—A noon-day prayer-meeting has been established at Peking, China.
—Pilgrim's Progress has been translated and published in seventy different languages by the Religious Tract Society of London.
—The Jesuit college at Beirut, Syria, has been elevated by Pope Leo to the rank of a Roman university, in which the study of Oriental languages will be a specialty.
—Attached to the Theological Seminary at Sharanpur, India, is a school for the wives of the students, to fit them for their duties when their husbands become pastors.
—A Chinese Testament in English characters has just been printed at Ning-po. It is a practical adaptation of what is known as "Pigeon English" to missionary purposes.
—Dr. R. S. Storrs has just completed his thirty-ninth year as pastor of the Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn, N. Y. When he began his pastorate, the city had 65,000 inhabitants; now it has 700,000.
—Rev. Thomas Tennant, who died recently in Evansville, Ark., at the age of one hundred and fifteen years, was probably the oldest preacher in the world. He had been a Methodist minister for ninety years.
—A Roman Catholic priest of St. Louis has announced that he will refuse the first steps toward confirmation to any child that attends the public schools. Other priests state that this is the attitude of the entire church.
—The Journal of Education says that the American Board of Missions "has laid all civilization under obligation to it for the grand work it has done for the world;" and that not only in a moral and religious point of view, but by promoting "a knowledge of ethnography, geography, history, and general science."
—Three young converts of the Nyanza mission in Central Africa, have suffered martyrdom. They were bound to a scaffolding under which a slow fire was made, and were slowly roasted to death. One of their tormentors was so impressed by their Christian fortitude that he has determined to become a Christian.
—A Catholic priest, in a sermon recently preached in Notre Dame Church, Montreal, told his hearers: "I want you to understand that the church forbids you to read those [Protestant] Bibles. If you have any of them in your houses, burn them; and if you don't want to burn them, bring them to me, and I will burn them."
—The German Government has decided to tolerate Catholic missions in German colonies. But, as might be expected, the Catholic members of the Reichstag are not satisfied with toleration. They threaten to vote solidly against all credits asked by the Government for its colonial enterprises, in the naval budget, unless Catholic missions are guaranteed unconditional equality with those under Protestant auspices.
—In Japan the opponents of Christianity have banded together to resist the spread of the Christian religion. Several such associations exist in different cities; but in no case do they appear to be numerous. Not infrequently Buddhist priests, aroused by the spread of Christianity, attempt to refute its doctrines. But the people are pleased with the gospel of the missionaries. "The priests," they say, "have a losing cause; they are not able to defend their religion."
—The Medical Missionary Society of Edinburgh, has been in existence thirty-four years, and has done an amount of good that cannot be computed. In 1881 a similar society was organized in New York City, and quite recently another has been organized in Chicago. The object of the New York society is not only to train medical missionaries for foreign lands, but to aid the sick and the poor at home, among whom it has treated thirty thousand cases. It has students from England, India, Turkey, Persia, and the West Indies, as well as from our own country.
SECULAR.
—Peru has just been passing through a revolution.
—It is reported that there was an increase of the public debt during the month of November; and yet there are $200,000,000 in the Government treasury.
—The question of alien land-holding is beginning to attract attention, as foreign companies and individuals own large tracts of land in this country, the whole aggregating over 21,000,000 acres.
—According to Arizona dispatches, the Apache Indians have again been making trouble. Some murders have been committed in their numerous raids, and the country is in a state of terror.
—The steamship Alameda, which sailed November 23, carried the largest mail ever sent from the San Francisco post-office to Hawaii and Australia. It consisted of 281 bags, containing 21,930 letters and 59,781 papers.
—A bill to prohibit newspapers from publishing details of suicides is under consideration in the Legislature of Uruguay. The bill provides a fine of $250 for the first offense, and $500 or four months' imprisonment for the second.
—Advices from Aspinwall, dated December 5, report a hurricane on that coast. Vessels have been wrecked; but it is believed no lives have been lost. No railroads were running, and telegraphic communication was interrupted.
—The Chinese Government has authorized a system of harbor defenses. The carrying out of the plans will be intrusted to Li Hung Chang, the new Minister of Marine, who will also have charge of the construction of railroads in that empire.
—The United States Consul at Apia, in the Samoan Group, has notified the manager of the Merchants' Exchange, San Francisco, that a small island has appeared about forty miles from the Tonga Islands, in the track of Californian vessels trading with ports in the South Pacific.
—The unquiet state of Mexican politics is well known. That very uncertain republic is now at its old, familiar business,—dealing with a rebellion. It does not appear to be a very formidable rebellion this time, however; and a country that has had so much experience will probably have little difficulty in subduing the restless politicians who are making the trouble.
—That was a curious error of the California winemaker who sent forty large casks and two half casks of wine and brandy to Portland, Me., instead of to Boston. When there was danger of its confiscation, he realized his mistake, and Maine officials obligingly permitted him to rectify it.
—The clerk of the New York Board of Aldermen lately testified that among the officials drawing pay there is a librarian at $1,000 and an assistant librarian at $900 to look after the "library," which contains "a fine big Chinese Bible, quite a lot of the Proceedings of the Board, and some other books."
—It is believed that the recent heavy rains have made it certain that California will produce a large wheat crop the coming year. It is thought the yield will not be less than 1,200,000 tons. Another good result of the rain is the improved condition of the pastures, which are likely to be good throughout the year.
—It seems that the Chinese do not believe in alien land-holding. A Tientsin correspondent of the China Mail warns foreigners that grants for mining, railroad, or any other enterprise, are worthless. A Chinese mining concession can be nullified by any petty mandarin, unless exceptional privileges can be obtained.
—The bark Marquis of Lorne, which arrived in San Francisco from Hongkong, December 4, reports the loss at sea of the British ship Albula. Ten of the seamen were drowned. The remainder were rescued by the Marquis of Lorne, but in an almost starving condition, as they had had very little food or drink for eleven days.
—Queen Christina, the Spanish Regent, has formed a new cabinet, with Senor Segasta at its head. The new cabinet has accepted the settlement of the Caroline Islands question. By the terms of settlement the islands are left under Spanish control; but Germany is granted coaling and naval stations, and the right to establish farming colonies.
—King Thebaw, of Burmah, has surrendered unconditionally, and has been removed to Calcutta. An exciting political contest is going on in England; and it is believed that Lord Dufferin, the British Viceroy in India, will have put matters in Burmah in a final, decisive shape before the elections in England are over, and the Radicals have an opportunity to interfere.
—The conquest of Burmah gives England control of the great caravan route into Southwestern China. The railroad planned in 1875 can now be built, and England will have a back-door entry into China, of which she will hold the exclusive key. Should China object, it will be very easy for English gunboats to conquer a peace, and England to gain a slice of Chinese territory.
—Governor Zulick, of Arizona, has informed the Secretary of the Interior that wholesale smuggling is carried on between Mexico and that Territory. He says that thousands of gallons of mescal, a liquor distilled from the cactus plant, are annually imported from Mexico, hardly a gallon of which pays duty. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican cigars and quantities of tobacco, besides beef, cattle, horses, mules, etc., are smuggled in.
—The loss of life and property in the recent cyclone on the Orissa coast of India was truly appalling. An area of about four hundred square miles of rice land was covered with water, and all the crops and villages were destroyed. Seven hundred villages were completely wrecked, and three-fourths of the people killed. Houses are crushed into a confused mass, and the stench of corpses is dreadful. It is said that this disaster "surpasses in its horrors even the destruction wrought by the tidal wave of the cyclone of 1864 in the reaches of the Hooghly."
—Since the arrest, conviction, and imprisonment of prominent Mormons for polygamy, serious trouble has been brewing in Salt Lake City. A spirit of bitterness and indignation has been aroused among the Mormons that has led them to retaliate by seeking to entrap Federal officers and prominent Gentiles by means of disreputable women. In this they were only partially successful. Then a Deputy Marshal was assailed by four Mormons who lay in wait for him, one of whom he dangerously shot. The Mormon press is calling for blood atonement, and threats have been made that the entire Gentile population of Salt Lake City will be cleaned out. Part of the troops stationed at Fort Omaha have been removed under secret orders, and the rest are ready to move at a moment's notice; and it is believed that their destination is the much-agitated city by the salt sea.751
—The Servo-Bulgarian armistice was hardly signed before the Bulgarian invaders of Servia were attacking Pirot, and the Servian army in Bulgaria was attacking Widdin. The losses in both engagements were very heavy. There seems scarcely to have been any cessation of hostilities. The Servians refuse all terms of peace offered by the victorious Bulgarians. The Constantinople conference has failed to settle the difficulty. Turkish troops are massing on the frontier, menacing Bulgaria; and fears are entertained that Austria will come to the rescue of Servia, and that Russia will be compelled to support Bulgaria.
—The Argentine Republic has made arrangements for completing three lines of railroad, which were commenced fifteen years ago, but have remained unfinished for want of means. These railways all radiate from Buenos Ayres, and they connect that city with the coal mines of South Chili, with Santiago de Chili, and with some point in Bolivia. It is expected that they will not only bring into the market the teeming riches of Bolivia and the Argentine Republic, but will lead to a large European immigration into South America. A syndicate of British capitalists furnish $60,000,000 for this enterprise and for improvements in the harbor of Buenos Ayres.
A Narrow Escape.
"KEEP a sharp lookout while on the run?" echoed an engineer. "Should say we did. The man that tries to run an engine without keeping his eyes open, gets left sooner or later. I've heard about fellows out West that would start out on a run with a board reaching across from the driver's seat to the fireman's, and a deck of cards; but I never tried that. Just to show you how necessary it is for a man to keep his eyes on the rails ahead of him, let me tell you a little story. I was running along one night in Ohio some years ago. It was a blowy, rainy night, and in times like that, a man is doubly watchful. For hours I never took my eyes from the wet, glistening rails ahead of me, except, of course, when we stopped at stations.
"All at once I saw in front of me—how far ahead I couldn't tell—a glimmering of light. It was just a spark. I barely saw it before it disappeared. Was it a lightning-bug? I hadn't seen any that night. What was it? That I couldn't answer. But my instinct told me to stop the train, and stop I did. It was mighty lucky I looked at it that way; for that glimmer of light was caused in the oddest way you ever saw. You couldn't guess it in a week.
"A farmer was walking along the track, when he discovered a short bridge so badly washed out by the freshet that to run upon it with a train meant a wreck. He tried to start a fire with paper and his clothing, but couldn't do it. He had one match left. He kept that until I got close to him, his plan being to strike the match, hold it in his hat, and wave it across the track, as he had seen the brakemen do when they wanted to signal stop. It was his hope that I would see the blaze before it was blown out. He no sooner struck the match than out went the blaze. It was merely a flash; but I saw it, and the farmer had saved the train. What if I hadn't made it a rule to keep a sharp lookout along the rails every minute while running?"—Sel.
December Renewals.
By Editor
SEVERAL hundred subscriptions expire during the month of December. We earnestly solicit your renewal for the coming year, and make you the following liberal offers:—
No. 1. To our old friends and patrons who will send us $2.50, we will send the SIGNS OF THE TIMES one year, and will mail either one of the following books: "The Atonement; in the light of Nature and Revelation," by Elder J. H. Waggoner; "The Life and Words of Christ," by Cunningham Geikie, D. D.; or the "History of the Waldenses," illustrated.
No. 2. To any old subscriber who will send us $3.00, we will furnish the SIGNS one year, and mail you a copy of either the "Sunshine at Home"—a family portfolio of natural history, biography, and Bible scenes—or the illustrated popular edition of the "GREAT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN CHRIST AND SATAN" during the Christian dispensation, by Mrs. E. G. White, handsomely bound in cloth with jet and gold stamp, containing over five hundred pages of choice reading, illustrated by twenty-one full-page cuts, also a portrait of the author.
Obituary.
PRICE.—Died at Healdsburg, Cal., Nov. 13, 1885, of typhoid fever, Sister Lucetta Price, wife of Wm. E. Price, in the 55th year of her age. Sister Price was impressed from the beginning of her sickness that she would not recover. She said that if she could have her choice, she would prefer to live for the sake of her family; but if it was God's will that she should sleep in the dust, she was well satisfied to be laid away until the Lifegiver should come. She passed away with a bright hope of immortality through Christ. She leaves a husband and six children to mourn her loss. Funeral services were conducted by the writer.
E. P. DANIELS.
(Review and Herald please copy.)
HUSTED.—Died November 2, 1885, of general debility and old age, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Husted. Mother was born in Middlebury, Vt., March 11, 1813, and at the time of her death was in her seventy-third year. She embraced the truths of the Third Angel's Message at Healdsburg, Cal., in 1868 or 1869, when the tent was first pitched there by Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau. Since that time we believe she has lived a consistent life; and we trust that she will come forth when the Master calls his sleeping saints from their graves to dwell in the mansions he has gone to prepare. During her last sickness, of three months, she suffered much, but was never heard to murmur or complain. As long as she was able to be around, she spent much of her time in prayer, and till the last she often expressed her sense of the goodness of God. Four daughters, two sons, and a large circle of friends, mourn their loss.
E. J. CHURCH.
MAVITY.—Died in St. Helena, Cal., Nov. 23, 1885, Willis W., son of John and Amelia Mavity, aged 17 years, 11 months, and 23 days. Brother Willis was baptized at the Sacramento camp-meeting in 1881. He united with the Seventh-day Adventist church at St. Helena shortly after, where he has lived a faithful and conscientious member.
He was strong and well until about a month since, when he was taken with the typhoid fever, with which most of the family have been afflicted of late. So soon and unexpectedly is he fallen asleep! He died in hope of the soon coming of Christ and the resurrection to immortal life. He gave clear evidence of peace with God and resignation to his will, which comforting assurance sustains his relatives and friends, and gives them hope, that, if faithful, they may soon meet him again. Words of hope were spoken to a large audience by the writer.
J. D. RICE.
POST.—Died at his residence near Alton, Kan., Nov. 5, 1885, of typho-malarial fever, J. B. Post, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. He was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and afterward resided in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He removed from the latter State to Osborne Co., Kan., in 1874, and was one of the pioneers of the county in which he lived. He was a member of the milling firm of "Chamberlain and Post," their place of business being known for miles around as "the Advent mill." Nearly thirty years ago he united with the Methodist church in Pennsylvania. In the year 1861 he began to keep the Sabbath, and continued so to do up to the time of his death. Although he was not a member of the church, he adhered to the general doctrines of S. D. Adventists, and it is believed he died in hope. He was a man of few words and very conscientious, and would rather suffer pecuniary loss than to be the occasion of it to others. He was universally respected by the entire community. The local paper, in alluding to his death, calls him "the good old miller." The trustees of the M. E. church kindly offered their house in which to hold funeral services. Although the weather was unpleasant, a large congregation assembled on the occasion. The writer addressed the friends present from the words of Jesus in John 11:25. Elder Mayo (Methodist) assisted in the services.
N. J. BOWERS.
Publishers' Department.
By Editor
WE send no papers from this office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read.
England—The Present Truth, 72 Heneage Street, Great Grimsby, Eng.
New Zealand—Edward Hare, Upper Queen Street (Turner Street), Auckland, N. Z.
Hawaiian Islands—L. A. Scott, Honolulu, H. I.
Michigan—Miss Hattie House, care Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
New England—Mrs. E. T. Palmer, N. E. Tract Repository, South Lancaster, Mass.
North Pacific—Mrs. C. L. Boyd, East Portland, Oregon.
Switzerland—W. C. White, 48 Weiherweg, Bale, Suisse.
STATE AGENTS' DIRECTORY.
By Editor
California.—Anna L. Ingels, Oakland, Cal.
Canada—Mary L. Cushing, South Stukely, P. Q.
Colorado.—Miss Effie M. Rankin, 831 California St., Denver, Colo.
Dakota—Alice H. Beaumont, Vilas, Miner Co., Dak.
Florida—Ella Frost, Moultrie, St. Johns Co., Fla.
Idaho.—Carrie E. Mills, Walla Walla, W. T.
Illinois—Lizzie S. Campbell, No. 95 Thirty-fifth Street, Chicago, Ill.
Indiana—W. A. Young, 32 Cherry St., Indianapolis, Ind.
Iowa—Mrs. Lizzie H. Farnsworth, Des Moines, Iowa.
Kansas—L. D. Chambers, Box 160, Ottawa, Kan.
Kentucky—Bettie C. Saxby, Nolin, Hardin Co., Ky.
Maine—Rose N. Redmond, 113 Pearl St., Portland, Me.
Michigan—Miss Hattie House, Battle Creek, Mich.
Minnesota—H. P. Holser, box 1076, Minneapolis, Minn.
Missouri—Miss Clara E. Low, 321 Lamine Street, Sedalia, Mo.
Nebraska—Miss S. E. Whiteis, Sec. Nebraska Tract Society, Fremont, Neb.
New England—Mrs. Eliza T. Palmer, N. E. Tract Depository, South Lancaster, Mass.
New York—Miss M. May Taylor, Rome, N. Y.
North Pacific—Mrs. C. L. Boyd, East Portland, Oregon.
Ohio—Mrs. Ida S. Gates, rear of the Citizens' Savings Bank, second floor, Columbus, Ohio.
Pennsylvania—L. C. Chadwick, Wellsville, N. Y.
Tennessee—J. H. Dortch, Springville, Henry Co., Tenn.
Texas—Mrs Lee Gregory, Denton, Denton Co., Tex.
Upper Columbia—Carrie E. Mills, Walla Walla, W. T.
Vermont—Lizzie A. Stone, South Lancaster, Mass.
Virginia—Lillie D. Woods, Quicksburgh, Shenandoah Co., Va.
Wisconsin—Mary V. Thurston, 901 East Gorham St., Madison, Wis.
Wyoming—J. T. Trees, Tie Siding, Albany Co., Wyo.
Holiday Books.
By Editor
SEND to PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal., for their new catalogue of books, pamphlets, etc., and make your selection of valuable and instructive books for holiday presents. Catalogue sent free to any address.
Pino, Placer County, Cal.
By Editor
WHO is sending missionary papers to the above-named post-office? The postmaster there writes us that SIGNS addressed to the following names remain in his office uncalled for: viz., S. H. Galloway, J. A. Grant, R. Custer, T. E. Cosgrove, F. E. Fozey, Fred Enbun, Wm. Derrick, C. Gielre, Mrs. Cowan, C. Hilton. These names are not on the SIGNS list, and the papers are not sent from this office, and we have no means of knowing who sends them.
RECEIPTS.
By Editor
NOTICE.—The change of figures on the address labels will be in all cases a sufficient receipt for money sent for the paper. If these changes do not appear in due time, and if books ordered by mail are not received, please notify us. All other business is acknowledged below.
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.
San Pasqual church $153.87, Maise Howard $1.10, P J Striplin $1, Norwalk church $10, Lemoore church $125.25, Temperance church $14.50, Fresno church $205.25, Petaluma church $110.10, Healdsburg church $186.70, Los Angeles church $94.65.
HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.
Mrs Mary Stewart $10, Nellie Stewart $10, J M Church $40, Amanda Munn $10, Mary Stevens $10, W R Young $5.
CALIFORNIA CITY MISSIONS.
Mrs J C Wysong $5, I G Knight $25, I P Ross $5, S D Wauchope $2.50, M E Wauchope $1, H Munn $5, Lillie Richey $2.50, a Friend $2.15, Eliza Harvey 50 cents.
CALIFORNIA TRACT SOCIETY.
Mary Stewart $5.50, Wm Ings $256.35, District No 3 per Marion Kleabir $23.80, District No 7 per Geo Derrick $15.25.
CASH RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.
Nebraska T and M Society $200, Michigan T and M Society $866.63, Kansas T and M Society $250, Dakota T and M Society $24.50, Frank Culver $3, Chas D Reaser $5, M A Lee $10, Isaac G Knight $102.50, Walter Harper $10.20.
ORDERS FORWARDED.
By Editor
BOOKS SENT BY FREIGHT.—Eld W C White, A H Beaumont, L H Farnsworth, H Peebles, W Harper, Colorado Tract Society.
BOOKS SENT BY EXPRESS.—C E Reeves, Mrs M J Howard, Mrs S A Douglas, L C Chadwick, Eld Will D Curtis, W B White, H F Phelps, G W Colcord, M A Lee, Mrs L A Inman, Eld M H Brown, N C McClure, Mrs A J Hutchins, E P Daniels, J H Disher.
PARSON'S HAND-BOOK
By Editor
BUSINESS AND SOCIAL FORMS.
A COMPLETE WORK OF REFERENCE AND SELF-INSTRUCTION.
OUR NEW EDITION,
Just coming from the printer and binder, has been enlarged to over 700 LARGE OCTAVO PAGES, and has the addition of two new departments, one on Short-Hand and Type Writing, and one on choice Poetical Selections; fully and handsomely illustrated. Notwithstanding the expensive improvements, the price of the book remains the same; and we assert, without fear of contradiction, that we give the most book for the money of any house publishing any book of a similar nature in America. And, further, PARSON'S HAND-BOOK stands as the peer of its class, notwithstanding the higher price at which others may be sold. This is evidenced by the fact that our agents are constantly urged to take these other works in part payment for the HAND-BOOK, even though they had paid for them nearly double what we ask for ours.
The illustrations in this work are very handsome, having been procured at great expense. This is a work that sells to all classes and professions, and is needed in every family, store, workshop, and office. AGENTS WANTED in the Pacific Coast States and Territories
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
Poor Reasoning.
By Editor
The Independent, having received the full text of the pope's encyclical letter "Concerning the Christian Constitution of States," says:—
"It is an excellent and sensible pastoral. Some of our very Protestant contemporaries are aghast over it, and think it awful that the pope should tell Catholics to take their part in political government. But we should be ashamed of any Protestant minister who would not say as much. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have just issued a similar encyclical to English churchmen. The present writer has cut a prayer-meeting short, telling the people that he must leave and go to a political primary, advising all other republican voters to follow him."
It is very easy for one to approve an act or saying of another when it agrees with what he himself has done or said. The writer in the Independent thinks that the pope's advice is good, because he has himself given similar advice. It is true that the pope's recommendation seems to be a very harmless one. No one could object to a man's voting because he was a Catholic. But when we remember that a Catholic is a Catholic at all times, and that when the pope tells the Catholics to take their part in politics, he means that they shall do so as Catholics, and not simply as citizens of the United States, and that they shall work for the advancement of Catholic power, we can see that his advice is not a thing to be passed over as of no importance. And, by the way, we do not think that political religion is any better because it is called Protestant. When a man's politics and religion are so closely allied that he regards a political meeting as equal in importance to a prayer-meeting, we do not regard him as a safe guide either in politics or religion.
Prohibition Not a Failure.
By Editor
NEAL DOW writes as follows to the N. Y. Independent:—
“A gentleman walking in his garden saw a man prone upon the ground, having at the moment crept through the hedge. The proprietor exclaimed: ‘What are you doing there, you rascal?’ ‘Going back again, sir,’ the tramp replied.
“Four weeks ago, a California wine manufacturer, to try the market, sent to Maine forty large casks and two half-casks of wine and brandy. It came all the way by rail, and on its arrival at Portland, it was promptly seized by the sheriffs, taken to the lock-up where seized liquors are kept, and was duly libeled according to law, preparatory to its confiscation.
“The manufacturer came all the way from San Francisco to the hearing, and swore it was sent to Maine by mistake, being intended for Boston. It was remanded to him, and it went back again yesterday to Boston, that paradise of grog-shops and drunkards.”
The story and the moral explain themselves. It is likely that California wine dealers will hereafter be careful about sending any of their samples to Maine. Yet they say that prohibition is not a practicable thing. We imagine that at least one wine dealer believes that it is practicable. What has been accomplished in Maine could as well be accomplished in any other State.
Pacific Health Journal and Temperance Advocate
By Editor
The Pacific Health Journal and Temperance Advocate for December is out on time, and fully sustains the reputation that it has already gained. It is crammed full of the most profitable reading, and that which is highly interesting also. The articles of special importance are the following:—
Defective Experience, Moral Duty of Preserving Health, Danger in Foul Water, Sulphur Springs, The Small Pox, Disease and Its Causes, Indictment of the Liquor Traffic, Disease in the Cigar, Our Nation's Curse, Slow Poisoning, Importance of Learning to Cook, Caring for the Sick, and Diet for the Sick.
Besides these, there are many short articles and pithy paragraphs, making, altogether, a quantity of reading matter which for importance and variety is seldom equaled in one journal. Any family could well afford to give fifty cents for this one number. When we remember that this amount of money will pay for a year's subscription, and that each number is better than the one which precedes it, it is a self-evident fact that the easiest way to save money is to subscribe for this journal. Send for it, and see for yourselves.
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, VOLUMES TWO AND THREE.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
These volumes describe the great conflict between Christ and Satan, as illustrated in the history of man, his temptations, conflicts, victories, and defeats, and the final triumph of right and truth with crowning immortality.
Vol. II contains the life, teachings, and miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reader will find that this book furnishes invaluable aid in studying the lessons of Christ as set forth in the gospels. One of the most pleasing features of this volume is the plain and simple language with which the author clothes thoughts that glow with truth and beauty.
Vol. III contains the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Messiah; and the lives and ministry of the apostles.
Apart from the Bible, this series presents the most wonderful and intensely interesting history of the world that has ever been published. These books are not argumentative, yet they throw much light on the sacred page. They afford especial encouragement to the Christian, and are excellent to place in the hands of skeptics to convince them of Bible truth.
The two volumes contain 838 pages, neatly bound in cloth, and will be sent, post-paid, for $2.00. Either volume will be furnished separately for $1.00.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.; Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
THE HOME OF THE SAVED.
By John Norton Loughborough
By Eld. J. N. Loughborough.
Gives the Bible evidence upon the interesting topic of the earth made new, as the inheritance of the saints. 82 pp. Price, 10 cents. SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Humboldt County Work Report
By Editor
A REPORT of the work in Humboldt County, Cal., came just too late for publication this week. It is good, and will keep for a week without any difficulty.
Students’ Home at Healdsburg
By Editor
Last week we had the pleasure of spending a few days at the Students' Home in Healdsburg. There is a large family there at present. At meal time, the dining-room is well filled with a happy company of students. All seem to be enjoying themselves, and making good progress in the work.
Encouragement from the Signs
By Editor
If any missionary worker is inclined to be discouraged, let him read in this week's paper the leading editorial, Eld. Haskell's article, "Auckland, New Zealand," and "Our Pioneer Paper." This knowledge of what the SIGNS is doing should encourage the most despondent. And we are persuaded that what comes to our notice is but the merest trifle compared with the great amount that will not be revealed until the Judgment.
The Bible Echo
By Editor
The first number of the Bible Echo, a monthly journal issued by the Australasian branch of the International Tract and Missionary Society, has just reached our table. This number contains four pages; but after January 1, the paper is to be enlarged to sixteen pages, of the same size as the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. From the number now before us, we judge that the Bible Echo will be even more than its name indicates, and that it will not simply be an echo of the Bible, but that a large portion of it will actually be the Bible itself. We are confident that it is destined to do a good work, and wish it abundant success in its work of leading souls into the "old paths."
How Shall We Read Our Bibles?
By Editor
WE do not like the custom of continually calling the attention of readers to articles in the paper, as it seems to imply that the articles would not be read if attention were not called to them. It is with no such idea that we do frequently give certain articles special mention, for we have evidence that the SIGNS as a whole is well perused; but sometimes an article meets a special want, and should therefore be read with special carefulness. Such we think is the case with the article on page 738 of this issue, entitled, "How Shall We Read Our Bibles?" The author has certainly struck the key-note. If every person would read his Bible in the way that is there pointed out, the mission of the SIGNS would soon be accomplished. Our work is to bring people to the knowledge and belief of the truth; and this can be accomplished only by getting them to read their Bibles, and to accept them just as they read.
A Suggestive Picture.
THE last number of Harper's Weekly contains a full-page cut that is worthy of more than a passing glance, as accurately delineating the motive which actuates the great majority of people. In the center of the picture, on a box-like structure, is a platter on which lies a huge turkey, around which the flames are shooting upward. Upon the box itself is the inscription, "The Union Altar," and underneath the picture are the words: "The Annual Sacrifice that Cheers Many Hearts." Behind the altar stands an uncouth figure who is intended to represent the United States. He has in his hands a carving knife and fork. Before the altar a crowd of men, white, black, yellow, and red, eagerly press forward, each with a plate in his hand on which to receive his portion of the sacrifice.
This picture brings forcibly to mind the words of Paul in Phil. 3:18, 19: "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things."
If Mr. Nast had designed to make a pictorial comment on this text, he could not have made a better one than he has. Whoever has noticed the papers cannot have failed to see that the main thought in connection with Thanksgiving is, What shall we eat? "Thanksgiving," even in many religious circles, has become but another name for "gormandizing." The markets are crowded to overflowing with the dead carcasses of all manner of birds and beasts, which are to be offered as victims on this national altar. It is a sad thought that the chief object of worship nowadays is self. And this idolatry, which differs in no essential point from that of the ancient heathen, is fondly thought by deluded votaries to be heart-felt worship to God. The trouble is they are a little confused in their knowledge of anatomy, and put heart for stomach. Appetite is the god which all worship, and around its altar civilized people meet on a level with savages, "for there is no difference" in this respect; and the end of all such worshipers is "destruction."