OUR meetings continue to draw good audiences, each night, although they have been held without intermission for thirty-seven evenings. Last Sunday evening was devoted to the temperance question, Mrs. E. G. White addressing the audience, which filled the house. Dr. Dio Lewis was present and made some remarks; others also took part, and the meeting seemed to pass pleasantly, and we trust profitably to all.
The California Christian Advocate published an editorial on the Sabbath question, which we commenced reviewing before our audience last night, and expect to finish this evening. No new argument is presented in the Advocate, but about all of the old ones, notwithstanding they conflict with each other. For an illustration of the article we present the following positions which are taken:—
The Sabbath only requires any seventh portion of our time. We are required to keep the first day of the week.
We cannot keep the seventh day. We do keep the seventh day.
Time varies so no particular day can be kept. The early Christians met regularly on the first-day and we must do the same.
Moral considerations always required a Sabbath. There was no Sabbath from creation to Moses.
In the gospel dispensation the command is not abrogated. In the gospel dispensation Sabbath-breaking is not a sin.
The above are only a few of the absurdities, contained in their argument, and yet this is the leading paper of the Methodist church on this coast, and is edited by a learned man. There is one position he did not take, and it is the only unanswerable one I have ever met; it was taken by an M. E. minister in Solano county, last summer. In trying to establish Sunday-keeping he said: "I know there is no command for it in the Bible, but we do not know what Christ may have told the disciples which is not written."
As the result of our meetings and judicious missionary labor, twenty-three have signed the covenant; thirteen have been baptized, and others are almost persuaded. Pray for the cause here.
W. M. HEALEY.
March 12, 1878.
Overland Mail.
By Editor
WE are obliged to go to press this week without our usual reports from the Review and Herald, the overland mail having been detained on account of recent severe snow storms, which have blockaded the Union Pacific.
Meetings in California.
By John Norton Loughborough
Since my last report, I have held meetings in California at Red Bluff, Sacramento, and Vacaville. At Red Bluff I gave two discourses to large audiences in Crandall’s hall, on the subject of prophecy. Deep interest was manifested and the people earnestly request that one of the California tents be pitched there for meetings during April and May. Our own people pledged $75 and the seats for the tent, outside of their liberal s. b. pledges, if the tent could come. Many meetings have been held in the country around Red Bluff; but the town has never yet been thoroughly canvassed with the truth.
On Sabbath, March 2, and the evening following, I gave two discourses to good audiences in Antelope district, where Brethren Israel and Brorsen held meetings this winter. At the close of my forenoon meeting four persons were received into the Red Bluff church. Two of these were baptized in the clear waters of Antelope creek.
At Sacramento, I met with a few at their place of meeting. The weather being stormy and bad, it prevented us from having as large an audience as there otherwise would have been.
Sabbath and First-day, March 9 and 10, I was with the church at Vacaville. I gave four discourses with freedom to attentive congregations. During the severe stormy winter this church has missed only one Sabbath in having meetings. They have made earnest efforts to keep up the interest in their meetings. Not one of those who came out in the truth has given it up, and there is a growth in grace and earnestness on the part of the church. May the Lord still bless them.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Scripture References.
SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
SPIRIT is translated from two Hebrew words, n'shah-mah and roo-agh. The following is their complete use:—
N'shah-mah. This word occurs in the Old Testament twenty-four times, and is translated in five different ways, viz.:—
N'shah-mah is defined by Gesenius as follows: "1. Breath, spirit, spoken of the breath of God, i. e. the wind, b the breath, breathing of his anger. 2. Breath, life, of man and beasts. 3. The mind, intellect. 4. Concr. living thing, animals."
Roo-agh occurs in the Old Testament 442 times, and is translated in sixteen different ways, as follows:—
Spirit. We do not give the instances in which this word is rendered spirit, both because they are very numerous, and because the word spirit in the Old Testament is in every instance from this word, except Job xxvi, 4, and Prov. xx, 27, in which cases it comes from n'shah-mah.
Roo-agh is defined by Gesenius thus: "1. Breath, a breathing, blowing, i. e., a breath of the nostrils, b breath of the mouth, c breath of air, in motion. 2. The vital breath, spirit, life, the principle of life as embodied and manifested in the breath of the mouth and nostrils, spoken of men and beasts. 3. The rational soul, mind, spirit. a As the seat of the affections, emotions, and passions of various kinds. b In reference to the disposition, the mode of feeling, and acting. c Of will, counsel, purpose."
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
We want fellowship—not with a sentiment, nor with a tradition, nor with an ideality, but with a real, living, personal being—with Christ.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently.) Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. Albert C Hardy 5-11, L Parrot 5-11, R G Lockwood 5-1, W R Smith 5-1, Wm P Yount 5-1, J K Wilbur 5-1, Benton Haynes 5-8, Chas F Stevens (8 copies) 4-27, Wm T Hutchins 5-8, R A Underwood 5-1, Elsie Gates 5-1, A Papworth 5-10, Wm J Dunscomb 5-1, Geo W Mills 5-1, Mrs J W Rasmus 5-2, Mrs E P Colton 5-11, S H Hilligoss 5-2, M Fallon 5-1, Elvira Sevy 5-1, R G Wickwire 5-7, Jennie McFarland 5-11.
1.50 EACH. Wallace Knapp 5-11, Nahum Coates 5-11, Amos Rogers 5-11, Robert Smith 5-11, Edwin Lathrop 5-11, Solomon P Merrill 5-11, Seth Towns 5-11, L Towns 5-11, Mrs Jane Stanton 5-11, Mrs J D Plumley 5-11, Mrs Frank Plumley 5-11, Mrs B R Folsom 5-2, E Ford 5-9, F Diestrich 4-36, W O Rogers 5-2, Jas M Miller 5-2, B F Lee 5-2, F H B Hollingworth 5-2, A J Hollingworth 5-2, Louisa A McDonald 5-2, S Forman Weatherbee 5-2, Eugene Howland 5-11, Jane Alley 4-30, Mrs Louisa Furgerson 5-13, Mrs Humbert 5-5, Mr Oliver Sumner 5-2, Sarah D Holmes 5-11, Miss Sarah Coe 5-2, Jacob Mowser 5-7, A B Smyer 5-18, Chapin Harris 5-7, J W Dungan 5-11, Isaac Leede 5-11, J Chilson 5-9, Francis Cook 5-1, Mary Rockwell 5-11, Casper Smith 5-11, E Norton 5-11, Milton Davis 5-11, Chas Davis 5-11, Mary E Darking 5-11, E S Rist 5-11, David Carr 5-11, S C Lockwood 5-11, Chas Edwards 5-11, Albert Algers 5-11, Silas Ramsdell 5-11, A K Spaulding 5-11, S L Barnum 5-11, Wm Beatty 5-11, R Korn 5-11.
MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs H W Kellogg (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Mattie J Palmateer 50c 4-38, H A Whittaker 1.00 4-24, Wm Griffith 3.00 3-41, John D Kendall (4 copies) 6.00 5-11, Wm Keytz 65c 4-13, Anthony Snyder 75c 4-30, Benjamin Hill (9 copies) 13.50 5-11, Mrs Hester Hobart 1.00 4-25, Mrs Mary W Hutton 1.00 4-25, Mrs D F Johnston 1.00 4-3, J S Milton (8 copies) 5.00 4-3, Mrs S O Clark 1.00 4-34, Wm Ings (5 copies) 7.50 5-1, A E Deveraux (8 copies) 5.00 4-31, Wm Hunt 2.50 5-1, Mrs M E Bikerdic 50c 4-35, J Riley (4 copies) 6.00 5-10, W H Hall (31 copies) 46.50 5-11, J L House (23 copies) 34.50 5-11, J G Estes (4 copies) 6.00 5-11, J M Corner (12 copies) 18.00 5-10, N A Walker (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Eunice Church (4 copies) 5.00 5-11, M A Winchell (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, A C Winchell (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Mrs C K Farnsworth (24 copies) 36.00 5-9, U Hemphill 50c 4-3, Mrs Lucinda Crane (6 copies) 9.00 5-12, Mrs Sophie Crosby (8 copies) 12.00 5-11, Wm Lebaron (2 copies) 3.00 5-10, Geo Hunt (2 copies) 3.00 5-10, D A Courtney (6 copies) 9.00 5-10, Julia Savage 75c 4-24, Willett Reynolds (10 copies) 15.00 5-12, Mrs J S Wicks (12 copies) 18.00 5-12, Jane Cramer (14 copies) 21.00 5-12, M Byington (4 copies) 6.00 5-12, M J Hardy (5 copies) 3.75 4-35, G G Green (3 copies) 4.50 5-11, M J Hardy (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Laura Vincent (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, W W Locke (5 copies) 7.50 5-11, D C Forbes (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, H G Locke (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Samuel Rexford (2 copies) 3.00 5-11, Jacob Waldron (3 copies) 4.50 5-11, Henry Morse 1.00 4-35, G Newman (5 copies) 3.75 4-38, N K Ernst 75c 4-35, M S Tyrel (4 copies) 4.50 5-11.
California Conference Fund.
Woodland church $8.00, Sacramento church 10.00.
Received on Account.
Cal T and M Society $49.00.
APPOINTMENTS.
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will speak in San Francisco, Sabbath, March 16, at 11 A. M., and on First-day, March 17, at 7:30 P. M.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
I APPOINT to meet with the church at Gilroy on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday, March 19 and 20, and at San Jose, Sabbath and First-day, March 23 and 24.
W. M. HEALEY.
Certificates and Proxies.
By James Edson White
IN order to hold an election April 2, it will be necessary to have a majority of all the stock represented. It is hoped that all who do not expect to attend the meeting themselves, will empower some one who will attend to represent their stock in said meeting.
J. E. WHITE, Secretary.
Stockholders' Meeting.
By James White
PURSUANT to Article 6, Section 2, of the By-Laws of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, the third annual meeting of the stockholders of said association will be held at the Pacific Press Office, 1059 Castro street, Oakland, Tuesday, April 2, 1878, at 10 o'clock A. M., for the purpose of electing a board of five directors, and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting.
By order of the President.
J. E. WHITE, Secretary.
Church Record, and S. B. Books.
By Editor
THESE new books have been subjected to thorough criticism and are accepted by all as perfect. They are being generally adopted by our churches, and it is hoped that they will add materially to the accuracy and correctness of church records and accounts.
The prices are as follows:--
Church Record, 2 quires, $1.00
" " 3 " 1.30
" " 4 " 1.60
S. B. Books, 2 quires, 1.40
" " 3 " 1.75
Churches of less than thirty members would only need the two-quire books.
Churches of thirty to fifty members would need the three-quire books.
Larger churches would need the four-quire Church Record.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Nevada.
By John Norton Loughborough
ANY persons in Nevada who wish to become members of the State organization, or who wish to contribute towards the tent enterprise, or State Association fund, which is to be used in carrying forward the work in that State, will please write to Jackson Ferguson, St. Clair, Churchill county, Nevada.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, Etc.
Cruden's Concordance. $1.75, post-paid.
Dictionary of Bible. $1.75, post-paid.
Hymn and Tune Book; 537 hymns, 147 tunes. $1.00.
Progressive Bible Lessons. 50 cts.
" " " " for Children. 35 cts.
The Way of Life; a beautiful engraving 19x24 inches, with key of explanations. $1.00.
The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In Board, 50 cts; in paper 30 cts.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. J. N. Andrews. 528 pp, $1.00.
Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian of noble birth. By Francesco Urgos. $1.25, post-paid.
Thoughts on Daniel. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
The Sanctuary and its Cleansing. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed edition in paper, 30 cts.
Life of William Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
Life of Joseph Bates, with Likeness. Revised. Edited by James White. Tint, $1.00; plain, $1.25.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00.
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.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. Mrs. E. G. White. 416 pp. $1.00.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. III. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00.
Life of Christ, in seven Pamphlets, by Mrs. Ellen G. White:—
No. 1. His First Advent and Ministry - 10 cts
No. 2. His Temptation in the Wilderness - 10 cts
No. 3. His Teachings and Parables - 15 cts
No. 4. His Mighty Miracles - 15 cts
No. 5. His Sufferings and Crucifixion - 10 cts
No. 6. His Resurrection and Ascension - 10 cts
No. 7. The Apostles of Christ - 10 cts
Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. In two volumes. 75 cts. each.
The State of the Dead and Destiny of the Wicked. U. Smith. 40 cts.
The United States in Prophecy. U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 25 cts.
A Word for the Sabbath, or False Theories Exposed. (POEM.) U. Smith. Muslin, 30 cts.; paper, 15 cts.
Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular history of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. J. N. A. 25 cts.
Facts for the Times. 25 cts.
The Nature and tendency of Modern Spiritualism. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary, and Saving Faith. 20 cts.
The Ministration of Angels, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. D. M. C. 20 cts.
The Atonement. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Spirit of God. J. H. W. 15 cts.
Miraculous Powers. 15 cts.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-horned Beast. J. N. C. 15 cts.
The Morality of the Sabbath. D. M. C. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. James White. 10 cts.
The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth made New. J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. J. N. A. 10 cts.
The Truth Found. J. H. W. 10 cts.
The Two Covenants. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel: What it is, and when it will be consummated. J. N. L. 10 cts.
Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the Sabbath. Morton. 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. James White. 10 cts.
Review of Baird's Two Sermons on the Sabbath and Law. J. H. W.
The Ancient Sabbath. Forty-four Objections Considered. 10 cts.
Milton on the State of the Dead. 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—Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Redemption—Systematic Benevolence—Two Two Covenants.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost Time Question—Argument on Sabbath—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture Reference—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14—The Second Message of Rev. 14—Origin and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists—Much in Little.
Two-cent Tracts: Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Old Moral Code of Ten Commandments not Revised—Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday Keeping Examined—Elihu on the Sabbath—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—Spirit of Prophecy—One Hundred Bible Facts—The Law and the Gospel—God's Memorial.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Nahum's Chariots—The Perfection of The Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day do You keep and Why?—Geology and the Bible—The Sleep of the Dead—The Sinner's Fate—Can We know?—Is the End Near?—A Dialogue—Brief Thoughts on Immortality.
Address, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.
Return to Healdsburg.
By Editor
Elder and Mrs. White spoke to the church at Oakland, Sabbath, March 9. Sunday evening, the 10th, Mrs. W. gave a lecture on Temperance to a crowded house. They now return to their home in Healdsburg. We regret their departure from Oakland, yet we trust they may find rest in their quiet retreat, and that Elder W. will make more rapid progress in the recovery of health.