On Feb. 29 we will cut from the SIGNS list all names that have expired previous to Feb. 1, 1884. Therefore if you desire the paper continued to your address please renew your subscription immediately. The little yellow tab on your paper this week will tell you the date your time expires.
A Gloomy Prospect.
By Editor
A CORRESPONDENT of the Christian Statesman writes thus of St. Louis, Mo.:—
"In a population numbering half a million, it has churches enough to seat thirty-seven thousand people, but these churches are not half full. The pastors almost all complain of the growing difficulty of getting their members to attend. Dr. Nichols, pastor of the largest Presbyterian Church, told his people lately, 'I must leave unless you attend better.'"
This makes a church attendance of less than one-fortieth of the population, with "a growing difficulty of getting their members to attend." The prospect for the speedy coming of the millennium is not good, unless it can be brought in by amending the Constitution of the United States! But we fear that even an Act of Congress would not Christianize St. Louis, nor any other of our American cities.
Various Matters.
By Editor
THE Bible-readings held at the late meeting in Healdsburg have been published, and may be had at this office. It is a pamphlet of 35 pages. Two editions; one of very thin paper, to put in the Bible; the other, heavy paper cover. Each, 25 cts.
FROM a distant part of the country comes the following: "I want an explanation of the punishment of the wicked after the final condemnation. Please reply soon." We have often given articles on that subject, but as our paper is constantly going to many new readers, we will publish a reply to the query next week.
THE St. Helena Star, of Feb. 4, says some Italians have a garden on Howell Mountain, just above the "Crystal Springs," where there are potato vines growing that have not been touched with frost. This shows an unusually mild climate at the "Health Retreat." The Star reports four new houses to be built immediately by private parties near the Retreat. They can find no more pleasant place to live on this earth until it is "made new." We invite all our friends who wish to take a "run" from home the coming season, to visit this rural home. They cannot fail to be delighted with it.
A FRIEND inquires if it is right to pledge himself to vote for the State Prohibition ticket; his query is drawn out by his fears that the Sunday Law will be incorporated with the temperance question. Our advice is: Pledge yourself to nothing, but to "fear God, and keep his commandments." When the time comes for voting, be free to act as the circumstances require and as your conscience will approve. All parties adopt a "platform," upon which the nominees are expected to stand. The present prospect is that the platform of the professed Prohibition party will be open to strong objections. We shall be happy if it proves to be otherwise. We would be pleased to give our support to a party which dared to let temperance stand on its own merits.