Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 32.
Come Now, Let Us Reason TogetherPage 1
Earlier text: THE RELATION OF THE W. C. T. U. TO SUNDAY LAWSA FEW days ago I heard a little girl's talk over her pocket-book before church time. Her brother said to her,— "Where's your money? There will be a contribution to-day." She went to get her pocket-book. "I have two silver ten-cents and a paper one." Her brother said: "A tenth of that is three cents." "But three cents is such a stingy little to give. I shall give this ten-cents. You see I would have had more here, only I spent some for myself last week. It would not be fair to take a tenth of what is left after I have used all I wanted." "Why dont you give the paper ten-cents? The silver ones are prettier to keep." "So they are prettier to give. Paper ten-cents look so dirty and shabby. No; I'll give good things." So she had put one ten-cents in her pocket, when some one said,— "I hope we can raise that $300 for home missions to-day." "O, this is home mission day! then that other silver ten-cents has to go too." And she went to get it, with a doleful groan. I said: "If you feel so distressed about it, why do you give it?" "O, because I made up my mind to always give twice as much to home missions as anything else, and I shall just stick to what I made up my mind to." Now this little affair set me to thinking: 1. We should deal honestly with God in giving. "It is not fair," said the little girl, "to count your tenth after you have used all that you want." 2. We should deal liberally in giving. If the fair tenth is a petty sum, let us go beyond it and give more. 3. Let us give our best things. That which is the nicest to keep is also the nicest to give. 4. Let us give until we feel it.—Selected. THE Christian family is the unit of church society. It may sometimes be well to have daily prayers in the church, and to keep it open for that purpose, but daily prayers in the family never ought to be omitted. The exercise of family worship should be at such times and in such form as to be most convenient for all concerned, but should never be omitted. Regularity in worship is absolutely essential to growth in grace. Let times and places of prayer become reminders, monitors, and helps. Family prayer should be a part of family reunions every day. Excuses for not having family prayers are not commendable. Young people just beginning life for themselves should establish the family altar as the first, highest, holiest obligation. A time for reading the word of God and of prayer is a holy and blessed time. To go out to work with the serene assurance of faith is a security and a benediction. God, our Father, no doubt, answers the prayers of the family. He sits alone in all his families. "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"—California Christian Advocate. "For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." Rom. 12:20. A good man named William Grey, who lived near a small town in Hampshire, had a horse that sometimes strayed from the common. A drunken farmer, who disliked Grey for being a religious man, put the strayed horse in the pound, and on being remonstrated with said, "And if I meet him again on the road, I'll do it again!" "Neighbor," replied Grey, "not long since I looked from my window and saw some of your cattle in my meadow, and I drove them out, and did not leave them until I shut them safely in your yard, and if I find them again there, 'I'll do it again!'" The man was so struck with the reply, that he paid the charge of Grey's horse being in the pound, and became a better neighbor ever after.—Watchword. ALCOHOL A CAUSE OF DISEASE.
By John Ellis, M. D.
ALCOHOL and fermented drinks cause various diseases of the brain, red eyes, "rum blossoms" on the nose and face, diseases of the stomach, liver, and kidneys, and in fact, from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet, even to the end of the toes, there is scarcely an organ which does not suffer more or less from the habitual use of alcoholic and fermented drinks. They, especially wine and other fermented drinks, are recognized as among the chief causes of that crippling, painful and hereditary disease, named gout. Need we say more? Does a good tree, or good, wholesome food or drink, bring forth such fruits as the above? Never! If we examine the origin of alcohol in the light of correspondence, we shall see that it is the fruit of, or, rather, produced by, an evil tree (the yeast fungus); then why should we pervert its use by taking it into our stomachs. Alcohol is never found in any healthy living natural substance, fruit or vegetable. It is always the result of the decomposition or decay of a good and useful article of food. This vile substance lays hold on the sugar and actually destroys it, and perverts its natural constituents into carbonic acid gas (which men cannot breathe without destroying life), and alcohol, which causes drunkenness, delirium tremens, insanity and death. Now we will ask the thoughtful reader if it is not almost shocking, to say the least, to suppose for a single moment that the wine partaken of by the Lord and his disciples at the Last Supper, was a wine which had been polluted and partially decomposed by this substance of evil correspondence, and that the wine actually contained the poisonous products which always result from such decay? Was the natural blood which flowed from the Lord's side at the crucifixion, fermented blood? Please remember that it had a similar signification to the wine, and if the latter was fermented it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the former must have been. Is it possible that when the Lord changed the water in the water-pots, at the wedding, into wine, he permitted leaven, or ferment, to enter the wine and decompose, or rot it, for the sake of having alcohol formed therein? In the first place, we can see there was not time for this process to take place. But he formed the alcohol in the wine when he formed the wine, some one may say. But, unfortunately for this supposition, alcohol has never been found as one of the good gifts of God, for it has never been found either in the vine or the fruit of the vine, and is only found in wine, or in the juice of the grape or other fruits, when a certain temperature has been preserved for a period, and leaven has decomposed sugar. It is always the product of ferment or leaven.—John Ellis, M. D. The Bible says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and it is to be hoped that few reach middle life without learning the truth of the words. There is no happiness like that which we feel when we can give without thought of return something that others need or would enjoy. Shall we lightly deprive anyone of such a happiness? When we refuse to receive, we ought to remember that we are depriving the would-be giver of a blessing. "No man liveth to himself." So long as we are grouped together in families, in neighborhoods, in villages and cities, we must be constantly giving and receiving. If the right spirit prevails in the giving, why should there be any sense of obligation in the receiving? Is it not a false pride which develops such a morbid sensitiveness? A neighbor has stood by your side with help and comfort when sickness and trouble had entered your home. She gave freely her help and sympathy at a time when it was invaluable to you. The memory of it is one of your precious possessions. You feel a debt of gratitude which you can never repay. At length you discover, or think you do, something that cannot fail to please her. You greatly enjoy selecting or making the gift, and send it with grateful love. Could anything hurt you more than to have her say, "I wish this had never been sent me. I can't bear to feel under obligations to her or anybody else"? When we find it hard to receive, let us cast away our foolish pride, forget our own feelings, and be thankful that our friends can enjoy the blessing which is promised to those who give.—Christian at Work. SOME interesting observations made by M. Fatio on the surgical treatment of wounds by birds were recently brought before the Physical Society of Geneva. In these it was stated that the snipe had often been observed repairing damages. With its beak and feathers it makes a very creditable dressing, and even has been known to secure a broken limb by means of a stout ligature. On one occasion M. Fatio killed a snipe which had on the chest a large dressing composed of down from other parts of the body, and securely fixed to the body by coagulated blood. Twice he had had snipe with interwoven feathers strapped on to the site of a fracture of one or other limb. The most interesting example was that of a snipe, both of whose legs he had unfortunately broken by a misdirected shot. He only recovered it on the following day, when he found that the poor creature had contrived to apply dressings and a sort of splint to both limbs. In carrying out this operation, some feathers had become entangled around the beak, and not being able to use its claws to get rid of them, it was almost dead from hunger when found. In a case recorded by M. Maginn, a snipe which was observed to fly away with a broken leg was subsequently found to have forced the fragments into a parallel position (the upper fragment reaching to the leg joint), and they were secured there by means of a strong band of feathers and moss intermingled.—Philadelphia Ledger. SOME curious revelations on the subject of tonics and bitters, are made in a report which has been presented to the Board of Health of Massachusetts. These liquids, like many other things in the world, are not what they seem. Professedly non-intoxicating, they yet contain a very large infusion of alcohol. Of forty-seven different samples which were examined, forty-six were found to contain alcohol in quantities varying from 6 to 47.5 per cent. The average was 21.5 per cent., which represents a greater alcoholic strength than that of sherry. A "cocoa-beef tonic" had 23.2 per cent. of spirits, while sherry has only 18 to 20 per cent. "A purely vegetable extract," which is much recommended as "a stimulus to the body without intoxicating qualities," had 41.6 per cent. of alcohol, while whisky has only about 50 per cent. This particular decoction is especially pressed upon inebriates who are struggling to reform. A bitter said to be distilled from seaweed, and to be quite harmless and free from alcohol, has 19.5 per cent. Certain "sulphur bitters" are perfectly innocent of sulphur, and though sold as free from alcohol, actually contain 20.5 per cent. One maker's "sherry-wine bitters" has 47.5 per cent. of alcohol, or about 2 per cent. less than brandy.—Pall-Mall Budget. Rum-Selling and Western Civilization
The meanest fact connected with our Western civilization is that it carries rum-selling invariably in its wake. From one end of the Turkish Empire to the other there is not a grog shop kept by a Mohammedan. A recent writer says of India, that in spite of Hindoo and Mohammedan religious antagonism, Christian civilization is carrying the curse of liquor-drinking into their families. There are some things besides charity that ought to begin at home. Would it not be well for us to import a cargo of Mohammedan missionaries?—Echoes. Increasing Alcohol Consumption
DESPITE the fact that temperance sentiment and prohibition territory are rapidly on the increase, the use of alcoholic beverages is increasing still more rapidly. The per capita consumption of distilled, fermented, and malt liquors all show an increase of a greater or less degree—a fact which should stimulate all temperance advocates to more earnest endeavors toward checking the further extension of the traffic through the medium of prohibitory laws.—California Prohibitionist. SUGGESTIVE FIGURES.
By California Prohibitionist
FROM the preliminary report of the commissioner of Internal Revenue, we glean a few figures and facts of general interest as showing an increase in the revenue received from intoxicating liquors, and of special interest in showing the difference in the amount of revenue collected in prohibition and that collected in license States. The total receipts for spirits was $74,313,206, an increase of $5,007,039 over the preceding year. Fermented liquors yielded $23,723,835, an increase of $399,617 over the preceding year. Kansas, a prohibition State, paid $183,432, this amount including the tax on tobacco, oleomargarine, and other taxable commodities. Missouri, a high-license State, paid $7,730,608. Iowa, a prohibition State, paid $329,576, and Nebraska, a high-license State, paid $2,248,624. Prohibition certainly affects the production of liquors. Granting that, under present conditions, the consumption is unchecked, which is impossible, give us national prohibition, and where will the supply come from? No supply, no consumption.—California Prohibitionist. —General Fremont confesses that he is bankrupt. —Tennyson celebrated his eightieth birthday the 6th inst. —The Sorghum Sugar Works at Topeka, Kan., were burned the 6th inst., at a loss of $10,000. —Parnell's health is said to be failing. Physicians have advised him to go to the south of France. —The National Editorial Association will hold its annual meeting at Detroit, Mich., the 27th inst. —Two men were killed and 15 injured by an explosion of natural gas at Pittsburg, Pa., August 9. —The strike in the coke regions of Connellsville, Pa., embracing 12,000 coke owners, has ended at last. —Four persons lost their lives by the explosion of naphtha on a pleasure yacht at Buffalo, N. Y., August 7. —Over 150 cases of typhoid fever, said to be caused by impure drinking water, are reported from Chicago, Ill. —In the recent French elections, Boulanger, who was a candidate for the Councils-General, was overwhelmingly defeated. —The extensive property of the Riverside and Oswego Mills Company at Oswego Falls, N. Y., was attached for $412,000 by the sheriff, August 6. —The steamship Montreal, which recently sailed for Liverpool from Montreal, Canada, was totally wrecked on Belle Isle. All the passengers were saved. —Twenty-eight United States soldiers deserted the barracks of David's Island, N. Y., the night of the 5th inst. They were privates who had enlisted for the regular term. —An earthquake, lasting forty-five seconds, occurred throughout the region of the Adirondacks, in New York, August 10. The shock was particularly hard at Warrensburg. —A deposit containing thousands of tons of a fine quality of natural soap has been discovered near San Diego, Cal. But little extra treatment is necessary to prepare it for the market. —Henry Dupont, the powder manufacturer, died at Wilmington, Delaware, August 8, on his seventy-fifth birthday. He leaves an estate of $15,000,000, principally in powder factories. —Extensive iron mines in Cuba are being opened by a syndicate of Minnesota capitalists. They expect to work one thousand men, and will send all the ore to the United States for manufacture. —A fight between two rival factions of colored people occurred at Walton, Ky., on the night of August 4, resulting in four persons being instantly killed, and many more seriously injured. —There are prospects of trouble with the Mormons in Wilson County, Tenn. Their preachers are threatening to avenge the blood of Joseph Smith. Much excitement exists in the community. —Within the past few weeks, there have been no less than four successful train robberies on the Western roads in the United States. The amounts obtained by the robbers were small in each instance. —It is reported from Albany, Wis., that several fine pearls have been found in the shells of clams taken from the Sugar River at that place. A shipment valued at $1,500 was recently made to Chicago. —The prisoners confined in the fort of San Juan de Ulloa at Vera Cruz, Mexico, revolted against the officials the 7th inst. Twenty of them were shot by the troops on duty before the uprising could be quelled. —The extensive plant of the Spreckels Sugar Refinery now in course of erection at Philadelphia, will be duplicated as soon as completed. This will give the double refinery a capacity of 4,000,000 pounds of sugar per day. —Mrs. Maybrick, the American woman who was accused a few weeks ago of poisoning her husband in Liverpool, has been found guilty and sentenced to death. The popular verdict is in her favor, and she possibly may be respited. —By the recently completed survey between California and Nevada a portion of the boundary line has been placed so much farther west than the old survey that Lake Tahoe will be nearly if not entirely within the boundaries of the latter State. —An official dispatch from Guysboro, Nova Scotia, to the American Consul-General at Halifax, announced the seizure of the American fishing schooner Vidette, August 4. It is thought to be a retaliation for the recent seizure of British sealers in Behring Sea. —Salt Lake City, Utah, so long under Mormon rule, indulged in a jubilee the night of the 6th inst., on account of a Gentile majority of forty-one in the recent election held there. It is thought by many that this will revolutionize the government in the Territory. —Dispatches from Zanzibar under date of August 8, state that Stanley and Emin Pasha are on their way to the coast with 9,000 men and enormous quantities of ivory. The Germans are endeavoring to create a disturbance, and an uprising against Europeans is feared. —Charles Foster, the secretary of the Sioux Commission, sent a dispatch to Secretary Noble the 7th inst., announcing the successful negotiation of the treaty by which the Sioux Indians agree to surrender 11,000,000 acres of their reservation in Dakota, for the sum of $14,000,000. —Official information has been received at Washington to the effect that the governments of Columbia and Venezuela will take part in the Convention of American States to be held in October. All governments invited to participate have accepted, with the exception of Paraguay, Hayti, and San Domingo. —The imperial diamond, lately discovered in Cape Colony, and now at the Paris Exposition, weighs 180 carats and is valued at $3,000,000. It is kept in a glass case by itself, and guardians stand around it all day. At night it is placed in a big safe, which is similarly guarded all night. It is the largest cut diamond in the world. —Spokane Falls, Wash., was visited by a terrible fire Sunday night, August 4, which destroyed the entire business portion of the city. Thirty blocks were burned over, and only two brick business houses are left in the entire place. The loss is estimated to be at least $10,000,000, over and above all insurance. —The grand naval review in honor of the German emperor, William, took place at Spithead, England, the 5th inst. Miles of battle-ships were in line and the first salute alone included 15,000 guns. It is said that the magnificence of the display was greater than has ever before been witnessed in the history of the world. —The new cruiser, Boston, while returning from a series of important trials in Narragansett Bay, struck a rock at the lower end of Rose Island, in Newport Harbor, the 3d inst. The vessel narrowly escaped going to the bottom, and has sustained heavy damages which will retard her completion several weeks. —General Grenfell, the commander of the Egyptian troops, reports that his recent victory has completely broken the Dervish army. Every emir in the ranks of the Dervishes has been killed, with one exception, and Wad-El-Jumi's followers are surrendering by the thousand. It is thought the war is practically ended. —A well-known attorney by the name of Collom, of Minneapolis, Minn., has confessed to forging the name of John F. Blaisdell, a millionaire of that city, to notes and other securities to the amount of $227,000. He claims, however, that he has been forced to make this confession by Blaisdell, who himself signed the notes. The creditors are investigating the matter. —Three fast Atlantic steamers, the City of Rome, City of New York, and Teutonic, left Queenstown, August 8, on a race to New York. It was hoped that one of them at least would lower the record of the City of Paris, which at present occupies the enviable distinction of having made the fastest time ever recorded across the Atlantic. The result of the race had not been learned at the date of this writing. —An insurrection of the natives occurred at Honolulu, Hawaii, July 30, and an attempt was made to depose King Kalakaua from his throne. The palace was stormed, and the king was compelled to flee for his life. Prompt action by the Honolulu Rifles, however, put down the uprising before much damage was done. Seven persons were killed and ten were wounded in the fight. The leader of the insurgents, a native Hawaiian named Wilcox, is in jail with over sixty of his followers. —Dr. Brown-Séquard, a French physician, has, it is claimed, discovered a practical method of renewing youth, or doubly perpetuating the vital strength of maturity. The doctor takes live particles of flesh from animals and triturates them, immersed in distilled water, thus obtaining a liquid containing the essential elements of the tissues. This he injects hypodermically with a syringe, and the effect is very remarkable in the way of re-invigoration. Dr. Séquard claims to be thus enabled to do six times the amount of work he could do with ordinary food. —The seventh annual conference for Bible study, was held in Northfield, Mass., August 1-12. —It is stated that the Presbyterian Church at Las Vegas, N. M., is the only self-supporting church in New Mexico or Arizona. —The Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home of Cincinnati has had a house of ten rooms placed at its disposal for hospital purposes. —It is stated that in all, 134 Congregational Churches have been organized in the State of Missouri, of which 82 remain. The decrease has been nearly thirty-nine per cent. —The Jewish Times and Observer says that "the Sunday service question is not an issue before the American Jews." "The masses of American Israelites will cling to the holy and sacred Sabbath of their ancestors." —The Moravian Church has, in its American province, 11,219 communicants, an increase of 253 the past year, 1,341 non-communicants, and 5,269 children. The number dropped last year was 512, and the number excluded 10. —From the latest statistics of the Christian Endeavor Society, it had, August 1, 7,671 societies with a total membership of 470,000. These societies are found in twenty-two different denominations, the majority being in the different branches of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and in the Congregational Churches. —Rev. Dr. Peters, who has charge of the University of Pennsylvania's Babylonian Expedition, has, it is stated, temporarily returned to this country, but will soon rejoin the expedition. The expedition is busily exploring Babylon by digging for cylinders, stones, and other memorials. Rich results are promised. So far there had been no opposition from the authorities, and it is hoped that there will be none. KING.—Died July 20, 1889, of old age and debility, James G. King, aged eighty-three years and five months. He was born in the State of New York. At the age of twenty-five he was converted, and united with the Baptist Church. From New York State he moved to Wisconsin, where, in 1879, we heard the first sermon on the present truth. We searched the Bible to see whether these things were so; and we could not do otherwise than to accept of all the views of Seventh-day Adventists and accordingly joined them. (Review and Herald please copy.) WALKER.—Died in Armagh, Ireland, June 12, 1889, Willie Walker, aged 13 years and 1 month. Willie was the only son of Mathew and Elizabeth Walker. He and his only sister, Minnie, were on that fatal excursion train which was wrecked on June 12, and met his death by the accident. Willie's mother accepted the truth under the labors of Elder R. F. Andrews during his visit to Ireland. She has endeavored to train her two children in the way of truth, and last May both of them commenced to observe the Sabbath with her. Since the accident the father has begun the observance of the Sabbath. Brother Walker writes: "He was fully trusting in Jesus and told his mother and myself that he would meet us in the first resurrection." While the accident was a sad one, yet there is joy when the parents can anticipate a glad reunion in the earth made new. Publishers' Department.
By Editor
Back numbers of the American Sentinel for missionary work and general distribution, sent in one bale, post-paid, for $5.00. Address this office. A LARGE number of subscriptions to the Signs expire during the months of August and September. Please examine the address label on your paper this week, and if your time is about expired, renew at once, and thus avoid missing any paper. Our terms are cash in advance, $2.00 per year, or $1.00 for six months. SPECIAL NOTICE TO AGENTS.
By Editor
WHEN sending orders to this office for Signs, Pacific Health Journal, American Sentinel, and books, please make the orders for the different periodicals on separate slips of paper, as separate lists and books are kept for each periodical. Place the orders for Signs on one slip of paper; those for the Health Journal on another; those for the Sentinel on still another, etc. By so doing you will greatly accommodate the clerks in the office, and facilitate business. NOTICE TO MISSIONARY WORKERS.
By Editor
PLEASE stop sending the SIGNS to any of the following names, as this office has received notice that the papers are refused, unclaimed, or sent to the wrong post-office:— Rev. J. T. Wormon, Mrs. John Wornam, Lincoln Moore, H. C. Warner, M. C. Hoppe, Bertha Tyler, Mary M. Lewis, J. Farnsworth, Mrs. H. E. F. Stone, Thos. Collins, Phil Hemp, Granville Shinn, Mrs. Mary A. Bray, Mrs. L. J. Kynett, R. E. Hoffman, Mrs. A. Crowley, W. B. Powell, Jacob Herald. Is this missionary work? Do all who send out SIGNS and Sentinels write a letter or card to the individual at the time they send the first paper? They ought so to do. CARLOS H. HOWE,
By Carlos H. Howe
Elegant German Silver Key Check to agents with any name and address stamped thereon for 10 cents, post-paid. Sell fast for 25 cents. THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH
By Editor
The above is the title of an important new pamphlet which we have just issued. The object of the work is "to defend the faith of Seventh-day Adventists on the single point of the change of the Sabbath, and who is responsible for that change." All the evidence is from those who favored the observance of Sunday. Here will be found a strong array of testimony against the idea that there is any Scriptural authority for Sunday keeping, and all this evidence is given by those who Believe in the Observance of Sunday.
In reading this pamphlet one cannot but wonder how any one will persist in keeping Sunday when its own friends give such a overwhelming testimony against it. "The Origin and Growth of Sunday Observance" contains 96 pages, and has a neat cover. Price, POSTPAID, 10 CENTS. Buy it! Read it! Circulate it! Address.
Pacific Press Publishing Company,
Or 43 Bond St., New York. Oakland, Cal. The Teachers' Outlook
By Editor
Published by the Teachers' Publishing Company, Des Moines, Iowa. A monthly magazine for teachers and pupils that proposes to supplement other school journals rather than to occupy the same field. It will seek to provide an OUTLOOK upon affairs of life and facts in science and nature which illustrate and test theories; to stimulate thought and give the teacher's mind a fresh source of inspiration. A review of current events, civil and industrial problems, inventors, discoveries, etc., will be an important feature of the magazine, and a complete review of current literature will also be given by competent critics. ANOTHER AND VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE of the magazine will be that all teachers and students are invited to join its circle of writers, out of which it proposes to draw its corps of future contributors. On this point it has some original plans of mutual helpfulness to carry out. WANTED, ESPECIALLY—Writers of short, realistic stories and articles on natural history and social science from the Pacific Coast on terms given in OUTLOOK. Sample copies 20c; none free. Views of National Reform.
Series One, 151 pages; Size 4 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches; price 15 cents. This pamphlet contains thirteen treatises on the various phases of the National Reform Movement. The following are the subjects of the various chapters, each of which is complete in itself: Religious Liberty; National Reform Is Church and State; The Republic of Israel; Purity of National Religion; What Think Ye of Christ? Evils of Religious Legislation; The American Papacy; National Reform and Rights of Conscience; Bold and Base Avowal; National Reform Movement an Absurdity; The Salem Witchcraft; National Reformed Constitution and the American Hierarchy; National Reformed Presbyterianism Address, AMERICAN SENTINEL,
1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal.; 43 Bond St., New York Ancestry, Early Life, Christian Experience, and Extensive Labors
ELDER JAMES WHITE and his wife, ELLEN G. WHITE.
THE book is divided into three parts, namely: Elder White's Narrative, Mrs. White's Narrative, and the Appendix. The Appendix contains the following chapters: Elder White's Sickness and Recovery; Renewed Vigor and more Extensive Labors; Denominational Institutions; Visit to the Pacific Coast; Dispensation of the Spirit; Last Sickness and Death of Elder White; Conclusion. The book is nicely printed on tinted paper, contains 453 pages, and will be sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of $1.25. Address,
# PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.,
OAKLAND, CAL.
43 Bond St., N. Y.