UNDER the head of “Mathematics and Youthful Delirium,” the Los Angeles Mirror gives us the following sensible paragraph:—
“An eight-year old Baltimore girl died recently from congestion of the brain, caused, the doctor’s certificate says, by over-study. This poor little victim of the vicious cramming and forcing process in education raved in her delirium about problems in long division which she tried to solve. One particular sum she went over and over again. ‘Whenever there came a pause in her monotonous calculations, there was sure to be a wail of despair, and then she would recommence the sum.’ The system which fosters, permits or makes possible a result so deplorable as this, is wrong and criminal. It is a crime against life and health for educators to heap burdens upon children of tender years which are too great for them to bear, and it should be prohibited by law. Even where the hot-bed process does not produce ill-health and broken constitutions—results too often seen in our public schools—it results in little substantial and permanent good to the pupil, whose youthful and tender brain is overtaxed to such an extent that repugnance to study ensues, and the lessons learned by rote, and recited parrot-like in school, are soon forgotten when the child has passed the portals of the school-room and gone out to wrestle with the practical affairs of life. A judicious combination of mental, moral, and physical training should be the golden mean aimed at by school boards, superintendents, and teachers. A sound mind in a sound body—a healthy and vigorous brain and a true heart.”
We spoke at some length on this subject in a recent number of the SIGNS. It is not only making a mistake, it is committing a crime against the young, to spur them on to overstudy, and this while depriving them of opportunities163for healthful exercise. Many of the school girls, especially in the cities, take very little exercise except jumping the rope, which adds to the evil; for it is generally conceded by physicians that jumping the rope is about the worst method of taking exercise that is in practice.
“The law of use” stands among the most important of all laws. Exercise taken in useful employment is the best, because it not only exercises the muscles but tends to the cultivation of right habits, and fits the person for usefulness in after life. We consider it one of the most desirable points in a school that labor be connected with study, and look forward with pleasure to the time when this shall be brought about in the Healdsburg College.
Calls to the Camp-Meetings.
By Ellen G. White
FROM Washington Territory and from the East come urgent requests that I attend the camp-meetings. I am compelled to say, I cannot attend camp-meetings this season, either East or West. I am now engaged in important writing that I have for six years been trying to accomplish. Year after year I have broken away from this work to attend camp-meetings. In these meetings I have felt the condition of our people and have labored most earnestly in their behalf, not sparing myself. When I had gone the round of the camp-meetings, I found myself so worn and exhausted that I could not take hold of my writing with success.
The last two summers I was brought very near to the gates of death, and as I felt that it might please the Lord to let me rest in the grave, I had most painful regrets that my writings were not completed. In the providence of God my life is spared, and my health once more restored. I thank the Lord for his mercy and loving-kindness to me. I have felt ready to go east or west, if my duty were made plain; but in answer to my prayer, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" the answer comes to me, "Rest in peace until the Lord bids you go."
I have not been idle. Since the Lord raised me up at the camp-meeting in Healdsburg, I have visited Santa Rosa, Oakland, San Francisco, Petaluma, Forestville, and Ukiah, and have labored in Healdsburg, frequently speaking on the Sabbath and on Sunday evening. In four weeks I gave ten discourses, traveled two hundred miles, and wrote two hundred pages. This was too much for my strength. After laboring Sabbath and Sunday I was unable to write on Monday. I was weary in all my work. I now speak only once each week, and can accomplish considerably more writing.
My brethren who urge me to attend camp-meeting and to visit them are anxiously inquiring, When shall we have Vol. 4, Spirit of Prophecy? I can now answer them, In a few weeks my work on this book will be completed. But there are other important works that require attention as soon as this shall be finished. I am now more than fifty years old. You are not ignorant of the manner of my labors among you. I have taxed my physical and mental powers to the utmost, and I cannot flatter myself that there are yet before me many years of labor. I may fall at my post at any moment. While I have life and mental ability, I will do the work which is most needed by our people. The Lord has provided me good assistants. I have when traveling labored at great disadvantage. I have written in the depot, on the cars, under my tent at camp-meeting, often speaking until exhausted and then rising at three o'clock in the morning and writing from six to fifteen pages before breakfast. I dare not longer pursue this course. I cannot now endure taxing labor as in earlier years.
My good brethren send their urgent calls, with promises to pay my fare and to pay me for my time; this is all I expect of them, it is all they are able to do. But they have little idea of the expense incurred by these journeys. To accomplish the amount of writing that I do, I find it necessary to employ several helpers, the best that I can obtain. I have paid their traveling expenses, to the amount of hundreds of dollars. In my absence I pay them for their time, to do what they can, but they necessarily work at great disadvantage. Traveling is expensive. I cannot take my helpers where I go, and should I do so I could not furnish them with work while I am engaged in labor in camp-meetings.
It has been most difficult to obtain the right kind of assistants as copyists and as house-keepers. Cheap and inefficient help would cause me so much perplexity that I could do but little in any capacity. In the providence of God I am now in every respect the most favorably situated that I have ever been during my pilgrimage life. I enjoy the peace of Jesus, and will do what I can. In my husband's death I was deprived of an able helper; but the Lord is good, and I am grateful for his mercy, his care, and his tender love.
It would give me great pleasure to meet my dear brethren and sisters in camp-meeting. I feel the love of Jesus burning in my soul. I love to talk this out and to write it out. My prayers shall be, that God may bless you at your camp-meetings, and that your souls may be refreshed by his grace. If God bids me leave my writing to attend these meetings or to speak to the people in different places, I hope to hear and obey his voice.
MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Healdsburg, Cal., March 26, 1883.
The Two Covenants.
By John Nevins Andrews
(Concluded.)
WHEN, the work of our High Priest is thus completed, and the saints made meet for their inheritance in light, the consummation of the new covenant hastens. The Saviour can no longer bear to have his people so far from him. It is the good pleasure of the Father to give them the kingdom. He must show them the glory that Christ had with him before the world was. John 27:24. So he sends his Son for them, to bring them to himself. 1 Thess. 4:14. And Jesus, having made all his saints immortal, and taken them into his Father’s presence, celebrates his marriage supper, serving his saints in person, and drinking anew, with them, the fruit of the vine in the kingdom of God, which he had not before tasted since the night when he gave them the cup representing the new covenant in his blood. 1 Cor. 15:51-55; John 14:1-3; Rev. 19:7-9; Luke 12:36, 37; 22:15-20. Then they sit with Christ in thrones of judgment while the cases of the wicked are examined (1 Cor. 6:1-3; Rev. 20:1-4); and after the execution of the judgment, when the lake of fire has given place to the new creation, then the immortal saints shall receive the eternal inheritance in the new earth. And thus John describes this grand consummation of the new covenant when he says: "And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21:3.
"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord." Jer. 31:34. And thus Isaiah describes this state of things when all shall know the Lord: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. THY PEOPLE ALSO SHALL BE ALL RIGHTEOUS; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Isa. 60:19-22. And thus the grand result may be stated in one sentence: God is all in all.
The relation of the law of God to the two covenants has been, by many persons, strangely misunderstood. But, having stated the Bible doctrine of the law and covenants, let us now illustrate it. A young American visits Russia, and, by a remarkable turn of events, attracts the attention of the emperor. That monarch, becoming interested in the young man, proceeds to make a covenant with him. He says to him, "You see my wealth, my power, my greatness; and you have already formed some acquaintance with me. I propose now to take you for my special friend, and to be a special friend to you on this condition: That you obey the law of this realm." To this, the young man gladly assents. The emperor then places in his hand the volume containing the law of the empire. This the young man carefully reads. When he has thus read the volume, the emperor calls up the whole matter anew. He says, "You have now read the volume concerning which we have entered into covenant. Do you now choose to make this a firm covenant, or do you now decline so to do?" The young man replies that, having read the volume with care, he heartily approves of all that it enjoins, and will obey all its precepts; and that he wishes to consummate the covenant which they have made concerning all its words.
The reader can see the difference between the covenant and the law. The contracting parties have made a covenant concerning all the words of the law. In the primary sense of the word covenant, that agreement between the emperor and the young man is the covenant. In the secondary sense, the law of Russia is the covenant, as being the condition on which the agreement rests. Yet, when the covenant which the parties have made concerning all the words of the law of Russia is spoken of, there is a clear, plain, and unmistakable reference to the contract, and not to the law.
We will now suppose that the young man falls under evil influences, and breaks the law of Russia in many particulars. The emperor informs him that the covenant between them is at an end, being rendered null and void by his transgression. Question: What is it that the young man has destroyed by his evil course? Is it the law of Russia? By no means. That rests upon the sovereign authority of the emperor, and not upon the obedience of this young man. But what is it, then, that is abrogated? Simply the contract which they have made concerning the law of the empire. It was in the power of either party to violate its conditions, and thus to release the other from the obligation of the covenant. This the young man had done; and thus, by his own act, he had terminated the covenant.
But we will further suppose that the emperor, out of pity for the inexperience of the young man, and in view of the great temptations which surrounded him, and moved by feelings of true benevolence, makes a second proposition to him. He says, "I will make a new covenant with you, not according to the one which you broke; for I will this time, by means of faithful instruction, put my law in your heart; and if you break it, I will give you an opportunity by genuine repentance to find forgiveness, and to prove yourself a man worthy of my favor."
Suppose, now, that this young man is told that his violation of the first covenant had destroyed the law of Russia, and that the new covenant was framed expressly to enable him to disregard the law of that empire; who does not see that such counsel would be ruinous for him to follow? And who does not also see that great as is the care of the emperor to save that young man, his care that the law of Russia shall be obeyed is still greater? Who will say that the abrogation of the first of these covenants, or the establishment of the second one, rendered null and void the law of the empire of Russia?
With a few words concerning the allegory in Isa. 54, and Gal. 4:21-31, this subject shall be concluded. 1. The two women, Hagar and Sarah, represent, not the law and the gospel, but old Jerusalem and Jerusalem above. For the mothers of the two families are not the covenants, but the Jerusalems. See verses 25-31. 2. The two covenants, whereby God is in his worship connected with these two Jerusalems, are represented by the relation which Abraham sustained to these two women. 3. The children of old Jerusalem are the natural descendants of Abraham. 4. Those of the new Jerusalem are those who are his children by faith and obedience. John 8:39. 5. The bondage of old Jerusalem was not caused by the law of God, but by sin. John 8:32-36. 6. The freedom of the children of heavenly Jerusalem is not their liberty to violate the law of God, but their freedom from sin. Rom. 8:1-7. 7. Those who are not under the law, but under grace, have been pardoned in consequence of faith and repentance. Rom. 3:19-31. 8. Finally, our heirship is under the new covenant, not under the old. We have deliverance from sin through the blood of Christ, but not permission to violate the law of God. The design of the new covenant is to rescue us from the condemnation of the law, and not leave us till the law of God is made a part of our very being, and its righteousness fulfilled in our lives. The old Jerusalem, with its sanctuary, its ark, and its priesthood, has passed away. But Jerusalem which is above is our mother; and in its sanctuary is found, not alone our High Priest with his atoning blood, but also the ark of God, wherein is that law which the new covenant writes in our hearts. Rev. 11:19. J. N. A.
Cultivating a Bad Temper
THE employment of some poor mortals is to cultivate a bad temper.
Is It a Violation of the Sabbath?
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
From a gentleman in Iowa we have received the following:—
"Several of my Adventist neighbors claim to conform to all the teachings of the Bible, and still they tend to a great many horses, cattle, and hogs, and hitch up and drive their horses some nine miles to meeting on Saturday; I claim that every one of these acts is in direct violation of passages in the Bible. I refer to the fourth commandment, Ex. 23:12; 31:15, etc. F. C."
In answering this we will leave the hogs out of the question, and consider the stock merely as horses and cattle,—animals that are useful to man. The hog was an unclean animal long before the time of Moses, and his nature remains the same under the gospel dispensation. Man may be purified by the gospel; the hog never can. He is simply a scavenger, and should no more be raised and eaten than should the vulture or the buzzard. If the Sabbath is ever desecrated by the care of animals, it is certainly done when that care is bestowed upon the filthy swine.
But, hogs aside, is it a violation of the Sabbath to take care of stock on that day? The answering of another question will go far toward settling this. Is it right to keep stock at all? Most certainly it is, will be the reply of everybody. The commandment itself recognizes that cattle will be kept. They are necessary to man's existence. Then we answer that the person who has such a Pharisaic regard for the Sabbath that he will let the dumb brutes which are dependent on him suffer for food and water, would do well to "go and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." The Scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, because he healed the sick on that day; but he showed them, Luke 13:11-17, that to relieve the sick of their infirmities was as proper as to lead their dumb animals to water in order that they might not suffer. Both are acts of mercy, and as such may be done on the Sabbath-day, upon which it is lawful to do good.
Of course judgment must be used. We have simply stated the bare fact that it is proper to care for stock on the Sabbath. But we are aware that unnecessary work is performed on the Sabbath; many things are done that might have been provided for the day before; but this does not disprove the truth of our statement.
Now as to hitching up a team and driving to meeting. Whether or not this is a violation of the commandment depends on the purpose for which we go to meeting. The commandment says "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work." It forbids the doing of any work, and yet, by the express command of God, the priests did manual labor on the Sabbath-day, in preparing and changing the show-bread, and making extra offerings, and were of course blameless. See Lev. 24:5-8; Num. 28:9, 10; Matt. 12:5. Why were they blameless? Because they were doing the Lord's work. Then we learn that when the commandment says that we shall not do any work it means that we shall not do our own work. So if we go to meeting simply for a pleasant drive, or to exchange gossip with acquaintances whom we cannot conveniently meet on any other day, it is undoubtedly a sin; but if we go to worship God, it is pleasing to him. This will answer the objection on Ex. 23:12. If men may do certain work (the Lord's work) on the Sabbath without violating the commandment, then it is evident that they may use their beasts whenever it is necessary to the accomplishment of that work.
"It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath-day." This means not merely that we are permitted to do good on the Sabbath-day, but that we are under obligation to do so; "lawful" means, "conformable to law; constituted by law." If we do not do good on the Sabbath-day, then we are Sabbath-breakers. To lie in bed the greater part or the whole of the Sabbath, unless on account of sickness, or to lazily lounge about the house, is most emphatically a violation of the fourth commandment.
We do not know our friend's religious opinions, but we judge him to be one who does not keep the Sabbath, and who seeks to justify himself in his course by magnifying the real or imaginary faults of others. This is very frequently done. But if this be his position he has condemned himself, for if he means what he says when he criticises the action of his neighbors, he believes that the Bible teaches the observance of the seventh day. Then we would tell him in all kindness that their misdeeds will not justify him. If his neighbors are doing wrong, that will not excuse him for doing wrong too. If his neighbors do violate the Sabbath, that will not take away a particle of his guilt if he breaks it also. His only course is to set them an example of well-doing. But let him be careful not to base his action on a distorted view of a single passage. The Bible is not divided against itself, and no one can go astray who follows its teachings as a whole. As the gospel is of no force without the law, so the law cannot be understood without the gospel. "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh" both in the Old Testament and in the New.
Be Not Weary in Well-Doing.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.
THERE are many forcible expressions in the Scriptures which show the importance of Christ's followers laboring for the salvation of others. The Scriptures also clearly indicate that it is not those efforts which outwardly appear to be the greatest which accomplish the most good. There is an unseen providence which shapes circumstances and controls events, thus making our efforts fruitful. God gives success more in proportion to the love we have than the amount we do. The widow's two mites were recorded by the angels as more than the "much" which was cast into the treasury by the rich men. For this reason all who have the love of God in the heart should ever labor with hope and courage, however small and weak their efforts.
Several years ago some unknown person sent the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to friends in Massachusetts, who made no use of it, not even reading a single page. Finally they moved away, and in time occupied a house in which a family had lived who also had received the SIGNS, but apparently without any good result. It so happened that the last two pages of one number were left in the house, and the family above referred to found them. Curiosity led the wife to read them, and, not knowing what paper it was, she became deeply interested in it, so that after re-reading and calling her husband's attention to it, she laid it carefully away, where it remained some two years, when it was found and read again.
"Husband," said she one day, "we ought to take a religious paper," and proposed sending for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. "That is an Adventist paper, you do not want that," was the prompt reply. They then noticed the advertisement of the Review and Herald, and, after sending for a sample number, subscribed for it. Its weekly visits became more and more welcome. They sent for tracts and books, which were eagerly perused, and which led them to study the Bible as they had never done before.
About last Christmas the wife decided that she could no longer break the Sabbath of the Lord, and quietly commenced to observe it. Her husband returning from his work found her studying her Sabbath-school lesson. "It seems like Sunday here," he remarked. "Not Sunday, but the Sabbath," was the response. These words were accompanied by the Holy Spirit to his heart, and he could not forget them. He invited his employer to call upon him the next day, so that he might inform him of his intention to keep the Sabbath. As they had other company, this conversation was postponed until the following Sunday, when he stated his convictions, adding that he had decided not to break another Sabbath, and that he presumed that his services would not be wanted longer. Said his employer, "If these are your honest sentiments I will not lay a straw in your way," and his work was continued. The next Sabbath he observed with his wife.
They had never made a profession of religion, but now the family altar was erected, and he became convicted with reference to some useless habits, such as the use of tobacco. Could he chew the weed to the glory of God? Was it spending the money which God's providence had given him for that which would honor and glorify His Creator? He renounced the filthy habit, and found peace in so doing.
He also felt that God had claims upon him with respect to temporal matters, and that he should acknowledge his goodness in providing for his physical wants. "Ye have robbed me," says the prophet. His heart was tender, and he believed God. He therefore commenced "upon the first day of the week to lay aside as God had prospered him"; and from that time forward he conscientiously laid aside one tithe of what he received for his support, thus fulfilling the instructions of Christ in Luke 11:42; Matt. 23:23.
Results of Missionary Labor.
By Mrs. H. P. Gray
MEMBERS of our V. M. Society have lately received quite a number of interesting letters, and have been much encouraged. Thinking the reading of a few extracts of some of them in the SIGNS might have the same effect upon missionary workers generally, I send you the following:—
A gentleman from Canada says: "I assure you I still value those papers. I am always very thankful for them. I always deliver them to some friend as soon as I am through with them, so they lose no power. I cannot give my views on the Sabbath question. I am, however, deeply interested."
Another gentleman from Texas writes: "I have received the tracts and SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and I must say that I feel truly thankful to you for them. I am pleased with the spirit of their teachings and principles, so far as I understand them. I am an old man, a member of the Methodist Church. I strive to live as becomes the follower of the Lord Jesus, and to show forth his praise, not only with my lips but in my life. I have frequently asked the question of Methodist and Baptist ministers, 'Who changed the Sabbath?' The question has never been satisfactorily answered to my mind."
A lady of Oregon writes: "I have read your letter over several times, also the papers and tracts, and humbly asked for divine guidance and understanding. I told you if I became convinced of error I would surely try to do my duty. I now acknowledge that I am convinced that the change of the Sabbath was not made nor sanctioned in the days of Christ or the apostles, and that it is wrong to keep any other than the Lord's Sabbath. I am not ashamed to own my convictions. Pray for me that I may be led aright."
A lady of this State who became interested a few years ago upon hearing a few sermons, and who has since become a subscriber for the SIGNS, says: "I love the doctrine. It has done me good; given me health, strength, and peace of mind."
Another lady of this State writes: "I thank you sincerely for papers and pamphlets received. I am interested in all things pertaining to the better understanding of religious truths. I am not a member of any church, but have always had reverence for Christianity and the Bible as I have understood it. I will thankfully receive and read anything you may send me."
A good Baptist lady from Illinois promises that she will thoroughly investigate the Sabbath question, that she is very much pleased with the papers and incloses money to subscribe for it herself during the coming year.
While we have had so many favorable letters, we have also received answers from some who turn away from the word of "Him that speaketh from Heaven," fulfilling the words of 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. A worthy divine of the Baptist Church of this State says: "As to your views of keeping the commandments I prefer John's teachings to that of the old decalogue, by which no flesh can be saved. We were glad to hear that the brother believes in following John's teachings, for there are many precious exhortations and promises in his writings concerning the keeping of the commandments to those who will heed. We mention a few references: 1 John 3:4; 5:2, 3; 2:3, 4; John 14:15, 24; and if he could accept any other authority than John, he will find in Jas. 4:12 that there is one Lawgiver; in Isa. 33:22 that the Lord is our Lawgiver; in Rom. 3:31 that Christ establishes the law, but does not make it void. In Matt. 5:17 again Christ admonishes his disciples: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill;" and in verse 19 of the same chapter he gives the result of breaking and also of keeping the law, &c. We feel assured that with careful study the brother cannot dispense with the law.
MRS. H. P. GRAY, Librarian.
Lemoore, Cal., March 25.
Among the Churches.
By M. C. Israel
SAN PASQUAL.—This is a beautiful little valley about thirty-five miles northeast of San Diego. The church is composed of those who have moved from different parts of the State. It has been so far from our fields of labor that they have had but little ministerial help. With quite a number the spirit of the world had very much affected their interest in spiritual things. In the several meetings we held we tried to set before the people the dangers, duties, and privileges of Christians who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. At the quarterly meeting, at which nearly all the members of the church were present, confessions were quite freely made, and resolutions formed to try to follow the Saviour more closely in the future. This opened the way for the Spirit of the Lord to come in, and we had an excellent meeting, at the close of which a brother and his daughter who had embraced the truth through missionary efforts, were baptized. At a meeting in the evening arrangements were made to raise the club of Signs from fourteen to forty copies. The plan of placing small packages of tracts in the hands of all in the vicinity who will read, was adopted; also of making a systematic effort to get the message before the people of the district by mailing a few copies of the Signs to them, and following up the work with other reading matter as they become interested.
Los ANGELES.—I returned to this place to attend quarterly meetings, which were held March 23, 24. The interest was good; nearly all the members were present. Officers were elected for the coming year. As the roll was called, each one responded with encouraging testimonies, after which all participated in the celebration of the ordinances. On Sunday morning, the oldest daughter of the Elder (Bro. G. W. Danforth) was baptized, and joined the church. We held preaching service at 11 A. M., and a missionary meeting at 2 P. M. We pray that the blessing of the Lord will be with his people in these places as they try to do his will and hold up the light.
Oakland, March 30, 1883. M. C. ISRAEL.
Temperance.
Cider and Cider Drunkards.
MANY persons call themselves "total abstainers," but will not refuse "a little" or a great deal "good old cider." It is cider that stands between many families and temperance principles. It is not our intention to excommunicate the man who takes "a little very hard cider for billiousness," nor to grieve the spirit of the venerable old gentleman who finds it a good "phlegm-cutter." What we want to show is that "hard cider" is a very intoxicating and destructive sort of liquor. It contains from eight to ten per cent. of absolute alcohol, that is, a glass full of cider is equal to a glass of the same size one-fourth full of brandy, which contains less than fifty per cent. But it is not the alcohol alone that accounts for the different sorts of drunkenness. A marked difference often exists between beer, wine, rum, gin, brandy, and whisky drunkards; in the general condition of the habitual toper; and in the actions of the drunkards when drunk.
Cider drunkards are, generally speaking, the most morose, the crossest, ugliest, and most unmanageable of all; and when drunk, they stay drunk the longest, and sober up the most slowly.
An eminent physician, speaking of one of those men who had been virtually drunk all winter, said, "He has drunk so much cider that it has turned what milk of human kindness he had into vinegar." One of the best farmers in New England broke his wife's heart by continued ugliness and abuse, and came at last to poverty through cider. In being taken by him through his cellar, and shown seven varieties of cider, the writer said, "Just the number of evil spirits that made the last state of a certain man worse than his first." "O," said the victim, "a little good cider does nobody any harm." But in a short time it ruined him. A few years ago, when apples were unusually plenty, a farmer in Rhode Island put down for home use forty barrels of cider. Before the spring three of the six of which his family was composed had drunk themselves to death, and one of the survivors was injured in a drunken melee.
We are stirred to write on "cider and cider drunkards" just now, by the testimony recently given before Surrogate Coffin at White Plains, N. Y. Westchester County is famous for cider, and the daughter of the testator, who was a farmer, testified that her father was in the habit of drinking excessively, being frequently intoxicated with cider. On one occasion he lighted a number of candles, placed them on the table, and dared any one to blow them out. On another occasion, he filled a barrel full of hay and placed it on the floor of the barn, and then set the hay on fire. At another time he filled a stove with ashes, and then said he would like to see any one of his family kindle a fire in it. Once he attempted to cut the throat of one of his daughters. He was arrested in 1868 and again in 1870, on complaint of his wife, for cruel treatment. He was sent to the county jail, and subsequently to the penitentiary.
There is plenty of evidence that the song of a "little more cider too," is often the song of the drunkard.—Christian Advocate.
Good News From a Far Country.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
[THE following is from a letter recently received from Bro. Drew. It speaks for itself, and breathes the true spirit. Encouraging reports are constantly received from different portions of this country and the Old World, clearly indicating that God has gone before us in preparing hearts for the reception of his truth. S. N. HASKELL.]
Never before did I undertake to write a letter to any one with a heart so full of gratitude to God for his goodness to me, as the one I now write to you. I know that the mercies of God are great to us, and his love is infinite, surpassing all understanding. I know from experience for the last thirteen years that the great God is leading his people in the third angel's message, and if we are faithful we shall finally triumph. The last quarter of the old year was a hard and trying one, but we are happy to state that we never enjoyed so much of the blessing of God since we heard the message, as during the last quarter. The last six weeks of the old quarter, I sold nearly or quite 60,000 pages of books and tracts. During the quarter just ended I sold 90,000 pages, and loaned 15,000, and gave away 5,000. That is certainly good for old England.
Last Monday a Swedish Sabbath-keeper passed through here en route to Kansas. I gave him a paper and a tract. I noticed he looked hard at me, and when I went on deck he came and said, You Advente? I said, Yes. He smote his breast and said, Me Advente and gave me a good shaking of the hand. He could not speak a word of English, so I found one that could and asked him if he knew Bro. Matteson; he said, Yes, also Sister Rasmussen and Bro. Rosquist. I would have given quite a sum to be able to talk with him directly.
Last week I found a captain who was bordering on infidelity. I had a long talk with him and sold him $8.00 worth of books, and when I left he gave me $5.00 more. He is going to settle among our people in Lower California, on account of the asthma. I have visited him and his family and prayed with them. They have left their ship, and are going home by steamship, with the view of settling his affairs, and thence to Battle Creek for two or three weeks, and thence to Lower California. I have prayed even during the silent hours of the night that our feeble efforts may be blessed, and he become a child of God.
You spoke about Israel sitting still. I presume they were not so nervous as I am, for to sit still would be death to me. I love the work too well to sit still, and I want no one about me who is lazy. A lazy Christian is a terrible curse to himself and to the cause of God. I look upon the wants of the cause here as my family.
I know without the least shadow of a doubt that God is leading his people, and I would not do the least thing to mar the good work. But what I have written in this letter is the true sentiment of my mind. I am still laboring for Mr. ——, and I pray that God will open the way to get him interested in our books on prophecy. He has taken the “Home Hand-book,” etc., to the amount of $20.00, but no books on the prophecies. Just now the work is rather slack, but we still find enough to do. I am anxious to become strong in God, skillful in his warfare, faithful to his precious cause, and with you and all the faithful at last stand on Mount Zion.
Petaluma, California.
By W. M. Healey
In company with Bro. Ings I spent a few days at Petaluma, and held five meetings. Two persons, who have become interested through the missionary work of friends, took a stand for the truth by being baptized and joining the church, covenanting to keep "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Here, as in other parts of the State, there seems to be a need of a general effort being put forth to strengthen the cause.
W. M. HEALEY.
Whisky, Gin, Rum, or Brandy
Dr. HAMMOND, formerly surgeon-general of the United States army, says: "I know of no possible condition which renders the use of whisky, gin, rum, or brandy necessary or proper."
A Fair Test.
FAIR tests of the value of total abstinence from alcoholic drinks is much to be desired. An English life insurance company has furnished one of great value. It has a temperance section and a general section. Into the first it admits only persons who have been total abstainers for some years. This test is not applied in the general section. For the twelve years, 1868-1880, the expected deaths in the general section (according to the rules in use for ascertaining the expectations of life) were 3,743, and the actual deaths were 3,744. In the temperance section, according to the same rules, the expected deaths were 2,184, and the actual deaths only 1,566—that is to say 618 less than the deaths to be expected under the general rules. This shows a saving of life equal to nearly thirty per cent. for the whole period. This seems to us to present a very fair test of the value of total abstinence. To be sure, no one would question the destructive power of excessive drinking; but the general section is not made up of excessive drinkers. Men of such habits are excluded from the general section. It is, therefore, a comparison between total abstinence and what is called moderate drinking.—Ex.
Cigar Manufacture in New York
A CONTRIBUTOR to the Tribune furnishes that paper some information about the manufacture of cigars in New York, which can hardly be agreeable reading for smokers. Five-eighths of all the cigars that are sold in New York City, he states, are made in east-side tenements by Bohemian families, who perform all the various processes of manufacture in their dirty rooms, where they not only work but also eat and sleep. The tobacco is wet down and spread upon the floor overnight, and is trodden upon meanwhile by the family in the pursuit of their domestic operations. In the morning, while it is yet damp and soiled, it is stripped from the stems by the children, while the women make the fillers, and the men of the family roll and trim the cigars, turning out seven hundred in a day, which are duly branded with some high-sounding Spanish name and sold for an imported article. And the children who aid in the manufacture of these bundles of filth, are kept steadily at work for fourteen hours a day. They are more to be pitied than the people who willingly smoke the cigars, for they cannot help themselves.