p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 2. (1/4/1877)

Earlier text: The General Tract Organization

Principles of Health Reform.

By Editor

WITH the commencement of the present volume we expect that the SIGNS will fall into the hands of many new friends, and that its pages will be scanned by many who are almost entirely unacquainted with the principles, both theoretical and practical, which it teaches. To all such we would say that for many years we have, as a denomination, adopted what we choose to term the “Health Reform.” And, that our readers may become informed as to the aim and scope of this reform, we present the following as our platform:—

1. Obedience to the laws of life and health is a moral obligation.

2. Mental, moral, and physical health can only be maintained by the observance of mental, moral, and physical laws.

3. A healthy body is essential to perfect soundness of mind.

4. Physical health promotes morality.

5. Morality, likewise, promotes physical health.

6. In the treatment of disease the simplest and safest remedies are the proper curative agents.

7. Nature is the most efficient physician.

We may further add, for the benefit of those who are entirely unacquainted with the tenets of hygienists, that in enforcing the principles enunciated above we advocate:—

1. Total abstinence from the use of all stimulating beverages, including tea, coffee, and chocolate, as well as alcoholic liquors.

2. That tobacco-using is a filthy habit, ruinous to both body and mind, and a disgrace to civilization.

3. That animal food is not the proper food for man, as indicated by his anatomical and physiological characteristics, while fruits and farinaceous foods are the best adapted to his wants, as proved by science and experience.

4. That simplicity in diet is one of the most important means of preserving health.

5. That improper dress is a prolific source of many of the diseases from which women and children suffer.

We also urge the importance of carefully observing each of the several laws of hygiene relating to ventilation, rest, exercise, etc.

The above platform is the same as that adopted by the Health Reformer, a monthly magazine published by S. D. Adventists at Battle Creek, Mich. And while it is the province of this journal to enter into the various lengthy arguments which demonstrate the truth of the above propositions, we shall endeavor from week to week to fill this column with such short, pointed articles, and general facts and statistics as will evidence to all the importance of practicing the principles of health reform as above set forth.

SECULAR NEWS.

—The San Francisco Police Court fines collected in December amount to $4,412.

—Half a mile of snow-shed on the C. P. R. R., one mile east of Summit Valley was burned, December 29.

—During the last week there were 161 deaths in San Francisco. Of these 29 were cases of small-pox.

DELHI, January 1.—Queen Victoria was to-day proclaimed Empress here and throughout India with great ceremony.

—The convent of the Sisters of Providence of St. Elizabeth, near Joliet, P. Q., was burned on the evening of Dec. 26. One hundred persons were in the building when it burned, but fortunately all but thirteen escaped. These were burned beyond recognition.

—As proof that the Hebrew language is again becoming a live language in Europe, the Jewish Messenger states that several new Hebrew works have been published and that in Lemberg, Pesth, Cracow, Lyck and Vienna, Hebrew newspapers and magazines have been started and “show a vigorous life.”

SALEM (Or.), December 26.—The State Penitentiary was burglarized last night. The thief entered the guard-room and officer’s quarters and stole several watches, some money and clothing, and made good his escape. The thief is supposed to be a recently liberated convict. The audacity of the robber is without parallel.

—A dispatch from Salt Lake City, Dec. 30, states that there have been several snow-slides in Little Cottonwood Canyon within the last few days, which carried away several hundred feet of snow-sheds over the railroad. A snow-slide occurred above Alta, which buried in their cabin two Frenchmen, named Charles Hautani and Louis Labrie. Their bodies were brought to Alta to-day.

—There is a great deal of talk about the hardness of the times; but for certain purposes money seems to be readily available. The receipts of the various places of amusement in New York city, on Thanksgiving-day and evening, amounted to $66,785.75. The tidal wave of economy evidently hasn’t reached the theatres as yet.

—Four hundred employees of the bureau of Engraving and Printing have been discharged—nearly one-half the force of the entire bureau. About two-thirds of them were women, many of them being press girls who have been employed by the printer individually. These discharges are due to the recent action of the Government in giving the work of printing revenue stamps to the Bank Note Companies instead of to the Engraving and Printing Bureau.

—A terrible accident occurred at Ashtabula near Cleveland, Ohio, on the Lake Shore Railroad, Dec. 29. A train bound west went through an iron bridge down 70 feet into the river. Of the 165 passengers aboard less than 60 are known to be saved. The bridge was 157 feet long, and at the time of the accident was considered perfectly safe. The falling train and bridge broke the ice and many who were not killed by the fall or burned with the cars were drowned, and some were frozen. Mr. Bliss, the celebrated singer and evangelist, his wife and two children, are among the lost.

—The Japanese Minister at Washington presented to the President a letter addressed to him by the Mikado, of which the following is a translation: “To His Excellency the President of the United States, General Ulysses S. Grant—Great and Good Friend! Now that the great Exposition in honor of the 100th year of your Excellency’s National Government has been eminently successful, I write to congratulate you and the people over whom you preside. From my subjects in the United States, I have heard nothing except words of kindness in regard to the manner in which they have been treated; and I believe the recent intercourse between our countries will have a tendency to strengthen the friendship already existing. I would here express the sincere hope, that the incoming century will not only witness the continued progress and prosperity of your nation in all branches of industry, but also prove an era of peace. This will be handed to you in person by my Minister, residing near your Government, who has been directed to emphasize my very friendly congratulations.—MUTSUHITO. Tokio, the 1st day of the 10th month of the 9th year of Meiji.”

Business Department.

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.

Received for the Signs.

$3.00 EACH. R Robb 4-1, Clarinda Bowers 4-1, P M Mastride 4-1. $2.00 EACH. S P Chambers 4-1, Wm B Irwin 4-1, J L Kilgore 3-33, James Lesan 4-1, F J Colby 4-1, Mrs J Robbins 4-1, E F Terrill 4-13, J O A Hougherty 4-1, A T Oxley 4-1, J B Collins 4-1, Margaret Funk 3-1, W B Mason 4-1, Gilbert Foot 4-1, Mrs D Sterling 4-1, E E Salisbury 4-9, Peter Erb 3-32, E H Root 4-1, J S Wicks 4-1, S W Hastings 4-1, F Covey 4-6, J R Logan 3-25, Daniel Ferren 4-1, W O Cook 4-1, O D Cook 4-1, Simeon Lehman 4-1, Homer H Perkins 4-1. $1.50 EACH. John Owen 4-1, Mrs Trial Severns 4-1, John Morrison 4-1, Daniel Worthing 4-1, C W King 4-1, J S Tisher 4-1, Mary Spriggs 4-1, T H Lucas 4-1, Mrs E A Hull 4-1, Nelson Wiseman 4-1, Herman Springer 4-1, H W Galpin 4-1, J D Forman 4-1, J J Gilbert 4-1, Wm W Gillett 4-1, L J Young 4-1, John Gillett 4-1, Isaac Groves 4-1, Mary Swingle 4-1, D T Mitcher 4-1, E N Wyman 4-1, Mrs Henry Idem 4-1, Robert H Bender 4-1, J A Rouse 4-1, David P Shirley 4-1, Nancy Passenger 4-1, Harriet Bussey 4-1, Mrs L E Ewan 4-1, J H Richards 4-1. $1.00 EACH. J C Wright 3-25, John Pritchard 3-25, Mrs Luke Waite 3-25, A J Richmond 3-18, Noah Holloway 3-15. MISCELLANEOUS. Sheplar & Co 75cts 8-25, J A Fargo 80cts 3-41, Mrs J McLellen $2.46 4-1, Mrs M E Tranter 2.46 4-1, Mrs N C Harris 2.46 4-1, Mrs M Williams 2.46 4-1, Mr J Seymour 2.46 4-1, Mrs Dean 2.46 4-1, Mrs S Tranter 2.46 4-1, S A Stanfield 1.59 4-2, Elizabeth Tenney 50cts 4-1, Armina Mericle 50cts 4-1, Mrs J H Converse 50cts 4-1, L C Sweet 50cts 4-1, Lucinda Fay 50cts 4-1.

Donations to the Signs.

Fannie Richardson $20.00, Mary Kundert 5.00, A Lover of the Truth $5.00.

California Conference Fund.

Gilroy Church $20.00, San Jose Church 15.35.

Cash Received on Account.

California T. and M. Society District No. 9, $19.60 “ “ “ “ “ No. 7, 20.20 “ “ “ “ “ No. 8, 15.20.

Donations for Papers for Ships.

A Lover of the Truth $2.00.

State Quarterly Meeting

By John Norton Loughborough

Appointments.

State Quarterly Meeting.

The first Cal. State Quarterly meeting of this fiscal year, will be held with the Oakland church, in connection with the district monthly meeting for district No. 7, Jan. 6 and 7, 1877.

We hope to see an attendance of all the directors in reach of this meeting, and as many of our brethren as can make it possible to attend. Bro. and Sr. White will be at this meeting. May we avail ourselves of their counsel and instruction, that we may know how to use our quota of strength in forwarding the great work for this time. J. N. L.

WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING?

“I wish to relate to you a few facts, the faithful consideration of which is pertinent to the present time,” so began a speaker in the Fulton-street Meeting. He is an old clergyman who once labored long and earnestly as a pastor in the West.

“It is just thirty years ago that I was walking down Main street, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in company with a Roman Catholic priest with whom I was acquainted. He was a scholar and gentleman, in the usual acceptation of the word. Our conversation turned upon the aspirations and designs of the Roman Catholic church. He confessed that it was his great desire to see the day when their religion would have universal sway in these United States, and the Roman Catholic faith have its place as the religious faith of the country. The time must come when it must be supreme, and to its authority all hearts must bow.

“‘You know,’ said he, ‘you Protestants have no religion. You have sectarianisms, but you have no common faith.’ This he said good-humoredly, smiling all the time, but having a grim meaning.”

“‘Do you think,’ said I, ‘that yours will ever be the established religion in this country?’”

“‘Certainly I do. It must be so.’”

“‘Never,’ said I.

“‘Never!’ he repeated.

“‘No, never,’ said I, with vehemence.

“‘Now, now,’ said he playfully, ‘not so fast. Don’t be so positive. Why do you think ours may not one day be the established religion?’”

“‘Because our Constitution and our laws are against it.’

“‘But we will change your Constitution and your laws.’”

“‘Change them?’”

“‘Yes, change them—amend them.’”

“‘But the people will see that you shall not do that.’”

“‘We will change the people too.’”

“‘Not in your day, nor mine,’ said I resolutely.

“‘Perhaps not,’ he answered very coolly. ‘Perhaps not. But we have purposed it, and it will be done—if not in your day nor mine, then in the days of those who shall come after us.’”

“I looked at his face with astonishment, as if I could not believe my own senses. He saw, and added quickly:

“‘Oh! do not be alarmed. It will be done very quietly. It may be a long time coming—but it will come, when the Catholics will rule the nation, and the Catholic religion will be the ruling faith of the country.’”

“‘Oh! you cannot believe it.’”

“‘Yes, I do believe it. We are at it now. And you know what we Catholics are. When we take hold, we hold on, and never let go. This was said with a very solemn and determined look, and he then added: ‘We will upset your institutions and establish our own.’”

“‘We parted company at the foot of the street, I scarcely realizing the amount of meaning there was in the priest’s thrusts; for in that day we had no such apprehensions as now.”

“‘We come down thirty years. Whether this priest is alive or dead, we know not. But the work which he said was begun, of supplanting our institutions, is not dead. Quietly, persistently, encroachingly, the Catholics have gone on in their work, proselyting where they could, buying up votes where they could, till at last they fill our places of trust and office with creatures of their own. Our judges, our lawyers, our military leaders, our senators and representatives, are fast becoming Roman Catholics, and the profession of this faith which was never ‘delivered to the saints,’ is a sure passport to office or preferment. The politician has found it to his advantage to confess his sins to, and get absolution from, a priest, and be accounted a good Catholic.’”

A Challenge.

Look at the following challenge:—“I say, then, that I am a Catholic, by the grace of God, because I was led to see that some other authority besides the Bible, and the Bible only, was necessary in order to prove many of the very truths which all Protestants admit to be essential to Christianity. Protestants deny this, and declare that nothing is necessary to be believed but what can be proved from the Bible, and the Bible only, namely, from plain texts of scripture. The whole question is, therefore, reduced into a nut-shell: in proof or disproof of this lies the proof or disproof of Protestantism. I do, therefore, solemnly challenge the Protestants of Ireland to prove, by plain texts of Scripture, the questions concerning the obligations of the Christian Sabbath. 1. That Christians may work on Saturday, the old seventh-day. 2. That they are bound to keep holy the first day, namely, Sunday. 2. That they are not bound to keep holy the seventh day also.”—Extract from W. Lockhart, late B. A. of Oxford, Toronto (Cath.).

What Catholics thus charge is substantially admitted and confirmed by the following Protestant writers, and many more who might be quoted:—

The Augsburg Confession, drawn up by Melancthon, says: “The observance of the Lord’s day is founded not on any commandment of God, but on the authority of the church, and that the church may alter the day at pleasure.”—Cox’s Sab. Manual, part 2, ch. 6, sect. 3 and 5.

Dr. Haylin says: “Take which you will, either the fathers or the moderns, and we shall find no Lord’s day instituted by any apostolic mandate; no Sabbath set on foot by them upon the first day of the week.”—Hist. of the Sabbath, part 2, ch. 1, sect. 10.

Sir William Domville says: “Not any ecclesiastical writer of the first three centuries attributed the origin of Sunday observance either to Christ or his apostles.”—Examination of six texts, Supplement, pp. 6, 7.

Neander says: “‘The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intention of the apostles to establish a divine command in this respect—far from them and the early apostolic church to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday.”—English Tract.

Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II.

By R. F. C.

ALL will admit that we ought to love God with all our heart, and Jesus who came to seek and to save that which was lost. This love is not natural to the carnal, depraved heart. It must be cultivated, or it will not grow. We must make it a habit to dwell upon the matchless love of the Saviour. My brother, my sister, do you wish to cultivate this love? As a help I recommend to you to read the book with the above title. The life of Christ is written in the gospels; yet but few, if any, have penetrated the depths of it. If you want deeper, and more enlarged views of the great plan and work of the gospel of salvation, this work will aid you. In it you will find many gems and pearls which you have not heretofore dived deep enough to reach. May God bless this volume, and its predecessor, to the salvation of many souls. And let me entreat the reader of these lines not to lose the benefit to be gained by a careful and prayerful perusal. R. F. C.

What Is before Us?

By John Norton Loughborough

I WOULD be glad to see the following in the SIGNS, as it has a bearing relative to the influences which are brought to bear in helping on a church-and-State movement in this country.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

European Press.

We, the undersigned, regard it a great privilege to donate to the Lord, for the European press, under the care of our worthy missionary, Elder J. N. Andrews, One Hundred Dollars each, and invite thirty-three others to join us in raising $10,000.

James White.....$100 E. H. Root......$100 John Morrison... 100 Wm. Ings........100 Geo. I Butler.... 100 Charles Comings..100 Newel Grant..... 100 E. W. Whitney...100 Aug. Rasmussen.. 100 R. G. Lockwood..100 An Iowa Brother..100 W. H. Hall......100 Emily Leighton.. 100 Betsy Landon....100 S. A. McPherson..100 S. N. Haskell...100 A Friend in N. E. 100 C. K. Farnsworth 100 W. P. A. M....100 M. Wood.........100 Reuel Stickney...100 Chas. Chittenden.100 Mrs. A. Stickney..100 Mrs. J. L. James..100 J N Loughborough 100 A LaRue..........100 Chas L. Boyd....100 Mrs. Getman (de- C. B. Lower......100 ceased)..........100 Freeman Nichols 100 A. H. B..........100 D. A. Owen......100 D. M. Canright...100 Wm. B. Mason....100 W. A. Pratt......100 Jane Rowland....100 John Judson......100 B. N. Berry.....100 C. Clark and Wife 100 J. S. Wicks.....100 Miss M. R. Stern 100 C. McNeil.......100 E. Green & wife..100 Susie D.........100 A. A. Bradford...100 J. S. Hart......100 C. S. Briggs & wife 100 Jacob Shively...100 M. C. Israel......100 Right hand......100 V. B. J..........100 M. J. Bartholf...100 A Bro. in Minn...100 Mary Crouch.....100 H. C. Stone......100 B. L. Whitney...100 Thomas Alverson...100 S. B. D.........100 E. Lobdell.......100 Lucretia Day....100 A Bro. & Sr. in S. H. King......100 New England......300 A. C. Woodbury Elden H. Pullen...100 & wife.......100 A friend.........100

I Must Remember.

Before in sleep I close my eyes, These things I must remember thrice: What I've been doing all the day— What were my acts at work or play? What have I heard, what have I seen? What have I learnt, where'er I've been? What have I learnt that's worth the knowing? What have I done that's worth the doing? What have I done that I should not? What duty was this day forgot? Before in sleep I close my eyes, These things I must remember thrice: If I've done ill, then I must pray, That God would wash my sins away; And for the merits of his Son, Forgive the evil I have done.

English Bibles.

We have just received from the Toronto Bible House a full stock of English Bibles, which will be furnished by mail, post-paid, at the following prices:—

No.				Price
(1)	Brevier	Marg. Ref.	Circuit,	$5.50
(2)	"	"	Limp,	5.00
(3)	Min. Ref. after verse,		Circuit,	3.50
(4)	"	"	Mor. Gilt,	3.00
(5)	Nonp'r'l,	Marg. Ref.,	Circuit,	3.25
(6)	"	"	Mor. Gilt,	2.50
(7)	Pearl	"	Circuit,	2.75
(8)	"	"	Mor. Gilt,	2.00
(9)	Diamond	"	Circuit,	2.00
(10)	"	"	Mor. Gilt,	1.25

The Nonpariel plain, and the Pearl Circuit have maps of Palestine. For fineness of material and strength of binding and beauty of print there is nothing equal to the English Bible.

Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, etc., etc.

Prices in Coin.

Cruden’s Complete Concordance. In this any passage in the Scriptures can readily be found. $2.00 per copy, post-paid.

Bible Dictionary of Bible names, customs and countries, and maps of Bible lands. $2.00 per copy, post-paid.

The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week, by J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1.25.

Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian noble birth, who was a prisoner of the inquisition, officer in the army of Garibaldi, and extensive traveler in Africa and Syria. By Francesco Urgas. $1.25 per copy, post-paid.

Thoughts on Daniel. By U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.

Thoughts on the Revelation. By U. Smith. $1.00.

Life of Wm. Miller, with likeness. $1.00.

The Nature and Destiny of Man. By U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.

The Constitutional Amendment. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the “Christian Statesman.” Bound, $1.00. Paper 40 cts. First part, 10 cts.

The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. By Ellen G. White; 416 pp. $1.00.

Hygienic Family Physician. $1.00.

The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In board, 50 cts.; in paper, 30 cts.

The United States in Prophecy. By U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 20 cts.

A Word for the Sabbath: or False Theories Exposed. (Poem.) By Uriah Smith. Muslin, 40 cts.

The Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts. Gilt, 40 cts.

Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. By J. N. Andrews. 30 cts.

Testimony for the Church, No. 27, by Mrs. Ellen G. White. 30 cts.

Facts for the Times, revised and enlarged, 30c.

History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. By D. M. Canright, 25 cts.

The State of the Dead. By U. Smith. 224 pp. 25 cts.

Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary and the Sabbath of Faith. 20 cts.

Refutation of the Age to Come. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.

The Ministration of Angels: and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. By D. M. Canright. 20 cts.

The Bible from Heaven; a Dissertation. 20 cts.

The Atonement. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.

The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.

Miraculous Powers. Evidences, Scriptural and historical, of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts. 20c.

The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.

Refutation of Forty-four so called Objections against the Ancient Sabbath, by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. 88 pp. 15 cts.

The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.

The Morality of the Sabbath. By D. M. Canright. 15 cts.

The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.

Redemption, or the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness (Life of Christ, No. 2). By Mrs. E. G. White. 15 cts.

The Destiny of the Wicked. By U. Smith. 15 cts.

The Seven Trumpets of Rev. 8 and 9. 15 cts.

The Two Laws. By Eld. D. M. Canright. 104 pp. 15 cts.

The Saints’ Inheritance, or the Earth made New. By J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.

Dangers and Duties of Our Times. An Earnest Appeal from the General Conference Com. 10 cts.

The Conference Address. An earnest appeal to Seventh-day Adventists. 10 cts.

The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.

Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers, and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.

The Truth Found; The Sabbath. By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts.

Sermon on the Two Covenants. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.

The Hope of the Gospel: What it is, and when it will be consummated. By J. N. Loughborough. 80 pp. 10 cts.

Brown’s Review of Gilliland on the Sabbath. 10 cts.

Vindication of the True Sabbath. Morton. 10 cts.

The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.

Matthew Twenty-four. By James White, 10c.

Prophetic Chart in Miniature, with explanations. 5 cts.

Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent.—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—The Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion.

Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost-Time Question—Argument on the Sabbath—Ludwell’s Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture References—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14—The Second Message of Rev. 14.

Two-cent Tracts: Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Sabbath by Elijah—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—The Spirit of Prophecy.

One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Signs of the Day of God—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day, and God’s Answers.

* Address, Signs of the Times.

OAKLAND, CAL.