A TELEGRAM received from Eld. Haskell, dated Wellsville, N. Y., Dec. 7, says: "Lancaster meeting closed Sunday. Best ever held in New England. Preaching evenings; Bible-readings during the day; after Bible-readings, praise service. Thanksgiving day twenty-eight gave themselves to God.
"Twelve thousand five hundred dollars raised for the school; twenty acres bought in the village. Missionary work double that of any previous year. Brethren encouraged and all harmonious. To God be the praise."
We respond with a hearty, Amen. The purchase of twenty acres of ground insures the carrying out of the original purpose in regard to the school. The location is favorable; it will be emphatically a manual-labor school; just what is wanted to train the young people to habits and avocations of usefulness. Success to the school in South Lancaster.
$25,000 Wanted.
WE, the undersigned, hereby give the sums set to our names, to raise the sum of $25,000 to be placed under the control of trustees chosen at the annual session of the California Conference. Said sum to be loaned to some of our Institutions at 5 per cent., the proceeds of which shall be used to assist those who are seeking an education at the Healdsburg College, to fill positions in the cause of God. Said individuals must be recommended by the Conference Committee and the College Faculty.
William Butcher........................................$5,000
Joseph Leininger....................................... 5,000
John Morrison..........................................1,000
F. H. Adams............................................ 500
Mrs. Mary Scott........................................ 500
A Friend to the Cause.................................. 300
"Who'll be the next?"
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, . . . . . . . $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address; to be used in Missionary Work, . . . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Michigan.
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
MRS. C. L. BOYD, Salem, Oregon.
E. S. WHITE, Sec. Nebraska T. and M. Soc., Fremont, Neb.
Office Notices and Holiday Books
By Editor
NOTICE.—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 them are not indebted to the Office.
Money orders, drafts, etc., should be made to "Pacific Press;" NEVER to individuals, as they may be absent, and business thereby be delayed.
ONE more number completes volume 9 of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Important improvements will be made in the next volume.
WE regret that the reports of the meetings of the Missionary Society, and of other general meetings in Battle Creek, were not received in time for notice in this paper.
HAVE you procured or ordered your holiday books? If not, do not delay another day. See our list, both of Bibles and miscellaneous works. All offered at this office are first-class, useful books.
The Signs of the Times for 1884.
By Editor
VOLUME 10.
THE publishers take pleasure in calling the attention of the public to this popular journal. Its rapidly increasing circulation, and the many words of commendation that have come in from all quarters, prove that the paper is meeting with approval. The following are some of the features which have gained for it its present high standing:—
It has always been consistent with its claim to be a strictly Religious Journal. It entirely ignores political questions, as such; it is not merely non-partisan, but absolutely non-political. In this it stands almost alone among religious journals. It makes prompt note, however, of the political movements which have any bearing whatever upon religious questions, or that fulfill prophecy, carefully noting the signs of the times. It has rigidly adhered to the rule made by its managers in the beginning, to admit no paid advertisements of any kind. The religious books and missionary institutions which it occasionally notices are connected with the cause which the paper is laboring to advance, and are gratuitously advertised for the benefit of its patrons. The mechanical work is of the highest order; the paper is of good quality, the print clear, and the general make-up neat. The high moral tone of the paper, and the great variety of matter which it presents, make it emphatically a journal for the family. We believe it more nearly approaches the ideal of a live family religious newspaper than any other paper published. Editors whose names and pens have given character to the paper in the past, still continue their work; and every effort will be made to secure the best contributors to its columns, and to make the coming volume more interesting and useful than any that has preceded it.
The EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT of the SIGNS contains live articles on every Bible subject. The prophecies of the Old and the New Testaments receive especial attention. Every question that from time to time agitates the religious world, is treated as fully as the interests of the reader demands. Much care is also given to the answering of questions on religious subjects of general interest, that may be asked by subscribers or friends.
Under the heading "GENERAL ARTICLES" will be found a great variety of subjects, both original and selected. The articles found on the first page of each paper, have everywhere been highly appreciated, and pronounced of great interest. They alone are worth the price of the paper.
On the subject of TEMPERANCE the SIGNS occupies no neutral position. It is outspoken and radical, not confining its advocacy of temperance to the mere abstinence from intoxicating liquors. This feature of the paper has met with the greatest favor, and has been highly commended.
The SABBATH-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT is conducted by those actively engaged in Sabbath-school work. It contains a Bible Commentary on the lessons. Every possible effort will be made to increase the interest in this department the coming year.
Much attention is given in this paper to the subject of MISSIONS both home and foreign. It will contain sketches from the lives of great Missionaries in the past, and also reports from Missionaries now laboring in different parts of the world. It has special correspondents in Switzerland, England, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden.
The HOME CIRCLE embraces pleasant reading for the household, only of an elevated and moral character. No serial stories published. Nothing of the novelette style admitted. Its object is to combine the useful with the agreeable.
A synopsis of the NEWS OF THE DAY, or items of the most important events as given in the best daily papers, is a feature that is highly prized by many readers, especially those who do not take the dailies. Here they can get the real news separated from the chaff. Much care is bestowed on this department. It is divided into News and Notes both secular and religious.
It will be the object of the SIGNS to advance the cause of the truth of God, honoring the truth wherever found, and exposing sin and iniquity everywhere, whether in high or low places.
TERMS.—Per year (postage prepaid) ................................................................ $2.00.
In clubs of five or more, to one address .............................................................. 1.50.
Sample copies free.
L I B E R A L O F F E R.
To each new subscriber we will furnish the SIGNS OF THE TIMES one year with a copy of Conybeare and Howson's
## Life and Epistles of St. Paul,
## FOR $2.25.
This magnificent book offered as a premium is widely known as a work of profound learning and extensive research. It is clearly written and intensely interesting.
Ours is a new and popular edition printed from new plates upon tinted paper. It is substantially and elegantly bound, and sells for one dollar.
On account of the value and expense of this book, this is the best premium offer we have ever made.
TO OUR OLD SUBSCRIBERS.
To each one of our old patrons who will renew his subscription before March 1, 1884, and send us six new subscribers, we will also send free, by mail, a copy of the premium book.
Choice of Premiums.
If any one prefers a copy of "The Biblical Institute," or "Geikie's Life of Christ," instead of the "Life and Epistles of St. Paul," we will furnish them at the same rates whenever requested.
Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.
Three Sundays!
By Editor
THE following deeply interesting item we find in an exchange:—
"In the city of Jerusalem three Sundays are observed every week. The Mohammedans observe Friday, not by closing their shops and resting, but by going to the mosque at certain hours and reciting prayers. The Jews observe Saturday, being very strict as to their conformity to ancient custom and ordinance. They close their shops and are not often seen in the streets until afternoon. Then they appear in their best clothes. Sunday is observed by the Christians of various denominations. On that day the flags fly from the consulates of the Christian nations."
Why say three Sundays, rather than three Fridays or three Saturdays? The writer says some keep Friday, some keep Saturday, and some keep Sunday, and so all together they keep three Sundays, and all in one week! Verily, we should think by his speech the writer has been in Babylon and mistaken it for Jerusalem.
Imitators
By E. O. Haven
IMITATORS generally surpass their models in their faults, and fall short of them in their excellences.—E. O. Haven.