking 100 prisoners. Some of the prisoners who had been engaged in murdering pacificos were put to the machete. General Azcarraga, a member of the Spanish cabinet, has been appointed governor general of Cuba, and Weyler will be commander-in-chief of the army. A Spanish military train was blown up by the insurgents with dynamite, and a large number of the soldiers who were on the train were killed in the engagement which followed. A Cuban hospital, defended by Cuban women, was attacked at night by 500 Spaniards, who slaughtered the seventy sick and wounded soldiers, six surgeons, and ten nurses, and all but eight of the women, who sold their lives defending the place. The eight who were not butchered were spared on account of their peculiar beauty, and reserved for a fate worse than death. The Spaniards under General Montaner, attempting to surprise the insurgents, were themselves drawn into ambush, and a dynamite mine exploded in their midst, which was followed by a fierce engagement, in which General Montaner’s troops were driven from the field with serious loss. An engagement took place between the Cubans under Edward Garcia, and the Spanish under Almendarez. The fight lasted six hours and the latter were compelled to retire on account of lack of ammunition. General Hernandez’s company of 300 Havana volunteers were met by a Cuban column ten miles from Havana City, and defeated, being driven almost to the gates of the capital. —A mother and her five children were burned to death in an incendiary fire at Hoboken, N. J., on the morning of January 31. —A railroad strike has been instituted in Montana, which, if successful in tying up the road, will throw ten thousand men out of employment. —Five children, ranging in age from eight to fifteen years, were drowned while skating on a pond near Nebraska City, Nebraska, on February 3. —The Pennsylvania State Capitol was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of February 2, the Senate being in session at the time. The loss is placed at $1,500,000. —The Venezuelan arbitration treaty was signed at Washington February 2 by Sir Julian Pauncefote, British ambassador, and Señor José Andrade, Venezuelan minister to Washington. —On December 30 the U. S. cruiser Brooklyn struck a rock in the Delaware River, and sustained serious injury to her keel and bottom, from which 125 of her steel plates were torn off. —Reports from Florida state that the recent cold snap has seriously damaged all growing vegetables, and in some parts of the State it is believed that the orange crop has been seriously affected. —On February 1 the Secretary of War sent to Congress a statement of the number of National Guardsmen in the United States. The total for all the States and Territories, including officers, is 115,627. —At a reception recently given to a party of Americans by the pope, he reverently blessed the American flag which they presented to him, declaring that America had “done more for the Catholic Church than any other country.” —The Mid-Continent, a Presbyterian paper of St. Louis, has recently been merged into the Herald and Presbyter, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and the Presbyterian, of Columbia, Mo., has been merged into the Christian Observer, of Louisville, Kentucky. —On January 30 Sir Julian Pauncefote, ambassador of Great Britain, and Richard Olney, Secretary of State of the United States, signed the treaty providing for a commission to determine the boundary line between Alaska and British America. —President-elect McKinley has chosen the following members of his cabinet: John Sherman, of Ohio, Secretary of State; Lyman J. Gage, of Illinois, Secretary of the Treasury; Russell A. Alger, of Michigan, Secretary of War; and James Wilson, of Iowa, Secretary of Agriculture. —A Southern Pacific train was “held up” near Roseburg, Oregon, on the night of January 28. The express car was completely destroyed by explosions of dynamite, and the baggage and sample cases of the passengers were burned up by the fire which followed. The robbers secured very little booty. —Haverford College, the leading Friends’ college in the east, has recently received an endowment of $750,000, making it one of the richest denominational colleges in America. —A religious organization has been formed in the city of New York under the title of the “Federation of Churches and Christian Workers,” having for its object a bond of union between the various churches in the work of uplifting and enlightening the non-church-going masses. How long will it be ere it is turned into politics? —On January 31 a west-bound passenger train on the Great Northern road left the track and plunged down an embankment of twelve feet. There were a large number of passengers on board, but none sustained serious injuries. It is thought the deep snow into which the cars plunged made the wreck less disastrous than it otherwise would have been. —On January 29 the Senate passed a bill authorizing the President to either call an international monetary conference or appoint five commissioners to such a conference should one be called by any other nation. The object of the conference will be to secure a fixity of the relative value between gold and silver, with free mintage for both metals at the rates agreed upon. —Senator Bromley, of Colorado, has introduced a resolution requesting Congress to call a convention for the revision of the National Constitution which will give it power to “protect the country against great and impending encroachments and the abnormal growth of powerful corporations—and influences that could not be foreseen at the time of the adoption of the Constitution.” —The governor of Nevada, against the protests of the governors of other States, signed, on January 29, a bill legalizing prize-fights in that State. The bill was put through the Legislature at this time in order to permit a fight between Corbett and Fitzsimmons for the pugilistic championship of the world—a fight which the principals could not obtain permission to arrange for in any other State in the Union. —Congressman Frye, of Maine, introduced an amendment to the Sundry Civil Bill on February 3, appropriating $100,000 for the improvement of Pearl Harbor, in the Hawaiian Islands, over which the United States has held jurisdiction since 1887. The senator stated that this appropriation might rightfully be considered an act of sovereignty which would ultimately lead to the annexation of the islands. —The Antiseptic Fiber Blanket Co., of San Francisco, advertise a novelty in bed covering. The blanket is made of pure fiber, which has been rendered antiseptic by chemical treatment, and contains neither wool nor cotton. On account of its light weight it is especially valuable for invalids, children, and old people. It is so low priced that after being used by persons afflicted with contagious disease, it can be destroyed with but little loss. —The ship Swanhilda, for which Australian detectives and harbor police have been waiting for weeks at San Francisco, arrived in that harbor from Australia on the morning of February 2, having on board Frank Butler, accused of a dozen murders in New South Wales, Australia. He was arrested before the ship had fairly reached the Golden Gate. Extradition papers were ready for him, and he will be taken back to Australia to answer for his many crimes.