—Queen Victoria has conferred the honor of knighthood upon Mr. George Williams, founder of the Y. M. C. A.
—It is said that the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Japan is a Christian, and engages in active Christian work in Tokio.
—Rev. Fisher, pastor of the American M. E. Church in Rome, has become a Catholic. So says a press dispatch from London.
—It is a most significant fact that most if not all the great secular institutions of learning in our country are practically at war with the Bible, many of them openly. And, what is still more significant, is the fact that many of the religious seats of learning, in their eagerness to be in harmony with everything popularly called science, do about as much violence to the plain word of God as do those who openly oppose it.
—The missionary schooner Robert W. Logan has not been heard from since last August, when she left Yokohama in charge of Captain Paulson, with a Japanese crew. The vessel was built in San Francisco in 1890, and was used principally in transporting missionaries and supplies between the Caroline Islands and the Mortlocks. She had gone to Yokohama for repairs. All hope of her ever being heard of again is now given up.
—Bishop Thoburn says of the people of India that "their old heathen religions are great burdens." Some people think the Christian religion a burden, especially when called upon to give of their means to sustain its work. But such murmurers have but slight appreciation of the gift of God. Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light," and this word is well attested in the experience of those who have borne the burdens of heathen darkness.
—A Washington dispatch says: "Much gratification is felt here at the issue by Archbishop Feehan of a circular to all Catholic priests, enjoining them to impress upon their congregations the patriotic duty of yielding respect and obedience to the law." Certainly that is laudable advice on the part of the archbishop, but the circular is a tacit admission that the masses of the Catholic Church are disposed to disregard the law. If they were true disciples of Christ, and properly instructed in the doctrine of his word, there would be no need for such a circular. The fact that it is needed is evidence that the church is a dangerous element in the country, an element that may be counted upon to foster strife rather than to inspire peace in time of trouble.
—Some religious journals and other religious teachers are laying much stress upon the fact that archaeologists are finding in ancient ruins testimony corroborative of the Mosaic Scriptures. Of course such testimony is interesting and instructive; but if the Bible is in any sense dependent upon these witnesses to its verity, then its claim upon the world's credence is no more binding than contemporary secular history. The real value of the Bible is in its being the word of God. It is of no practical value to anyone who does not have a living faith in its heavenly inspiration. On the contrary, it will only be a witness in the judgment against those who do not so receive it. He who receives it by faith does so without other proof, and all the proof of all the ages can add nothing to its truthfulness, or its claims upon our absolute confidence. True faith is based upon the word itself. The truthfulness of the clay-written histories of the ancients may be tested by the Bible, but the Bible is in nowise strengthened by them.
—The Occident suggests that "the first and original cause of all railroad strikes" is the violating of Sunday law, and that "the violation rests upon the railroad managers." Again it says, "If the government of these United States, which recognizes the Sunday law of rest, will take hold of the Southern Pacific Railroad and run it for the people as the post office is conducted, this will be the most prosperous and happy country in the world." But the post office is conducted on Sunday; then why is it wrong to run the railroad on that day? In the same article the statement is made that "when a strike occurs, the workmen, the wheels, the tracks are simply taking their Sunday of rest all in a lump." Now if the violation of the Sunday law is the cause of the strike, and the strike causes all concerned to take their Sunday, then, from the Occident's standpoint, the strikers ought to be justified; but, strange as it may appear, it says, "We believe that the workmen have made a mistake in striking." Furthermore, if the fourth commandment of the Decalogue, which the Occident says "never can be repealed," does not mean what it says; if, instead of the seventh day, the first day, or any other "seventh part of time" will do as well; then why is it not just as well to have a strike and "take their Sunday of rest all in a lump?" Logically, this would be all right, but logic or consistency never come in where men are determined to ignore the plain commandment of God and substitute the "traditions of men."
SECULAR.
—Fresh visitations of cholera are reported at St. Petersburg, and also at Liege, Belgium.
—Fire destroyed an immense block of workshops at Cuen-sur-Seine, France, on the 5th inst.
—The greater part of the town of Honeygrove, Texas, was destroyed by fire on the 4th inst. Loss estimated at $300,000.
—At Hartlepool, Eng., two large shipyards have been closed, owing to a strike of moulders, and 4,000 workmen are out of employment.
—Thomas Cantwell and Charles Quinn have been arrested at Vienna on a charge of inciting the murder of members of the royal family.
—The question of adding to the present Pullman boycott a demand for increased wages on all the railroads, is being considered by the Railroad Union.
—On the night of the 6th inst., 1,000 men, women, and children looted a coal company's store at Spring Valley, Ill., and of a $40,000 stock nothing was left.
—J. O'Donovan Rossa, the noted Irish agitator, who has just completed twenty years of exile from Great Britain, is a candidate for city marshal of Dublin.
—An Australian paper says that the farmers in the northern part of South Australia are troubled with a plague of mice. One man killed 1,600 in one day.
—The embargo put upon the Canadian Pacific Railroad from London, Ont., to Chicago, has been raised, the company agreeing to dispense with Pullman cars.
—Some of the leading papers prophesy that the growing troubles with railway employees will result eventually in governmental control of the roads. In times like the present it would take quite an army to control the cars and protect the tracks.
—A New York dispatch quotes California fruit as having advanced 100 per cent. in price. But that is little comfort to California fruit raisers, as they cannot get their fruit transported to New York, or to any other market excepting where boats can run.
—A Rome journal says that police investigation has revealed a conspiracy, centered at Cette, France, to kill the heads of various European governments. Santo was delegated to kill President Carnot, and succeeded. Lega was to kill Premier Crispi, of Italy, but was foiled in his attempt, firing two ineffectual shots.
—There is trouble again in the mines of Northern Idaho, growing out of the old feud of two years ago. The union miners, who were defeated at that time, are now endeavoring to retaliate upon their old-time opponents, and upon ex-officials. There is said to be another reign of terror in the Cœur d'Alene district, especially about Wardner.
—It is said that Japan has about 20,000 soldiers in Corea, but Russia has notified the Japanese Government that she will not tolerate a Japanese occupation of the peninsula. In this instance, Russia virtually sides with China, which is also opposed to Japanese occupation. It is rumored, however, that Great Britain will encourage Japan.
—A correspondent of the London News reports that the French Government is desirous of a conference of the powers to take united action against Anarchism. It is also stated that the cabinets so far approached favor the proposal, and that the pope also gives it his support. If a conference is held, the Vatican will be invited to send a representative.
—A heavy explosion on the engine of a freight train which left Pueblo, Colo., on the 8th inst., developed the fact that a stick of dynamite had been placed in the coal and incidentally shoveled into the fire box. The locomotive was lifted from the track and badly damaged, but the engineer and fireman, at whose injury the deed was evidently aimed, miraculously escaped injury.
—Nine of the survivors of the wreck of the whaling bark James Allen arrived in San Francisco last week on the steamer Crescent City, from Unalaska. They tell a terrible tale of their sufferings on a desolate island in the North Pacific after the wreck. While the captain and picked boat's crew were gone in search of relief, those who remained behind were driven to eat portions of a dead comrade.
—The Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, having been built under government aid, are declared to be military and post roads, and the military departments of the regular army through which these lines run are charged with the duty of keeping them open. Thus, as far as these lines are concerned, the present contest is between the strikers and the United States Government. Under section 3964 of the Revised Statutes, all railroads are post roads of the United States. Owing to the blockade of railroad lines by the strike, the mails are being carried from San Francisco up and down the Pacific Coast, and inland on water routes, by boat.
—The most heartless suggestion in connection with the strike is the proposition to call out union laborers in all the various industries. It is bad enough to have large bodies of unemployed people in the land when such a condition cannot be avoided; but when those who might assist the unemployed in the emergency, voluntarily become a part of the public charge, they place themselves in a most unenviable position.
—The railroad strike so interfered with the transportation of the mails and the due process of the Federal courts at Chicago that U. S. troops were sent to that city to protect the interests of the government. Governor Altgeld, of Illinois, protested against the presence of these troops, and demanded their withdrawal from the State. President Cleveland's reply, though in every way courteous, indicates that he knew what he was doing.
—On the 11th ult. two lady missionaries of the American Presbyterian Mission were brutally assaulted at Homan, China, a town opposite Canton. One of them, a medical practitioner, stopped to assist a man who had fallen in the street with the plague. The victim died almost immediately, and the cry was raised that the missionary had caused his death. The women were stoned, one being badly bruised and cut, until rescued by customs officials.
—Although somewhat overshadowed by the greater strike of the Railway Union men, the coal miners' strike occasionally comes to the front. At Ironwood, Mich., on the 3d inst., the Norris mine was taken possession of by strikers. One striker was killed and several wounded in the melee. At Uniontown, Pa., on the same day, two deputies were attacked by a mob of strikers, and three men were wounded. Assistance for the deputies arrived in time to arrest some of the leaders of the mob.
—Of all the professed Christian people on earth, none seem so persistently warlike as the Samoans. There is perennial rebellion on the islands. Some rebels recently attacked the government military camp while the "soldiers" were having a formal worship. Three of the worshipers were killed, and several wounded, but the attacking party lost about as much before they got out of reach. The financial condition of the country is said to be deplorable, and it is evident that the official burden imposed by the protectorate of Germany, Great Britain, and the United States cannot be sustained by the islands. The people of the islands have to bear a heavy financial load because of the jealousy of these great governments concerning the control of that which belongs to neither of them.
—The strike on the railroads of the country has evidently reached its height, and is beginning to give way, at least temporarily. The stand the government has taken makes the task an unequal one. As has been demonstrated at Chicago, at Hammond, Ind., and other points, a handful of U. S. troops put to flight large though desperate mobs. Illegal rioters are never brave; they are desperate and terrible only when they feel that they have everything their own way. While there is widespread sympathy with the strikers on account of the widespread prejudice against great corporations, yet people of the most excitable nature will stop and think before engaging in actual conflict with the government. It has been demonstrated at several points that a few determined county or municipal officials have held at bay many mobs. At Omaha train service has been resumed, and the more prominent railroad centers farther east are being gradually relieved. The blockade is more complete in California than anywhere else, and this is because of deep-seated and long-standing grievances of the people against the railroad company; yet men out of employment, with no income but a limited charity from sympathizers, cannot maintain a warfare of any great length.
—The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of San Francisco have each had many sharp contests with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, but in the present strike emergency each body has passed the following resolutions:—
Resolved, That we do not oppose the organization of labor for its own protection, and hereby give such organization our approval, provided they comply with the law and accord to others the same liberty that they themselves demand.
Resolved, That, while we have had occasion to censure the Southern Pacific Railway Company for the selfish policy pursued in its traffic business with the people of this coast, yet we condemn the present strike against the Southern Pacific Railway Company as entirely unlawful and unwarranted, for the reason that the company is in no way interested in the matter at issue, 2,000 miles away, but is in every way justified in demanding the right to conduct its own business under the law, which right is guaranteed to us all, individually and collectively, by the Constitution of the United States.
Resolved, That if this principle is not sustained there can be no safety guaranteed to life, property, or equal rights; law and order will be set at defiance, and good government become impossible.
"Living by Faith." (Spanish.) A translation of Bible Students' Library No. 75; 14 pp.; price, 2 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., OAKLAND, CAL.
Persecution Rising in Australia
By Editor
In our issue of June 18 we noticed the prosecution of two men at Parramatta, Australia, under an old law of Charles II. for working on Sunday. They were sentenced according to the law, a fine of five shillings, or in lieu thereof to be placed in the stocks for two hours. They refused to pay the fines, and the town has no stocks. A recent number of the Melbourne Age, in giving an account of a business meeting of the Fern Tree Gully Council, near Dandenong, states that one of the council, Mr. J. J. Miller, well known in sporting circles as a race horseowner, submitted a motion "that a sum of money be voted
for the purchase of stocks for the punishment of persons who dig gardens or commit similar offenses on the sabbath." It was received as a joke, but was pressed most earnestly and seconded. It was finally left over till next meeting. This is but a straw showing how the spirit of persecution is rising in Australia.
Christ Is Not in It
By Editor
Christ Is Not in It.—Dr. R. Coyle, in a sermon in this city last Sunday morning, in referring to these labor troubles, said that, view it as we will, dread it as we may, it is in the line of progress. It is God's way to bring good to humanity. Jesus Christ is in it. Jesus Christ is coming in these clouds with power and great glory. To us it is sad that so learned and eloquent a man as Dr. Coyle should use his talents in so perverting the Scripture. Christ suffers all these things, but he does it that men may see the result of sin and so learn its evil nature; but Christ is not in that which has not the blessed healing of the gospel of peace. Christ is not in the tyranny of the poor any more than he is in the oppression of the rich. Christ is not in any movement that disregards the personal rights of any man, whether rich or poor. Christ is not in any movement, however pitiable may be the condition of the men engaged therein, which wholly ignores him and his gospel, and the moulding principles of which are those springing from the unregenerate heart. He will get glory from all of man's unwisdom. He will yearn over and pity those who are deceived. He will punish, or suffer the fruit of their own doings to fall upon, those nations, organizations, corporations, or societies which do thus wickedly. He will restrain wrath, and do all in his power, in harmony with his infinitely wise plan, to bring good out of the evil which man is continually bringing on himself and others. If labor or capital is blessed of God in these struggles, it will be in spite of the principles which seem to actuate both sides, and not because of them. Christ does not come in such clouds. These things are signs of his coming, when he shall truly come in clouds of glory, and "every eye shall see him." See Luke 21: 25-27; 1 Thess. 4: 16; Rev. 1: 7; Acts 1: 9-11.
The Great Strike; A Fulfillment of Prophecy
By Editor
The article (or notes) beginning on the first page of this paper is published as No. 60 of the Sentinel Library, under the title "The Great Strike; a Fulfillment of Prophecy." The size is eight pages; price, one cent. These tracts should be used now, and orders may be filled at once, that is, if mails are running. They can, however, be used locally. Order by number. Address, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal.
Warnings of Class Division
"What we want," said a loud-voiced man in the street the other day, "is to make the man that has five dollars to divide, so we may each have one;" and his remarks were greeted with laughter by two others at work near by. He continued, "We want the rich to divide with us," and his immediate auditors agreed. It was just this sort of thing that preceded the French Revolution, represented in the Scriptures as the bottomless pit (Rev. 11 : 7); and the testimony of prophecy is that such things shall be repeated before the end (Rev. 17 : 8).
PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND has issued the following proclamation, under date of July 9:—
WHEREAS, By reason of unlawful obstructions, combinations, and assemblages by persons, it has become impracticable, in the judgment of the President, to enforce by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings the laws of the United States at certain points and places within the States of North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, and California, and the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, and especially along the lines of such railroads traversing said States and Territories as are military roads and post roads and are engaged in interstate commerce and in carrying the United States mails; and,
WHEREAS, For the purpose of enforcing the faithful execution of the laws of the United States, and protecting property belonging to the United States, or under its protection, and of preventing obstructions of the United States mails and of commerce between the States and Territories, and of securing to the United States the right guaranteed by law to the use of such roads for postal, military, naval, and other government service, the President has employed a part of the military forces of the United States;
Now, therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do hereby command all persons engaged in or in any way connected with such unlawful obstructions, combinations, and assemblages, to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes on or before 4 o'clock of the afternoon of the tenth day of July.
Bible Election
By Milton C. Wilcox
BIBLE ELECTION. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief presentation of God's plan and purpose concerning man, showing that the doctrine of election, or predestination, according to the Bible, is full of comfort and instruction. It throws new light on old controversies. Bible Students' Library, No. 67; 24 pp.; price 3 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.
Reading the Signs of the Times
Dr. R. Coyle, of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, confessed in his prayer on last Sunday morning that as a nation we have sinned, we have broken God's law, desecrated his sabbath, and prayed that we might be able to read the signs of the times which God is writing in our country and throughout the world. The confession is true; the prayer is worthy. But if a great part of the word of God, the sure word of prophecy, were heeded, if the signs which Christ has written there, and which all elements of good and evil are now fulfilling, were heeded, there would be no difficulty about reading the signs now. It would be seen that the law broken is the moral law of God, and that the Sabbath "desecrated" is the only one ever made sacred,—the seventh day.
Rome and the Public Schools
REV. W. W. CASE (Methodist), of San Francisco, thus referred in a recent sermon to the aggressive attitude of Rome:—
“The political lines have been sharply drawn by the attempt of Archbishop Riordan to regulate the public schools of this city. We believe that our children should know the truth whether it tells the scandals in the life of Mrs. John Wesley or the dark history of the Roman Catholic Church in the ages. Indifference is not a safe attitude to take toward Romanism. The Papacy is bending every effort to make America the bulwark of its church. The objections to Rome are—first, it is the great apostasy of the man of sin, predicted in the Old and New Testaments. It claims infallibility. It is a species of idolatry. It rests upon popular ignorance and degrades mankind. It is a system of falsehood and a persecuting power. The Roman hierarchy means to subjugate this country to the foreign Papacy. It is a political machine, determined by fair means or foul to give office to its own number. Rome aims to destroy the public schools. They say our schools are godless, when they themselves caused the Bible to be expelled from the schools.”
Rome’s Encyclical to America
By Editor
THE "supreme pontiff" of Rome has sent an "encyclical letter" to the American people, in which he sets forth the position of the Catholic Church in equivocal terms on the relation of Church and State, appeals to the churches to return to the Roman Catholic Church, and longs for the time when "there shall be one fold and one shepherd," by which he means that the Roman Catholic Church shall be the fold, and the pope the shepherd. We will have more to say when the entire letter is made public. It ought to interest Americans.
Lessons from the Great Strike
By Editor
At the time of going to press the condition of things concerning the great strike does not seem to be much improved. May God help the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to learn the lessons from this he would have all learn, and to build their hopes on the eternal rock of his truth.
Advice to Rich Men
By Editor
THERE is some good, wholesome advice given to rich men in the article in another department entitled "This Do, and Thou Shalt Live;" but it by no means follows that if the rich will not do what is told them themselves, it is not the duty of others to do it for them.
The Work of Our Lord as Creator
By Editor
NEXT week we begin a series of articles on the Work of Our Lord as Creator. The various numbers will be presented under different heads, but will have the one central thought of God's love and power pervading them all.
A Marine Officer’s Mission Observations
By Editor
We present in our Mission Fields a contribution from a friend and brother, an officer in the marine service of Queen Victoria. He writes from personal observation, and we are sure his article will be of interest.