Earlier text: The JudgmentNo Hard Times in “Temperance” Villages.
MR. WILLIAM E. DODGE, the well-known manufacturer and merchant of New York, when recently before the Congressional Labor Committee as a witness, said that his firm, employing some 2,000 persons, made it a rule that persons engaged in their manufacturing village should not use intoxicating drinks. As a consequence, there was no complaint of hard times among them. The villages named by him were: Ansonia, Conn.; Dodge Mills, near Williamsport, Penn.; Tobyhanna Mills, Warren County, Penn.; St. Simon’s Mills, Ga.; Wabasheen Mills and Magnattiwan Mills, Ontario, Canada, and Collingwood Mills, Canada. “Many of our employes,” Mr. Dodge continued, “are property owners. They own their dwellings and have reared large families. Some of them have been with us ten, twenty, and twenty-five years. Our men have not suffered during this depression. They have accepted wages which we could pay, and there has, therefore, been no special distress among them. Crime is practically unknown among them.—Scientific American. Liquor Driven from Mississippi Counties
The Mississippi Argus asserts that liquor will be driven from three-fourths of the counties in that State inside of two years. Cigarettes and Consumption.
THE record of evil against tobacco is daily growing more and more formidable. The most recent observations indicate that the use of cigarettes is a common cause of consumption. It has long been known that coal miners are subject to a peculiar form of consumption due to the lodgment of little particles of carbon in the lungs, which set up an irritation, resulting finally in a breaking down of the lung tissue, and death. Chimney sweeps are subject to the same form of disease. It appears also that the use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes produces the same results and in the same way. The little particles of carbon present in the smoke are retained in the lungs, and the continuance of the habit results in just such accumulation of soot as may occur in the lungs of the professional chimney sweep; the lungs break down, and the victim of a depraved practice dies. If a man were compelled by circumstances beyond his control to live in an atmosphere charged with an ill-smelling smoke, he would receive the profound sympathy of his fellowmen, and no effort would be spared to rescue him from his unhappy position. And yet we see thousands of men who live continually in a smudge, voluntarily subjecting themselves to a martyrdom by smoke, scarcely breathing one breath of pure air during their waking hours, preferring to take the life-giving fluid, which Heaven has provided in such purity and abundance, filtered through “a stinking-pipe.” Nature evidently abhors smokers, and adopts every possible means of getting rid of the nuisance as soon as possible.—Sel. THE economic view of the drink question is thus forcibly presented in a temperance lecture by F. C. Campbell: “Few ever stop to calculate the cost of dram-drinking. At ten cents per drink, one drink per day will cost $36.50 per year, two drinks per day will cost $73, three drinks $109.50, and four drinks $144, per year. A man came to me the other day to pay the interest on a note for $100 I hold against him. Said he: ‘I only receive $600 a year, and with a family to support I am not able to pay my debts.’ I asked him to take a pencil and make a slight calculation for me, and then asked him how often he drank at a bar. His average was three drinks per day, which, by his own calculation, amounted to $109.50, or enough to have paid both principal and interest of the note and have $1.50 left. He was astonished at this discovery, and is now determined never to drink at a bar again.” High License Increases Saloons
How beautifully high license works: According to the sworn statement of W. D. Christy, City Clerk of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, the license fee in that city in 1871 was $150 per year, and that year there were twelve saloons. The next year the fee was increased to $200, and that year they had twenty-five saloons. The fee remained at $200 until 1880, when it was made $250, and the number of saloons rose to forty-nine, a gain of ten over 1879, the last year of the $200 fee. The fee was $250 until 1882, by which time there were fifty licensed saloons, and several that paid no license. In 1882 they clapped on a $1,000 fee, and the first quarter sixty saloons took out license. Now the question is, if Des Moines keeps on raising the license fee, how long before she will have prohibition?—The Lever. Why Strong Drink Is Hard to Quit
Why is it so hard to give up the habit of strong drink? Because the whole system is under its influence, and when the man quits its use, and nature begins to cleanse itself, the man thinks he is sick and must return to it to cure him. SEVERAL figures are used in the New Testament to represent the people and church of God. One is that of grain in a field. Said Jesus: "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." Matt. 13:38. All are ripening for the great harvest; the wheat to be gathered into the garner of the Lord, and the tares and chaff to be burned up with unquenchable fire. Another, and one of which frequent mention is made, is that of a body; the members of the church are represented by the various parts of the human body. Christ is the head—the chief and mover of all. An interesting feature of this subject is Paul's argument in 1 Cor. 12-14 and Eph. 4, in which the various gifts of the Spirit are shown to be necessary to the completeness and unity of the body. And another is the figure of a building, as in our text: "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building." 1 Cor. 3:9. Each of these figures has its own lessons according to the terms used. The one last named we will examine. As presented in the Scriptures, it contains instruction of great practical benefit if rightly considered. 1. The foundation. This is Christ. No other can be laid. God has set forth his Son as the only way of salvation, and he accepts no work on any other foundation than this. Without faith in him no man can succeed in any work, for he said, and he is the truth, "Without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5. As no other foundation can be laid, 1 Cor. 3:11, he who does not build on him builds on the sand. Matt. 7:24-27. 2. The builders. These are the ministers of the gospel of Christ. The apostle has not spoken of any work outside the gospel, in his argument in 1 Cor. 3. In denying any other foundation than Christ, he shuts out of consideration every work but that of building on Christ. "But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." They who are not building "thereupon" are not noticed. Very much of the instruction given in the Scriptures regarding this figure is to and for the benefit of the builders—the ministers of the gospel. 3. The materials. These are believers in the doctrine of Christ, or of the gospel. As Christ is the foundation, none but believers in him can have any place in the building. Thus Paul said to his brethren of the church of Ephesus, "Ye are . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner." Eph. 2:20. The apostles and prophets were closely connected with Christ in his work of grace to the world, but he alone was the foundation—the chief corner-stone. All the members of the church are built thereupon. Peter also, addressing the scattered saints, speaks of the precious corner-stone which God has laid in Sion, and says: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." 1 Peter 2:5. Paul speaks of those who build with various kinds of material. And here is the first strong admonition to the builders. He speaks of wood, hay, and stubble, as well as gold, silver, and precious stones. Now as every man's work is to be tried by fire, it is evident that they who build with wood, hay, and stubble must suffer loss; their work will not endure. None but imperishable material will be retained. And thus it appears that the laborer will be rewarded, not according to the amount of work he does, or of material which he gathers, but to the kind of work he does, and the material he gathers. As has been so well and truthfully expressed (Testimony to the Church, No. 16), "God measures more with how much love one worketh than the amount he doeth." 4. This building is called a temple. The temple at Jerusalem was erected as a dwelling-place for Jehovah among his people. It was the place of his sanctuary, which was his dwelling-place. Ex. 25:8. And this gives us the idea of unity in the work and the building. Indeed, unity is one of the most prominent ideas presented in the Scriptures of the gospel work. Paul says, "There is one body." Eph. 4:4. All followers of Christ are members of that one body. So intimate is this union that Paul says again we are "every one members one of another." Rom. 12:5. There cannot be more than one body, because there is only one head. "Christ is the head of the church." Eph. 5:23. Even so there is but one temple, as there is but one King. And this idea involves several important considerations. (1) If there is but one building to be erected, there can be but one plan. Builders cannot work on the same building and work on different plans. If one works on a plan for a certain size and a certain shape, he cannot work in unity with one who is working on a plan for a building of another size and shape. Their work will not agree. (2) They must work by the same rule. Even though they should agree in regard to the general plan or outlines, if they did not work by the same rule their work would never come together. Abundant provision is made for this in the Scriptures. Although men say, "We cannot all think alike," it is a saying of our modern "Worldly Wiseman." It is not according to the word of God. There is a most powerful appeal on this subject in Phil. 2:1, 2: "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." And again: "Whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." Phil. 3:16. (3) The necessity of this is clearly shown by numerous expressions in the word. Thus in Eph. 2:21, "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Suppose one workman uses a rule twelve inches in length, another one of eleven, and another one of thirteen, all calling them the same rule; one frames timber for a square, and another for an oblong, building; one calculates on a height of twenty feet, another of fifteen; one cuts a tenon at an angle of forty-five degrees to work with a right angle; let this diversity be multiplied indefinitely, and when all the work was brought together, would any "master workman" say it was "fitly framed together"? By no means. Paul exhorted Timothy, and through him all other laborers in the gospel, to show himself a workman that need not be ashamed. But, in the case above supposed, the workmen would be put to shame if they professed to be working on the same building. But the above is not altogether a supposition. Inspiration has furnished us the figure, and given the direction to be of one mind; to speak the same thing; to walk by the same rule. But now we find as many rules (creeds, etc.) adopted as there are different churches, and, in many cases, diverse rules recognized in the same church. The Saviour prayed that his followers might all be one. Now it is considered evidence of a true Christian spirit to generously and harmoniously "agree to disagree!" They agree to work together on the one building, though their rules are contrary to each other, and their speech as diverse as was that of the builders of the tower of Babel. "God is not the author of confusion." 1 Cor. 14:33. (4) If such a state of things existed on any work on earth, we should expect the proprietor to send a general overseer to correct their errors, to bring them into harmony, and thus to insure the work being properly done. God, in establishing the work of the gospel, made wise and sufficient provision for this. This is the work of the Spirit of God, and it is to be accomplished by "the gifts of the Spirit" which he set in the church. The apostle Paul, in Eph. 4, after commenting on the unity of the work, enumerates the gifts, and says they were given "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Why, then, do we see such confusion existing among the workers? It is because they refuse to submit to the divine rule, and to accept the Heaven-appointed means of unity; because they have entered into a league to "agree to disagree." "My brethren, these things ought not so to be." 5. But one more point we can notice now. When the apostle says, "Ye are the temple of God," does he speak to the followers of Christ individually, or to the church collectively? We answer, Both. We are the temple of God if God dwells in us. And this refers to us as individuals, for the Spirit of God cannot dwell in the church, except as it dwells in the individuals composing the church. Every one would reject as an absurdity, the idea that God dwelt in the church, but not in its members. The perfection of a building depends entirely on the perfection of the materials of which it is composed. We cannot build a stone house of wood and hay. And some of the expressions of the Scriptures on this subject must be directed to individuals, such as 2 Cor. 6:14-18, which please read. Also Rom. 8:9, 11: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." See also verse 11. And, on the other hand, if the Spirit dwells in the members, it must also of necessity dwell in the church. If it can be said to individuals, "Ye are the temple of the living God," much more can it be said of the church in which these members are united in one body. And as all the members suffer when one member suffers, every exhortation to purity, spoken to an individual, makes it incumbent upon him to endeavor to preserve the church in purity. Every member ought to have the same care for the welfare of the church that he has for himself. The suffering of the church is really his suffering; the church's loss is his loss; the reproach of the church is his reproach. These points might be enlarged upon to profit, but we leave the subject with these suggestions, hoping that some may be incited to study the Scriptures further which speak thereon, and be led to improve in faith and knowledge of these important relations. And above all, let us pray that God will not leave us to choose our own way, but to guide us by his counsel, that we may afterward be received into his glory. Baptist Minister Embraces the Sabbath
A BAPTIST minister, near Gronigen, Holland, had his attention called recently through the Boodschapper to the Sabbath. At first he was disposed to make light of it, but now he has embraced and confessed the Sabbath before the Haarlem S. D. Baptist Church. He says, "By my baptism I lost my friends and my living, and if the Lord ask now another sacrifice I hope to be faithful." The promise of the inspired word is, "Trust in the Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed." Esau's Argument Reproduced.
By Editor
Not long since, a friend permitted us to read a letter written by a man who professed a sincere regard for religion and for the Bible. But he had also a sincere contempt for all who taught strict obedience to the ten commandments! Among other things he related was an incident which seemed to particularly interest him. It was the case of one of his neighbors who nonplused an "advent minister." This neighbor became convinced by the argument that the seventh day is the Sabbath, but he had too much discretion and good sense to try to keep it! When the "advent minister" endeavored to reason the case with him, and to impress him with the great importance of obeying the law of God, the man informed him that "there is a higher law than the fourth commandment of the decalogue." When asked what is that law, he replied: "It is the law of bread and butter." More than a score of years ago Wm. H. Seward startled the dignity of the United States Senate by declaring that there was a higher law than that of the United States; that the law of God, the highest of all laws, was opposed to the law of slavery. This declaration produced much discussion, and by many the doctrine of Mr. Seward was pronounced radical and dangerous. But at this time his doctrine is indorsed by a large majority of the people, when applied to the subject of slavery! Esop well represented human nature in the fable where the ass came boldly up and contemptuously kicked the lion when he was dead. And later, Dr. Lyman Beecher stated the truth in the case when he said that men loved to berate the devil when they believed him to be in a foreign land; but when they turned and found him at their elbow, they greeted him with a bow and a friendly word. Men believe the Bible, and wonder at the blindness and hardness of the Jews; they will apply its most cutting truths to the heathen, and to the inhabitants of other lands, but never fail to find a good excuse for setting aside or evading its plainest requirements when they are likely to bring a cross to themselves. This "argument" of the "prudent" Californian sounds strange to a Bible believer; to one who believes that the Bible comes with the authority of Heaven, with a curse to him who disobeys and neglects its truths. But it is not new. It was urged by Esau under circumstances where, if ever, it ought to be accepted as sufficient. Esau well understood "the law of birthright," and knew that it conferred on him great privileges and blessings; but in his mind "the law of pottage" was much more important. "Behold," said Esau, "I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" Our California friend will see that his "law of bread and butter" is Esau's argument reproduced. It is the same old "law of pottage" which Esau used, and with which he so successfully quieted his conscience. It is true that Paul presented the case of Esau as a warning to us who live in this age. But when worldliness and selfishness rule the heart and the life, warnings fall short of their mark. Esau's example has been and is followed by all those who consider themselves "wise and prudent" in the things of this world. The gospel is hid to them who are lost, because "the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not." 2 Cor. 4:3, 4. "Diana of the Ephesians" never had a more determined following in her own city than Mammon has even in the professed Christian churches of the present age. And they have so far turned truth backward that "the higher law" of to-day is the law of worldliness, of selfishness, of the popular will, and of human legislation. When the Sunday Law of California was the political issue in the State, "Rev. A. J. Nelson" declared that he was only a low politician who attempted to exalt his conscience above the law of the land! Of course the man of "advanced Christian thought" is the man who subordinates his conscience to human authority, and who ignores the authority of the commandment of God in obedience to mere "police regulations." Strange as it may appear, all this passes for genuine Christianity in these closing years of the nineteenth century. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" But the men of this generation have not yet learned the first principles of Christ's teaching. They fully believe that they can serve God and Mammon, and they think they are making a splendid success of it. But their work has yet to be tested in the Judgment, and that day, not this day, will declare it. The perils of the last days are summed up in the declaration that men will have the form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Covetousness will be a trait in their characters. These perils are thickening all around us. The deceptions of Satan are increasing. True followers of Christ are wanted now, who will not count their lives dear unto themselves; who, like Paul, will not hesitate at the call of duty though stripes and imprisonment everywhere await them. He proved the genuineness of his faith in braving perils by land and by sea; in the wilderness and among enemies; "in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." It is quite evident that Paul was not an obsequious follower of Esau; he had no faith in "the law of bread and butter," as opposed to the law of God and to his duty in the gospel. The gospel and its requirements have not changed, but they are sadly perverted. Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Heb. 13:8. And human nature, the carnal mind, is the same. And now, more than ever before, do the followers of Christ need to pray the prayer of the disciples: "Lord increase our faith." Come, Lord Jesus.
By Uriah Smith
WITH such appropriate words does the volume of inspiration close. Who cannot fervently respond to this beautiful petition of the apostle? Who that has ever tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, does not feel less and less desire that this state of evil should continue, and more and more desire that the reign of righteousness should be brought in. In what a world do we live! Iniquity abounds, sin reigns, evil prevails, pain racks almost every frame, hopes are disappointed, prospects are blighted, sorrow fills every heart! Who is contented? Who is satisfied? Who has more joy than sorrow? Who more good than evil? Truly when we take into comparison the good and ill, the joy and sorrow, the pleasure and pain, that exist in this world, one is lost sight of in the prevalence of the other. The joy and pleasure can scarcely be found for the evil and distress that everywhere prevails. It is not a false charge when it is said that this world is indeed a world of sorrow. Then here is Death plying his cruel task. Closely has he followed the race from Eden down. Six thousand years have nearly rolled away, but scarcely a human being can date the commencement of his existence back a hundred years. Thus stand the race, a thin line skirting the borders of eternity, driven like a flock before the relentless destroyer; and the path over which they have traveled is stained with blood and filled with graves. And Death is not content simply with making clean work in the past. Thickly his fatal shafts fly amid the living throng. The young, the innocent, the gay, the sad, the weak, the strong, from all ranks and all classes, fall continually into the silent tomb. Each hour numbers its hundreds, each day its thousands. The prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus," looks to an end of all this. Who, then, cannot utter it with sincere heart and fervent lips? Come, Lord Jesus, come, and stay the ravages of the destroyer. Come and put an end to sin. Come and arrest these floods of evil that sweep over the world. Come and put an end to these scenes of suffering, lamentation, and woe. Come and let the transgression of thy Father's law, and the blasphemy of thy dear name, forever cease. Come and let nations learn war no more, but peace spread her bright wings over the world, and righteousness reign. Come and let the expectations of thy long-waiting, yet still hopeful church be fulfilled. Let the heavenly vision, the reflected light of which has lighted up their pathway through long years of toil and darkness, open in all its glorious reality upon their longing sight. Yes, come Lord Jesus, come quickly. But shall the Lord come, and mankind be no more thoroughly warned? Shall the proclamation of the near coming of the great day be so limited in extent? Shall not the cry be made to ring in every ear, "Behold the plan of salvation draws to its conclusion? The great day of the Lord is near and hasteth greatly! The Judge of all is about to arise and shake terribly the earth!" But where are the men who will take the weight of these great truths fully into their hearts, and go forth to warn their fellows? In every county, town, and village, almost, the way is open for the truth to be spread. Church of God! see ye the fields already white to the harvest? and do ye remember the direction of the great Head of the church, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest"? God will be inquired of by his people in this respect. It is in his purpose that the warning should be proclaimed. The great Jehovah from his shining throne above, has sent forth a message to call out a people and make them ready for the coming of his Son. He has noted it in his prophetic word. His power is pledged to sustain it, and cause it to accomplish that whereunto it is sent. But that does not release us from responsibility and action in the matter. We are not to argue, because God's word is sure, and will certainly be fulfilled, that we can therefore settle down in inactivity and ease, and feel no responsibility in the work. The prophet Daniel did not do thus. When the seventy years' captivity drew to their close, he understood by books, referring to the prophecy of Jeremiah, that that period of the desolation of Jerusalem was accomplished, and that consequently the time had come for the Lord to begin the restoration of his people to their own land. But he did not sit down and say, Well, this will surely be accomplished; for the Lord has pledged his word for it, therefore I will leave it all to him, and give myself no thought or concern in the matter. Far from it. Rather he set his face to seek the Lord with all his heart, even with fasting and sackcloth and ashes; and he said, "Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary which is desolate, for the Lord's sake." So with us. We must rise into communion and sympathy with the plans and work of the Lord, and show it by offering up our petitions to him in accordance with his will. He has workmen whom he can thrust forth into his harvest; but the church must first see the need of their labors. He can and will supply the wants of his cause; but his people must first feel them. Then, only, we can appreciate and thus make a right use of his blessings. Brethren, look at these things, and let fervency take the place of lukewarmness, and indifference give place to zeal. Pray, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, and then give efficiency to your prayers by engaging heartily in the work which devolves upon us first to do. Search the Scriptures.
By Stephen N. Haskell
WE have never as yet fully realized the importance of Bible-readings. Connected with our colporter work they become a power. Every colporter and missionary worker who visits from house to house should be prepared to give them upon the various subjects which relate to the truths of the Bible. The apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to study to show himself "approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Timothy was a young man of promise, having known the Scriptures from his youth. His ancestors on his mother's side were individuals of piety. While in Rome, and about to be brought before Nero the second time, Paul writes to him as follows: "Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." And yet, notwithstanding the faith of his mother and grandmother, and the knowledge of Scripture he must have had, the apostle exhorts him to study to show himself approved of God, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Each writer of the Bible has spoken in a style peculiarly his own concerning doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness; "that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." To rightly divide the word would be to gather all the truths upon the same point, as each Bible writer presents them, and so arrange them that the evidence of the truth of the doctrine may appear in its most forcible manner. The Waldenses understood this method of rightly dividing the word. Their missionaries, who went among the Catholics throughout Europe, carried with them portions of the Scriptures of their own transcribing, according to the arrangement in which they had been instructed from youth up. That people have left a record which has come down to us through all the dark ages of the past. The divine mold, given in generations past, is now seen upon the descendants. There is a power in the word of God that convicts and converts the soul. Nothing can be more important than the word of God. Says David, Ps. 138:2, "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name;" and again, "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." With a fountain that is so complete in itself, and with a promise of the aid of that Spirit which inspired the word, we have no excuse. Many will be found wanting in the day of Judgment because of its neglect. Those who are looking for Christ to come in the clouds of heaven, and expecting that soon every earthly thing will be dissolved, should be the most thorough Biblical students in the world. It will be a sin of no small magnitude for us, with the privileges we have, to come up to the day of Judgment without a knowledge of the teachings of the word of God. The language of the apostle Peter is not confined to ministers, when he says, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you, with meekness and fear." These words apply to all the followers of Christ. If it is so important that all the people of God be prepared to give a reason for their hope, how should it be with those who go out as missionary workers? Our brethren should not only read the Bible, but study it, not simply to commit to memory without regard to order, but to rightly divide the word of truth. The words of our Saviour are as important in this generation as they were when he walked the country of Judea. "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me." The Jews rejected Christ because they did not know him. They were not familiar with the scriptures that described the manner of his coming and his character. He said to them, "Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me;" and yet they had the Scriptures in their houses, and heard them read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day. They did not see the force of them; had not understood their bearing, and so they themselves fulfilled the Scriptures they professed to believe, in condemning him. There are some subjects which I have made a special study during my entire ministry, and within the past few months have given many Bible-readings upon these same subjects, but never without seeing some new beauty in them. They seem to shine out with a clearer light. These long winter evenings should be occupied by our brethren in giving Bible-readings, either with their neighbors, or among themselves. Solomon with all his learning never reached a time when he did not feel the necessity of searching to find out "acceptable words, even words of truth." Eccl. 12:9, 10. We have schools where the Bible is made prominent. A specialty is made of teaching the students how to present the truths of God's word in the most forcible manner. Hundreds of young men and women should be thus studying, that they might go forth as light-bearers to those who sit in darkness. Not only are the young and middle aged wanted, but what could be more pleasing in the sight of God than to see gray-haired men and women devoting their time to the study of the word, that they may go forth with the experience of age and gather souls for the kingdom of God? It should be thus. Our schools should be honored with men of mature judgment, preparing themselves to labor in the cause of truth. There are men who have reached their threescore years, at our College in California, preparing themselves to go as missionaries to the islands of the Pacific Ocean. May God bless them, and as they go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, may they be comforted with the thought that they shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them; for they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. The Prohibition Home Protection "Bait."
By Editor
DR. MCDONALD, the leader of the Prohibition Home Protection party in California, having been accused through the S. F. Examiner, by a writer signing himself "Prohibitionist," of an intention to lead the party "into the Republican net," defines the real intent in that journal of the 6th inst. We extract as follows:— "Let me refer 'Prohibitionist' and your readers to the national call for the county conventions to be held on February 22d, which reads: 'We hereby pledge ourselves to each other that we will entirely separate ourselves from the Republican and Democratic parties, and from all parties not opposed to the liquor crime.' I think that is explicit enough, and leaves no room for doubt. But since the process of leading the Prohibition Home Protection party into the Republican net has been spoken of, it may be as well to let our would-be capturers know what they will get us. "If 'Prohibitionist' is well informed about his party's plans he will know that we will make a stand, not only for prohibition, but also for the enactment and enforcement of an intelligent national Sunday law,—believing that Sunday is an institution so beneficially connected with our social, business, and moral life that we cannot dispense with it without sacrificing the very best interest of the community and the highest welfare of the whole people. "This is the bait which we will put into our net for the purpose of catching the votes, not of Democrats or of Republicans, but of all citizens who are patriotic enough to desire their country's good." College Notes.
By Sidney Brownsberger
The present term of school which opened Jan. 14 promises to be the very best in all the essentials of success. The students have never before manifested a deeper interest in their school work and in the general success of the school. The order and deportment of all in attendance is almost wholly above adverse criticism. The students boarding at the North College Hall at present number fifty-four. There are now in daily attendance in our various classes, 132 students. Our work is advancing steadily. It will be limited only by our accommodations and facilities to meet the growing demand. It may be twice as great in a very few years if our plans are made broad enough to meet the necessities now pressing upon us. We must have increased facilities for boarding students next year. Our present capacity is not half as great as it should be. Without reserving any rooms at the North Hall, we can now lodge sixty-five students. We should have facilities to board and lodge at our Students' Home not less than 150 students. We can safely expect that about half of our attendance at any time in the growth of our school shall want to board at the College Hall. Though the number now there is somewhat less, it is just what we would expect during the first year of the boarding system. The general attendance will soon reach 300 if we plan to accommodate that number. I recommend to the friends of the College that we should not cripple so important a work as our school enterprise by failing to provide ample accommodations for its growth. I believe the Lord wants it to be a blessing to our youth on this entire coast. S. BROWNSBERGER. Rural Health Retreat.
By H. A. St. John
I CAME to our Rural Health Retreat, at St. Helena, one month ago, in feeble health. I am very much improved. I have many times said since I came here, "How can any one be sick in such a place as this?" What an excellent place to rest the weary body and tired brain. Where can it be surpassed? Echo answers, Where? How pure and soft the water. How clear and invigorating the atmosphere. How grand and lovely and exhilarating the surrounding valleys and mountains, covered with vineyards, orchards, and evergreen forests. What an endless series of varying landscapes. Thank God for such a health retreat, in the hands of those who fear and love God, and work righteousness. The God of nature has specially adapted this place for a health retreat. A letter from the East reminds me that it is mid-winter; that the snow lies deep upon the ground; that the mercury is 22 degrees below zero; but here the flowers are blooming, the bees are humming, the birds are flitting, the grass is growing, and the farmer is sowing. And then when we consider the institution itself, we find every department in the hands of those persons who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and who, as physicians, nurses, cooks, and helpers, seek to obey the Golden Rule—always do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Say what you please, this is the very heart and soul of true politeness. A lady physician has long been needed in the Retreat, but this lack is now supplied in the coming of Mrs. Dr. Chamberlain, from the East. Dr. Chamberlain is a lady of integrity and piety, and long and successful experience in treating the sick. The Retreat may be thankful for such efficient help. Reader, do you tell the afflicted whom you meet, of the Rural Health Retreat, at St. Helena, Cal.? Do you tell them where they may be benefited, soul and body? If not, why not? H. A. ST. JOHN.