Earlier text: Making AngelsSOME of the gentlemen tipplers of Cleveland are learning that there are two sides to the liquor question, and are surprised to find that their wives are learning to follow in their husbands' crooked steps. Perhaps it may be a profitable change for husbands to come home sober to drunken wives, instead of coming home drunk to sober ones—just to see how it works. Says an exchange: "Cleveland society is greatly agitated over the bibulous tendencies of some of its best members. It has leaked out that several cosy little bars, where a social glass of liquor may be obtained by ladies 'on the quiet,' are running to large patronage. These saloons are not placed in public sight, and properly called such, but under the guise of bakeries and dressmaking stores have a convenient little back room, where the bibulous female can partake of her 'bitters' unperceived. This private business of tippling has been 'given away' by a married lady of that city, who is heartily ashamed of this degrading habit of her sex. She describes one of these places and her experience there as follows:— One of these bars is in a trimming and dressmaking store. There is a secretary, or what looks like one, closed up, and when the cover lets down, it discloses three or four Bohemian glass balls and some small cut glass tumblers. You can have whisky, brandy, or wine in this little alcove, by paying fifteen cents a drink for it. A week ago I was in there with two ladies, when one of them whispered, 'I am going to treat you,' and we all went back there and were treated. I never felt so ashamed in my life. I told them it was just awful, but they said it was no worse for ladies to be sociable than their husbands. A very nice young lady who was with us was real boozy, and gabbled as I never heard her before. There is another place where they sold fine candies and ice cream last summer—one of the best places of the kind in the city—and they served liquors in a variety of fancy ways. I know where there is a very fine bakery and confectionery store up town, where there is a very neat and cosy little bar in a room off the salesrooms. The bar is attended to by the lady of the house. I have never been in that place, but Mrs. —— says it is the neatest little place imaginable. The finest liquors and wines are sold. She says the women are learning to make spiced and fancy drinks. It is a very fine family, everybody goes there. The lady and one of her daughters are members of our church." This is a style of early piety that is converting the world at a tremendous rate. If strong drink is useful, and healthful, and needful, pass it round;—stand back gentlemen, and give the ladies a chance. They do so in London. My moderate drinking friend, would you not like to see your wife going this road? How about licensing such places for her accommodation!—Christian. HOW SHE LEARNED TO BE CHEERFUL.
"I AIN'T a bit sleepy, Rue," said Dick, as he took off his shoes, "and I shall want to have you tell me 'bout Jack the Giant-killer, and Moses 'n Dannells 'n Goliah, 'n all the rest of them." Rue looked up to the clock in despair,—she did want to go to meeting so much. It had been such a long, hard day, she felt as though she must have a word of help and encouragement from somewhere. It was just quarter of seven,—perhaps Dick would let her off in time. "You tell 'em too fast," said that incorrigible youth, as she commenced the first one on her list rapidly. "I can't 'preciate 'em when you talk so fast." Rue smothered a sigh as she commenced on Moses, more moderately. Seven o'clock—quarter past! Dick's eyes showed not the remotest sign of closing and she had only gotten as far as Goliah. "Dick," she said persuasively, "isn't this enough for to-night? If you will be a good boy and go to sleep without any more, I'll let you make candy to-morrow,—will you?" "I'll think about the candy to-morrow," said Dick calmly. "Maybe shan't want any; if I do, I'll let you know,—now let's go on." "But I shall not let you make it unless you do as I want you to-night." "Oh, yes you will," replied Dick, with serene assurance, "if I tease hard enough, you will be glad to. Now I want to hear about Joseph." There was plainly nothing to be done about meeting. Rue went through her list without further remark; she might as well be telling stories as anything else, she thought. But by-and-by even Dick could hold out no longer. Rue was free to go if she pleased; but it was too late for meeting, so she went down stairs, out on the porch. It had been such a long, hard day. To-morrow would be just like it; the day after, the same. Everything had gone wrong. She wondered vaguely how old she would live to be. Could she go on like this until she was seventy-five or eighty? Everything had gone wrong all day long. Mother had a sick headache, the baby was teething and fretting incessantly. Angy had torn her dress a miserable, three-cornered tear, as though Rue had not enough to do without having to stop and mend that. As for Dick, what had he not done! And the fall term of the Academy commenced to-day. That was enough in itself. Nobody knew how Rue wanted to go; but how could she? Her father was unfortunate in business—somehow he always had been—and always would be, Rue supposed. There was a large family of them. Rue often wondered if unfortunate families were not always large! Her mother was not very strong—she could not do the work alone, anyway. So Rue must give up the darling purpose of her heart, and instead of fitting herself for a teacher, must stay home,—help about the house, and the care of the children. Rue's face grew very bitter as she thought it all over, out there in the gathering dusk. So buried was she in her own thoughts that she did not notice her father's step, as he came up the walk and sat down beside her. "What is it, Rue?" he asked gently and tenderly. Rue was the child of his heart. "O father, it isn't anything, it's everything," she said, trying hard not to let the tears come. Poor father! he grieved over his unfortunateness so much for the others' sake. But she need not have tried so hard. "I know," he said. "I wish you could have gone to the Academy, Rue." Rue broke down utterly then. "I tried not to mind it," she sobbed, "but it is so hard to give it up, and I hate housework so! I don't believe God loves us—me at any rate—or he wouldn't make it so hard." "Rue," said her father, "do you remember, when you were a little girl how your mother left you for a whole week to keep house and take care of Tom, Angie, and Will—do you remember?" "I guess I do," laughed Rue. "Didn't I feel proud! for you know everybody said mamma ought to have Miss Pepper or some one come here to stay and look after things. But mamma said, no,—she could trust me; and I was proud enough!" "But it was hard. You know how very tired you would be every night. Didn't you ever think she could not love you, or she would not give you such a hard thing to do?" "O father," said Rue sharply, "I know she trusted, and—." But all at once Rue stopped; it began to dawn upon her what her father meant. "Don't you think perhaps it is the same with God, that he gives us the hard places in trust,—just as the general puts his best men on the most dangerous posts?" "O father, you don't really think so, do you?" "Indeed I do, my daughter. Nothing comes by chance. Everything—even the most trifling incident—has its place in the plan of our lives; and for some of us God plans hard things. Shall we disappoint our leader, or shall we prove equal to the trust? Can we not be glad that he thinks us capable of the hard places?" Rue's eyes filled with tears. But over her face there crept a bright smile. "If he's trusting me I'll do my best," she said solemnly. "And remember, little daughter, no matter how hard and strange it may seem, it is the very best thing for us, or else it would not come to us. You and I cannot understand why it is best for you to have to stay at home, when you want so much to go to school; but we know we are in safe, wise hands—do we not?" "I'll try to remember," whispered Rue softly, as she stooped for a good-night kiss, "it will help ever so much."—Christian Intelligencer. The Man Who Bowed to Children.
THERE once lived, in a small village of Germany, a school-master named Frebonius. It was about the year 1492, just when America was on the point of being discovered. So, then, the children would soon be obliged to study a larger geography, and bend down to lessons all about land and water of two hemispheres instead of one. Frebonius was, I suppose, as tall and large as any man; but he had not grown above being very respectful toward small boys and girls—much more respectful, I think, than people in general at that time or any time. He bowed to them as if they were the size of men and women. Perhaps some of them would increase with years till they turned out to be famous. Who could tell? The good man who bowed used to think of such possibilities. Frebonius, no doubt, knew people who carried high heads, and passed the very young folks in the street with no more notice than if they had been so many sheep on their way from the fold to the pasture. He watched such persons while they regarded the little ones in company as little as if they had been pigs or chickens. I dare say, that years before, when he was only two or three feet high, he had been one of the rudely neglected. He, little Johnny Frebonius, had perhaps at some time been going along the road, and had met the doctor, and further on the minister; and when they arrived home, neither of these great men could tell whether he had met Johnny or not. One was thinking of his sermon, and the other of his physic. Mr. Frebonius often gave a kind word and a pleasant nod to two children, belonging to two neighbors, as he went by the door of one of them. One, astride his grandpa's cane, was playing horse—a very frisky steed; the other was making mud pies. "Ah!" said the master, "here will be a gentleman and a lady by-and-by." And he met them with a bow so respectful that they felt better than if he had given them a piece of gold. And the good man lived to see them grow up, the one to be a burgomaster and the other his smart wife. You see there was something very proper in the salutation given years before, to the pastry-cook and the horseman. And I can easily believe that, when any of the boys and girls met Mr. Frebonius, their eyes were very bright and their manners very polite, and that every time they saw him, they felt very respectful and happy. Frebonius was a school-master, and it was his habit to bow to his pupils when he entered his school-room. When some one expressed astonishment, he said: "There are among these boys men of whom God will one day make burgomasters, chancellors, doctors, and magistrates. It is right we should treat them with respect." One of those boys was a certain Martin Luther.—Christian Register. "From henceforth no more twain, but one,"
Yet ever one though being twain,
And self is ever lost and won
Through love's own ceaseless loss and gain;
And both their full perfection reach,
Each growing the full self through each. Two in all worship, glad and high,
All promises to praise and prayer,
"Where two are gathered, there am I;"
Gone half the weight from all ye bear,
Gained twice the force for all ye do—
The ceaseless, sacred church of two. One in all lowly ministry,
One in all priestly sacrifice,
Through love which makes all service free,
And finds or makes all gifts of price,
All love which made life rich before
Through this great central love grown more. And so, together journeying on
To the great bridal of the Christ,
When all the life his love has won
To perfect love is sacrificed,
And the new song beyond the sun
Peals, "Henceforth no more twain, but one." And in that perfect marriage day
All earth's lost love shall live once more;
All lack and loss shall pass away,
And all find all not found before;
Till all the worlds shall live and glow
In that great love's great overflow.
—Good Words. Learn Not to Be Disappointed.
"LEARN not to be disappointed," was the advice recently given to one lamenting the failure of hopes and plans. Its quality depended wholly on the manner of putting it in practice, on the means to be employed for its achievement. If it is to be accomplished by cultivating stoicism, it is better let alone, though one suffer many needless pangs. But if, through one's trust in the Heavenly Father's provident care of all his creatures, and added to this a reliance on the statement "All things work together for good to them that love God," one rises superior to disappointment, then it is well. And this is the privilege of every one of God's children. Why should we distrust? Through all the annoyances of life, just as truly as through its sorrows, he is drawing us nearer to himself. In great sorrows we easily recognize his hand, but in the simple and multiplied vexations of life we find it more difficult. And yet the true secret of learning not to be disappointed lies in the habit of attributing everything that comes to us unsought, whether of good or ill, of joy or sorrow, to a divine hand; and of accepting it with a child-like confidence that is at once the offspring of infinite knowledge and infinite love. "Not my will, but thine," was the Saviour's utterance in the darkest hour of his life; and such is the spirit we, as his followers, should seek to cultivate. We lose so much of sweetness and joy, of a restful quietness, by fretting and combating instead of quietly accepting. We grow hard and bitter oftentimes under the very discipline that should make us gentle and tender. Besides, to this trust is given one of the most precious promises of the Bible, "perfect peace." A peace that lifts one above the jars and discords of life into such an atmosphere of security and freedom that it becomes possible, as never before, to discern the true relation of things temporal to things eternal; to use the gifts possessed, whether one or many, to the greatest advantage, and to obey the apostle's injunction, "Rejoice evermore."
— Christian at Work. WHAT is it to be a "good fellow"? Sometimes death takes from a community a man who was unsuccessful in business, neglectful of his family, extravagant in money matters, fond of drink, unfamiliar with the inside of churches, and altogether worthless. Thereupon his cronies, and even some of his superiors, finding no other praise to speak of him, aver that "at any rate, he was a good fellow." This sort of eulogy may easily be secured by any one who is willing to sit up late in clubrooms, drink long, laugh loud, and pay for his friends' liquor instead of his family's necessities. But after all, "worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow;" nor need one be a frequenter of groggeries in order to leave behind him a reputation for wit and good-fellowship that do not need fuddled brains to make them seem attractive. —S. S. Times. - Bishop Bowman, of the M. E. Church, is seriously ill at his home in St. Louis.
- The Market Square Presbyterian Church, of Germantown, Penn., has recently celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary.
- Joseph Cook is lecturing his way to the far East, and is going to give two months of lectures to the educated natives in the principal cities of India.
- Trinity Church, New York, proposes to build a Sanitarium at Islip, L. I., at a cost of $50,000. It will be a wise investment of a portion of its wealth.
- Rev. Dr. Wm. M. Taylor's salary has been increased to $16,000. In his ten years' pastorate of the Broadway Tabernacle, 948 members, nearly a hundred a year, have been added to the church.
- P. M. Morrison, formerly an Episcopal pastor at Eau Claire, Wis., has preferred charges to the Bishop against Joel Clarke, the present pastor, for using a magic lantern in the church, Sunday evenings, to illustrate his sermons.
- Deacon J. S. Dimock, of Rocky Hill, Conn., is certainly entitled to the palm for punctuality in church attendance. On a recent Sunday he was kept from church by a snow-blockade, and that was the first-time he had been absent for forty-two years.
- In Munich, South Germany, the Chambers have carried a motion by 81 to 60 votes for the abolition of undenominational schools. One of the speakers said these schools were supported by all atheists and champions of modern revolution and hot-beds of unbelief.
- The following item from the Advance is certainly not over stated: "We think that the present low state of piety in the churches can be easily traced back to an incoming prosperity in which the law of sacrifice has not kept pace with the measure of getting." If this is not the sole cause, it is an important factor in the result.
- Prof. Samuel Hopkins says that the number of Presbyterian ministers who advocate the use of some form of prayer is large and is constantly increasing. These ministers constantly use the Episcopal burial and marriage services, and there is quite an exodus of cultivated people from the Presbyterian to the Episcopal Church.
- The Congregationalist objects to the appointment of Dr. Newman Smith to the Chair of Theology at Andover, on the ground that in his published works he "has expressed himself with too much vagueness on the subject of future punishment." The popular view on that subject is losing its hold on the minds of students of the Bible.
- A writer in the Pacific Methodist protests against the opposition to fermented communion wine, claiming that there is no danger to be apprehended from its use. In the same article, however, he characterizes the sale of fermented liquor as the "work of death." Perhaps he thinks that the blessing pronounced on the wine at the communion renders it harmless.
- The Congregational Church of San Francisco, of which Dr. Barrows, is pastor, has recently materially modified its creed. It now disclaims belief in the trinity, the divinity of Christ, the atonement, eternal punishment of sinners, and rejects baptism as of binding obligation. This, as the pastor says, is in order to be in harmony with the actual advance of theology.
- The Christian at Work says that a wealthy gentleman of Forest City, Iowa, being skeptical as to the kind and amount of labor which a minister would be willing to do, offered to pay to such clergymen as would saw wood for him, one dollar an hour for their services. Nearly all the ministers in town came forward, with saw and buck, to accept his terms. Some of them worked steadily four to six hours per day, as long as the wood lasted. We know ministers who have sawed wood for nothing, and they were not doing it for fun either.
- Rev. Dr. Parker, in an article in the Advance, concerning the "Significance of Mr. Miln's Apostasy," uses the following language: "In short, then, a 'new infidelity' is on hand, gathering strength, pervading society, weakening the bonds of Christian communion, withdrawing people from Christian activities, fostering selfish and sensuous forms of life, and, by as much as it has power, reducing Christianity to ceremonialism, and discrediting alike the facts and doctrines which underlie it, and the spirit that alone gives it life and power. I fear that this 'new skepticism,' so far from having spent or developed its force, has yet its race to run and its ravages to commit; and that in the years immediately before us, the contest between it and the truth as it is in Jesus will be sharp and serious in its consequences."
- The Moravians, who number at home but 20,000, have been the means of Christianizing 73,000 heathen. What a record is that! In Labrador and Greenland their work has been so successful that nearly all of the Esquimaux have embraced Christianity. In the West Indies so great progress has been made among the negroes that it is hoped the missionaries can be withdrawn from the field in ten years. They have four mission stations among our American Indians, and have labored for many years at Surinam, in Dutch Guiana. Recently they have begun mission work at Demarara, in British Guiana. On the Mosquito Coast they have six stations, and flourishing missions in South Africa, in Australia among the aborigines, and even in a high valley of the Himalayas among a Mongolian race of Buddhists.
—Maryland now has a law to punish wife-beaters with forty lashes. —It is expected that the United States debt will show a reduction for March of over $16,000,000. —General Hurlbut, late United States Minister to Peru, died of heart disease at Lima, March 28th. —Cornelius J. Vanderbilt, brother of Wm. H. Vanderbilt, committed suicide in New York, on the 2d inst. —The Dakota Insane Asylum, at Yankton, was destroyed by fire, April 2d, and four of the inmates were burned to death. —The Senate Committee on Territories has reported back the bill for the admission of Dakota, with a recommendation for its passage. —The Main-street station of the New York, Lake Erie, and Western Railway, at Buffalo, N. Y., was struck by lightning and burned, April 2d. —Walker Hall, the finest of the Amherst College buildings, was burned March 29th. The hall and its choice contents were valued at a quarter of a million. —Considerable excitement has been caused by the recent rich development of quartz gold, near Shasta, Cal. The quartz in one ledge is said to be nearly all gold. —One of the men convicted of train wrecking on the Central Pacific Railroad, near Auburn, Cal., has been sentenced to thirteen years in the State Prison, at San Quentin. —Last year, New York City spent $4,000,000 for educational purposes. This is a large sum, but it looks small beside the $7,000,000 spent for amusements, and the $60,000,000 for wines and liquors. —Only one of the persons condemned to death at the late Nihilist trial in St. Petersburg, has been executed. The rest have had their sentences commuted by the Czar to an indefinite period of hard labor in the mines. —Public feeling in England is increasingly hostile to the Channel Tunnel project, and Parliament is liable to put a stop to the work at any time. It is the opinion of eminent geologists that the work is impossible anyway. —General Streinkoff, the public prosecutor of the Keiff military tribunal, was assassinated by Nihilists, at Odessa, March 31st. Two of the assassins were arrested immediately, and the Czar gave orders for their immediate execution. —The coroner's jury held an inquest on the bodies of the men killed by the recent powder explosion near Oakland, and find that the powder is perfectly harmless, and that nobody was to blame. There is, therefore, nothing to be done except to wait for another explosion. —Reports from Montreal state that it is estimated that the emigration from England to Manitoba will average 1,000 a week during April. The people are pouring into Winnepeg at the rate of 600 per day, and churches and public halls are being thrown open to accommodate the crowds. —The country near Monroe, La., was devastated by a hurricane, March 28th. Several persons were killed. The damage to property was about $25,000. The same day, a cyclone passed through the southeastern part of Alabama, doing great damage to property, and killing and wounding many persons. —All trains on the Central Pacific Railroad were delayed nearly the whole of last week, owing to washouts, caused by the melting of snow in the mountains. Near Humboldt Wells, Nevada, the road was under water for twenty miles. Nothing like the present freshets have been known before in the fourteen years during which the road has been in operation. —The trial of a notorious stage robber has just been concluded at Santa Barbara, Cal. He was charged with robbing Wells, Fargo & Co.'s stage. He conducted his own case, and justified his robbery on the ground that the express company was engaged in an illegal business, and that it could be no crime to steal from them. The jury disagreed with him, and found him guilty, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for life. —A serious strike occurred recently at Barcelona, Spain, and other towns opposed to the changes in the tariff, and all works were closed. The feeling was intense that a revolution was threatened. During the disorders, cries of "Long live the Federal Republic," were raised. Order has been restored, but the demonstration shows that the kingdom of Spain, like other European monarchies, is not on the most secure foundation possible. —The Mississippi steamer Golden City, when approaching the wharf at Memphis, Tenn., on the morning of the 30th ult., was seen to be on fire. The swiftness of the stream made it impossible to land, and she floated down stream, burning very rapidly, and sunk about three miles below the city, in twenty-five feet of water. Twenty-five lives are said to have been lost. The fire was due to the carelessness of one of the crew, who dropped a lamp on a part of the cargo of jute. All hope of recovering the dead bodies from the wreck has been abandoned. No further attempt will be made until the river falls sufficiently to permit the divers to work with some show of success. HALL.—Died in Oakland, March 30, 1882, Hannah Hall, of asthma, aged about 100 years. “Aunt Hannah” was born in Virginia—born to the life of a slave. She was one of the first who went to Liberia under the Colonization Society. As that Society was formed in 1821, she must have gone there about sixty years ago. She there lost her husband and children, and returned to the United States. How long she was in slavery in Virginia, or what was her age when she went to the Colony, no one knows, as it was very seldom that persons of that class had any knowledge of the time of their birth. The most reliable information we could procure made her age about one hundred years. She came to California in 1849. She belonged to the Methodist Church; but at what time she united with that church is unknown, as it was before any were acquainted with her who knew her here at the time of her death. About eight years ago she embraced the “blessed hope,” spoken of in Titus 2:13, from which text remarks were made at her funeral at the Adventist Church, and united with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oakland. She loved the truth, and she loved the Lord of the truth. She was an earnest, fervent Christian; the genuineness of her piety was never doubted by any who knew her. FULLER.—Died, in Sacramento City, March 31, of congestion of the stomach, Jane E. Fuller, aged 58 years, 6 months, and 5 days. Sister Fuller was born in North Carolina. She early united with the Methodist Church, that being the church of her mother. On the removal of the family to New Orleans she united with the church of her father. Afterwards she accepted the faith of the Baptists, and stood connected with the Baptist Church twenty years. She came to California thirty years ago, and on becoming convinced on the doctrine of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts, she united with the Mormons, leaving them, however, before she changed her faith. When the Third Angel's Message was preached in Sacramento, four years ago, she gladly embraced it, and united with the Seventh-day Adventists, with whom she was a most faithful and consistent member until the time of her death. It was the testimony of those not associated with her in church fellowship, that during the last four years of her life she manifested more patience and earnestness in the Christian life than ever before. The changes in church relationship were not lightly made by Sister Fuller, and they did not originate in a vacillating spirit. She was extremely conscientious, and never hesitated to carry out her religious convictions. In all her religious experience she preserved the esteem of all parties. She suffered much in her last sickness, bearing all in a patient submissive spirit. Funeral services by the editor of the SIGNS, at the Second Presbyterian Church (Bethel Mission). Text, by request of deceased, Rev. 14:13. The house was filled with sympathizing friends, and a large concourse followed her to the grave. She left a large circle of relatives to mourn her loss. The company of Sabbath-keepers in that city feel her loss very deeply. DENNISON.—Leland Joseph, infant son of Bro. and Sr. J. N. Dennison, died of lung fever in Vacaville, Tuesday, March 21, 1882. Age 2 months and 21 days. Though called to mourn the loss of their little one, they “sorrow not as others who have no hope,” but look by faith to the near future when the Lifegiver shall come, the enemy's power be broken, the saints shall rise immortal, and they shall again clasp in loving arms, their babe in its immortal beauty, and dwell where parting shall be no more. Words of comfort by the writer, from 1 Thess. 4:13-18. J. D. RICE. BETZ.—Fell asleep in Jesus, in Camden, N. J., March 13, 1882, our beloved brother, Peter H. Betz, aged 32 years, 7 months, and 24 days. Bro. Betz, a little more than three years ago, embraced the truths contained in the Third Angel's Message, and has been an earnest, zealous worker in the cause here. He loved to study the Bible, spending his spare moments in reading our publications, thus becoming conversant with all the points of our faith, and God gave him much wisdom in presenting the truth to those who would attend our meetings. He held the position of superintendent of the Sabbath-school, until he was too feeble to attend to his duties. His love for the missionary work was great, and by his means he did all in his power to circulate reading matter. He was just and upright in his business relations, and ever ready to lend a helping hand to those in distress. The church in Camden have lost a faithful and active member, but in the midst of their deep grief they do not forget that he sleeps in Jesus; and his pure example, and words of counsel, and advice, will ever remain in the memories of all. Remarks were made at his funeral by Bro. G. Pope, from the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians. MRS. M. FRYER. Our Publications in England.
By Editor
ANY of the books, pamphlets, and tracts issued at this Office may be obtained of Eld. J. N. Loughborough, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England, who will furnish Catalogues, and give prices in English money. He will also receive subscriptions for our periodicals. Sacramento City.
By Editor
On account of the severity of our labor for weeks past, in the office, we did not consider it prudent to give an appointment to speak at "the Mission" on Sunday evening, after the funeral services of the afternoon. But when the brethren and sisters were assembled, we complied with the request to make a few remarks. The regular appointment was for a Bible reading, the subject being the Third Angel’s Message. We therefore made this the subject of our discourse, and the Lord raised us above our infirmities, and gave us freedom in presenting the truth. All appeared to be strengthened and encouraged. Much missionary work has been done in Sacramento during the past winter, which, we believe, will yet bear fruit. Not much can be seen at present, except that many are reading on the subject of present truth. We cannot think that this is labor lost. A foundation is laid, and circumstances will sometime arise when the Spirit of God will powerfully impress the truth which they have read upon many anxious hearts. We were pleased to form an acquaintance with the believers there, though our stay was necessarily short. When the missionary laborers leave there, the meetings and Sabbath-school will fall largely upon the sisters. But they need not fear if they are only faithful. If they let their light shine, and move forward in duty, the Lord will add to their numbers, and raise up help. We exhort them never to lower the standard of the truth for the sake of numbers, or of getting earthly help; look to God, who knows your wants and cares for you. OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, APRIL 6, 1882
By Editor
QUITE a number of people are moving to Healdsburg to avail themselves of the advantages of the Academy, which opens next Tuesday, the 11th inst. North Pacific and Upper Columbia.
BRO. BOYD informs us that he will start for Oakland, on his way to Oregon, the latter part of this month. We congratulate the brethren of the North Pacific Conference for their prospect of speedily having a laborer who has given much attention to the work of organizing—a work which so much needs to be done in that Conference. The President of the General Conference requests us to attend the Upper Columbia Camp-meeting in Washington Territory. Bro. Colcord informs us that it will be held in Dayton, in the same grove which they occupied last year. It is a good indication that the people of Dayton request them to hold it there again. We have not yet learned the time. Meeting of the Publishing Association.
By Editor
LET all the stockholders in the Publishing Association remember that the annual meeting will be held April 24th, in Oakland. We invite, and earnestly urge, all the friends of this cause to be present as far as is possible. Let no slight cause keep you away. We want our friends to meet with us, to visit the office, to assist in the transaction of business, and to learn more of our work here. To those who cannot come, we say, Be sure to have your proxy here in the hands of some resident of Oakland. If any proxies were issued to Eld. Haskell last year, they must be re-issued to some one here, as he will not be present at this meeting. Your stock must be represented in order to the legal transactions of business. "Sabbath Readings."
By Editor
THE world is full of books, but the really good ones are quite scarce. The great majority of books adapted to the comprehension of the young, contains more or less matter that, if not positively bad, tends more or less directly to an unhealthy state of mind, and makes wrong impressions that can never be overcome. It is one of the most difficult tasks that the parent has, to select for his child's reading such books as will please him, and stimulate his desire for reading, and leave no moral taint behind. This task has been very much lightened by the compiler of "Sabbath Readings." The selections have been carefully made, and none need fear to place them in the hands of their children. They are not, however, designed exclusively for the young. They are for home reading, and all members of the family circle will be entertained and benefited by their perusal. The fourth volume, which is just now ready, sets forth especially the dangers and duties of parents. While the aim has been to furnish reading of a high moral grade, they are not sectarian, and are, therefore, adapted to the wants of everybody. Price per set of four volumes neatly put up in box, $2.50. Progress of the Sunday Law.
By Editor
Two cases have been tried in Sacramento, with a verdict of, Not guilty, in both cases. The argument of Judge McFarland, counsel for the defense, was very able. We shall give some extracts from it next week. One man in Oakland was fined $50.00, the full extent of the penalty of the law, April 3d. The case will be appealed. A case was tried in Petaluma twice, and the jury disagreed both times. It is to be tried again. At the trial of the first case in San Francisco, the jury disagreed. At the second case there were made some “astounding revelations,” as the Chronicle well calls them. We copy the following from the Chronicle’s account:— “The Prosecuting Attorney examined each juror separately, asking each if he was a member of the League of Freedom, receiving an affirmative reply in eleven instances out of the first twelve men drawn. The next question asked was if the juror felt any repugnance to the operation of the Sunday Law, and to this the entire twelve responded in the affirmative. Mr. Blaney then asked if their bias would allow them to convict a defendant if a clear case were made out, and the law were given to them by the Court. Ten of the jurors responded with a decided ‘No.’ Of the first two or three who returned this answer, Judge Rix asked in astonishment: ‘Do you mean to say that you would not, under any circumstances, convict a violator of the Sunday Law if a preponderance of evidence showed his guilt, and the law were given to you by the Court?’ The invariable answer of the ten was a firm ‘Yes, sir,’ to which the Judge curtly responded, ‘You are excused, sir.’ One juror stated that he would believe it his duty as a citizen to convict if the instructions of the Court were clear on the law and the offense were proven, but he should give the prisoner the benefit of any doubt, and would feel opposed to convicting him in any event. He was excused. But one juror in the twelve was passed to the defense, and he, on stating that he was opposed to the law, was also excused, but by the defense. “On exhausting the panel, Judge Rix declined to again fill the jury box, stating that it was evident that no jury could be secured out of the small venire, and he would suggest a continuance, if the counsel would consent. No objection was made, and the case was continued until April 10th, at which date the cases of the persons arrested last week have been set.” The cases of arrest in San Francisco now number about 1,400. It will be difficult to dispose of these by jury trial before the session of the next Legislature. A minister in Sacramento gave an earnest appeal for the law, saying it must be enforced. After the sermon, one of our brethren asked him if he thought it could be enforced, when he frankly answered that he did not. And this opinion seems to be strengthening every day. English Supplement to the Signs of the Times.
By Editor
WE have just received the first sheet published by Elder J. N. Loughborough, and printed in England to be issued monthly, and to be attached to the SIGNS as they are sent out from there. It will contain matter of special interest to that field, also reports of labor and the progress of the work. American readers of the SIGNS will not get these reports fully, because it would be giving the same matter twice to readers in the English mission, but this monthly edition will be furnished for fifteen cents a year post-paid. Sent directly to subscribers if taken in clubs of not less than eight. Single copies 20 cts. Five hundred copies have been sent us which we will send out to the different churches in this State. Ever since Elder Loughborough left us to go to England, we have anxiously awaited his reports and read them with interest when they came, and now as others from this country have gone to labor with him, and as the work advances, we shall be more than ever interested to hear the results from time to time. Clubs can be made up and subscriptions paid to librarians, and the papers sent for through the State Secretary of the T. and M. Society. Address, ALICE MORRISON, Care of Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. Oakland and San Francisco.
OAKLAND.—Church N. E. corner Clay and 13th Streets. Meeting every Sabbath (Saturday) at 11 A. M. Preaching every second and fourth Sunday evening of each month. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening. Eld. J. H. Waggoner, Pastor. Sabbath-school at 9:30 A. M. Dr. E. J. Waggoner, Superintendent. Seats always free. SAN FRANCISCO.—Church on Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler Streets. Meeting every Sabbath (Saturday) at 11 A. M. Prayer-meeting Wednesday evening. M. C. Israel, Elder. No regular preaching. Sabbath-school at 9:45 A. M. E. A. Stockton, Superintendent. Street-cars of the Hayes Valley Line, and Central and Lone Mountain Line, pass close to the meeting-house.