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Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 16.

God in Nature
Earlier text: Question Corner

SECTARIAN APPROPRIATIONS AGAIN.

By W. N. G.

The lower House of Congress has broken over its good resolution in the matter of withholding appropriations from religious institutions. It was hardly to be expected that it would last many years, under the general pressure in behalf of government support of religion; but the vim with which the attitude was assumed in denying the usual appropriations for Catholic Indian schools was calculated to warrant the expectation that the position would be maintained at least through the session in which it was so positively taken. And the breach was not made inadvertently, but after a plain exposition of the inconsistency, and a warm discussion of the point. It came about in this way:—
The Committee on Appropriations, supposing that this Congress was irrevocably committed to the principle, left out of the Appropriation Bill the usual allotment to Howard University, an institution established in Washington City for the purpose of affording an opportunity for higher education to the colored race. The item was omitted from the bill on the ground that the university has a department of theology, under the auspices of the American Missionary Society (Congregational), and therefore was reckoned as a sectarian institution. When the House came to the consideration of the bill in Committee of the Whole, an amendment was introduced adding $32,600 for Howard University.
The amendment was adopted, strange to say, without discussion at the time. It was adopted pro forma, not more than half a dozen members voting at all. But the next day Mr. Hainer, of Nebraska, who happened to be temporarily absent when the amendment was introduced, called the matter up again, and fully explained that the institution was not only a private one, but sectarian in character. He also called attention to the attitude of the House on the subject of appropriations, stating that:—
“Already on two different occasions this House, after full debate—debate of a character calculated to bring out the real judgment and sense of the House—has placed itself emphatically upon the ground that it will not appropriate a single dollar to any sectarian institution. I think it may also be fairly argued from the action already had that this House goes further, and that it is not in favor of appropriating money for any private purposes.”
There was a proviso that no part of the money should be paid to any teacher or professor of theology or religion, or to any chaplain in said university. But Mr. Hainer showed that this provision was of no force whatever, as the appropriation was more than half the prospective income of the institution, and would necessarily go into the common treasury, from which all expenses were paid. And one member who favored the appropriation admitted that the special provision was nugatory. In course of his remarks Mr. Hainer gave expression to the following points:—
“We voted against aid to Catholic institutions, not because they were not doing good work, but because we recognized it as a fundamental principle of government that we have no right whatever to vote one dollar of money for sectarian purposes.”
“Ah, gentlemen, I know how easy it is for this insidious process to effect your real purpose. This is truly ‘the nose of the camel entering the tent.’ The Catholics, with a craft which excels that of Talleyrand, usually accomplish their purpose by the exercise of brains, and there are not wanting Protestants who, with a lack of perception which is akin to idiocy, allow themselves to be lured by a small bait, as in this instance, to commit themselves to a principle which has in the past taken multiplied millions out of the Treasury of the United States, and placed them in the coffers of sectarian institutions.”
“No, gentlemen, you must place yourselves upon principle. This Howard University was founded about the close of the war. For about sixteen years it prospered. It rested in the bosom and on the heart of the great people of this country, who are quick and zealous to respond to all good work. It prospered until 1880 as it has never prospered since. There had been no thought of government aid. In 1880, long after the war, and after the colored people were already getting on their feet, there came first the appropriation of $10,000. From that small item the appropriation has grown gradually, until this year they receive $34,500. In the aggregate they have received $401,600 since 1880.”
“Will any one say that the president of this institution, who, until he assumed the duties of that office, was a Congregational minister in this city, can teach the Bible as a regular text-book without giving it a Congregational bias? Here is an institution which is presided over by a lifelong Congregationalist. The principal professors are Congregationalists. They maintain a theological department, in which the president and principal professors spend a large part of their time. Special attention is paid to theology. The institution has for its largest and most liberal patron, excepting only the government, a Congregational society whose only object is to spread Congregationalism. It is a missionary society. Missionary work for what?—For the Congregational Church. Certainly not for any other church. You may depend on that. It is to the Congregational Church precisely what the Jesuit order is to the Catholic Church. Will any gentleman who values his word deny this? Will you bolt at the name of Jesuit and embrace a Congregational missionary society? If so, what becomes of your opposition to sectarian appropriations? If you oppose aiding an institution in which proselyting is done for a Protestant church, what objection have you to a Catholic priest or the sworn devotee of some Catholic order doing exactly the same thing for that church? There is only one safe ground, and that is to make no appropriations whatever for private institutions.”
“Another thing. These subsidies should never be tolerated, because in voting against them you are obliged to resist special pressure. If it were proper for me to relate what has occurred in our committee room, I could tell you of men of high position in the United States who, forgetting the places which they occupy, regardless of the duties which they owe to the country, came there as truckling mendicants for the purpose of obtaining little appropriations, because, forsooth, their wives happen to be presidents of some of these institutions, or they themselves happen to be occupying some honorary position with respect to other institutions. It pleases them to occupy the positions, and in turn they use their social and official prestige to secure appropriations. Anything that leads to practices of that kind is vicious and only vicious, and should be cut up by the roots.”
“Another thing, Mr. Chairman, it destroys usefulness by hampering the institution itself, and reducing it from the high position which every educational and charitable institution ought to maintain, and bringing it down to the low level of partisan politics and traffic with members of Legislatures and of Congress for their support.”
There was a lengthy discussion of the subject, and the appropriation was sustained. It passed the house by a vote of 129 to 105; not voting, 120. There were appeals to religious sentiment, to charitable sentiment, and to political sentiment. The discussion took a wide range, but the point that seems to have had the most influence, altho not the most conspicuous on the surface, was the desire to catch the colored vote. But the way has been opened for the Catholics to come back and charge discrimination against them in favor of Protestant institutions; and the next thing we are likely to see is the politicians vieing with each other in a reactionary effort to recover their lost prestige with the Catholic political power. W. N. G.

JESS

By S. Jennie Smith

BY S. JENNIE SMITH.
Great, dark eyes, an unruly mop of hair, a plain gingham dress, and shoes that were neat and strong, but in no manner fancy—this partly describes Jess as I saw her on the front stoop of a brick house playing school with a number of other children. Jess was not the teacher, but she seemed to be the teacher’s ready assistant, for she arranged the scholars in their seats, hunted up books enough to go around, and then helped the babies of the class to sit still while the opening exercises were gone through with. The car ahead of the one that I was in had run off the track, bringing ours to a standstill right near the spot where the children were playing, so I passed the time pleasantly watching the progress of the school.
“Celle Brown will take a bad mark for getting up,” said the teacher, looking sternly at a very little girl.
“O, she’s such a wee bit of a thing, Miss Bardeen! You’ll excuse her this time, won’t you?”
Jess put her arms around the child as she spoke, and the caresses, added to the tender words, soothed the wounded feelings of the little one.
“Well, this time, then, but she mustn’t get up again,” was the softened reply.
“Our new teacher’s coming to-morrow,” remarked another girl; “I wonder if she will be kind?”
“Mama says that teachers are always kind to good children, but I’m just as anxious to see her as I can be.”
“I’m going to get to school early in the morning so as to see her first.”
“I can’t do that,” said Jess, “because I help mama with the dishes before I go.”
“Scholars, stop talking,” commanded Miss Bardeen.
At that moment another small girl appeared on the scene and looked wistfully on the group.
“Suppose we let her play,” coaxed Jess.
“There ain’t enough books,” argued Miss Bardeen.
“She can have mine,” said Jess; “I can look on Jennie’s.”
“Very well; come on, then, Kate Broderick, but I do hate scholars to come in at this hour.”
So Kate smilingly took her place in the class. Then two little sisters made a disturbance by attempting to play a game.
“Please, Miss Bardeen, may I sit between Alice and Sarah Miller?” Jess asked aloud; and in a tone meant to be a whisper, but which I plainly heard, she added, “They don’t know that they mustn’t play together in school, and it’s the best thing to do.”
“All right.”
So quiet was again restored, only to be broken this time by myself. Finding that the cars were not likely to go for several minutes yet, I thought perhaps I could walk the rest of the distance. Therefore, I left the car, and, going up to the children, inquired, “Can any of you tell me where Miss Hastings lives?”
Miss Bardeen turned very politely to me, and answered: “Right at the corner of Willow Street. It’s on your left, and is a large white house.”
“Thank you, but how am I to know Willow Street? Shall I find the name anywhere?”
“Would you like me to go with you and show you?” asked Jess timidly. “It might save you some trouble.”
I thanked the little girl for her offer, the young teacher excused her, and we started down the street. On our way we passed a good-sized brick building.
“Is that your schoolhouse?” I inquired.
“Yes, ma’am; it’s a very nice school, too, and in our class we’re expecting a new teacher to-morrow.”
“It does look like a pleasant place. Are the scholars as pleasant as the building?”
“I think so,” the child answered readily; “all those children you saw on that stoop go to that school, except, of course, the babies. There’s Ida Bardeen—the one that’s playing teacher—she is a very nice girl, and smart, too—smart as can be. And Sally Mill, she never misses her lessons. Then Josie Matthews can do her arithmetic like anything, and Susie Williams is a beautiful reader. Altogether, we have a pretty nice set of children in this neighborhood. I think the new teacher will like them; don’t you?”
“Probably she will,” I answered; “but are none of them naughty?”
“Well, not to say real bad,” she said slowly, as if she wished to speak the truth without talking against her companions; “of course, some have faults, but they mean to be good.”
“And how about Jess?”
The child looked up in surprise at the mention of her name. She was not aware that I had been an audience of one at the opening of school. At last she replied—
“Mama says that I’m only a commonplace little girl that can’t do anything extra well, so I must make up for it by being very good.”
“And are you good?”
“I try to be,” she answered softly, “but sometimes it’s hard, though.”
We had reached the large white house, and as I turned to go in, I said, “It was very kind of you, dear, to walk all this way with me, and to reward you I’m going to tell you a secret: I am the new teacher.”
An expression of mingled astonishment and delight came into the child’s face, and then she said, “I am so glad.” Just before going she remarked, somewhat bashfully, as if she stood a little more in awe of me now that she knew I was the teacher, “I think you will like our school children.”
“Very likely I shall,” I answered; but one thing I knew, I was sure to like Jess, with her kind heart, her contented disposition, and the way she had of speaking a good word for everybody. Sally’s perfect lessons, Ida’s brightness, and Josie Matthew’s skill at arithmetic, would certainly delight any teacher, but what were they to be compared with the peace that was sure to reign where dear, commonplace little Jess came with her sweet influence?—N. Y. Observer.

THE BEAUTIFUL REST.

By Lilla Warren

BY LILLA WARREN.
So often we sing of the “sweet by and by,” When the toil and the pain will be past; But so little is said of the rest that is nigh, Of peace now that no trouble can blast.
It is sweet to think of the home of the blest, Of a life that is lovely and fair; But the sweetest to me is the beautiful rest When I cast on the Lord all my care.
Sometimes when our hearts are so lonely and sad, Weighed down with a burden of wo, We seek far for comfort that can not be had, For no earth friend our sorrow can know.
For those who are striving to walk in God’s way Will find here the rest that is sweet, And also that rest, in the soon-coming day, When we all our dear Saviour shall greet.

Causes of Impure Blood—Bad Cellars

By O. C. Godmark, M.D.

SPRING TONICS. NO. 2.

BY O. C. GODSMARK, M.D.

Causes of Impure Blood—Bad Cellars.

ANOTHER of the prominent causes of so much impurity of the blood, at this season of the year, is to be found in the condition of our cellars. In the majority of cases these cellars are located directly beneath the house, with an inside cellar way opening into the kitchen or pantry. Many of these cellars are dark, sometimes even damp,—the very condition best suited to cause rapid decay of the fruits and vegetables that were placed there in the fall for winter’s use. A cellar, by the way, ought to be light, airy, and dry. Could the sun’s rays fall directly within some portion of the cellar, they would be a most powerful agent in removing dampness, mold, and bad odors. True, some vegetables do not shrivel as much in the dark as in the sunlight, but that can be obviated by the use of blankets and covered bins. An open barrel or box of unslaked lime aids materially in keeping a cellar dry.
As the warm days approach, the outside doors should be frequently opened so that the pure air and sunshine can find entrance. Be sure that all the empty barrels, boxes, pieces of boards, and temporary bins are removed, and that the remaining apples, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables are carefully sorted, and every particle of decay removed. This precaution is very necessary to the preservation of health.
When the cellar is located beneath the living apartments of the house, there is a continual exchange of air, imperceptible tho it may be, between the two. The cold air from out-of-doors creeps in and settles to the bottom of the cellar, crowding the warmer air, laden with the germs of decaying vegetables, up through the floor or cellar way into the rooms above. When the cellar way opens into the pantry where the milk, flour, and other foods are kept, they become tainted with the air from the cellar, and so the elements of disease are conveyed to the members of the family. How much better to purify the surroundings, and so keep the blood healthy, than to live in a germ-poisoned atmosphere for months and then spend means for patent medicines that in the end may prove only a damage!

Winter Bill of Fare.

Another cause of impurities in the system is the usual bill of fare during the cold winter months. With many the old custom of salting down one or more fat hogs for winter use is still followed, tho with the better informed this article of food is fast being discarded. After the fresh fruits, berries, and vegetables of summer and fall have gone, recourse is generally made to meat, buckwheat pancakes, syrup, fried foods, etc., which, in the usual method of preparation, do the system as great damage as the fruits of summer and fall had done good. Pork was never a fit food for man—a scavenger by nature, scrofulous in flesh, and infested by that dread parasite, trichinae, from which those who use pork only escape by the fact of its being destroyed in the process of cooking. The buckwheat of itself would not be so injurious, but the usual accompaniment of butter, syrup, and sugar in large quantities, helps to fill the system with impurities. Fruits, canned or dried, tho so necessary for the maintenance of health, are considered by many as a mere luxury during the winter season, only to be served for company, more as a matter of style than a necessity. The medicinal effects, however, of a liberal use of fruits, grains, and nuts are far superior to any amount of blood purifiers or tonics sold at from seventy-five cents to $1.00 per bottle.

Infrequent Bathing.

With many the frequent bathing kept up during the warmer seasons is also neglected. The unpleasantness of bathing in a cool room, or after the family have retired at night (tho of course only applies where bathing facilities are not the most convenient), causes this part of life’s duties to be less faithfully carried out. The skin being one of the excretory organs, and one whose functions we can the most readily assist, requires constant care. Much of the impurities of the body is constantly being thrown off through the skin. As the blood follows the minute capillaries that permeate every portion of this organ, the myriads of minute sweat glands continually draw off from the blood much of the broken-down tissues and elements of disease therein contained. While we may not appreciate the act of perspiring in the winter as in the summer, yet the process is continually going on, tho in a less degree, and as the skin is continually receiving upon its outer surface renewed supplies of this poisonous matter, it becomes us to attend to the matter of personal cleanliness. The skin is not merely an excretory organ; for, being compound in its function, it is also an absorbent; for while the sweat glands are pouring out upon its surface the excrementitious matter from the blood, another set of vessels are actively engaged in absorbing and returning to the system whatever comes in contact with the skin that is capable of being absorbed. With many this perspiration becomes rancid and is returned into the circulation in a much worse condition than when first expelled. Whenever proper bathing is neglected, we fail in carrying out one of nature’s best prescriptions for keeping our minds clear, blood pure, and enjoying the very best of health.
Bedford, Mich.

DO NOT GRUMBLE.

It is easy to fall into the habit of picking flaws and blaming others for mistakes and failures. Do not allow yourself to degenerate into a mere critic and faultfinder. Mr. Moody gives this excellent advice on this subject: “If you do not like the churches, go in and make them better, but do not become a grumbler. Keep yourself aloof from that class of people; for it is the easiest sort of thing to find fault. Any stupid man can do that, but it takes a smart man to make things better. When a man begins to grumble and find fault, you can size him up for a light weight right away.” If you find yourself prone to complain because things are not done right, yet backward to help to do them right, accept it as a dangerous symptom, and hasten to cure yourself by criticizing less and praying and working more.—Sel.

PURE AIR.

An excellent plan to purify air in sleeping-rooms is to keep an inch or two of the window open—from the top. But in many cases this is impracticable, and as an alternative it is wise to keep in the sleeping chamber a basin or open vessel of water. Water absorbs all the impurities of the atmosphere and keeps the air pure. Besides acting as a purifier of the atmosphere, it will absorb large quantities of coal or illuminating gas should any escape, and thus render asphyxiation from that source less liable to occur.—Selected.

Temperance Text-Books Translated for Foreign Schools

AMERICAN temperance text-books have been translated into the languages of six different foreign countries, and are now used in their schools.

Individual Accountability to God in Religious Faith

EVERY man is accountable alone to God for his religious faith.—Washington.

Civil Rights Independent of Religious Opinion

OUR civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions.—Jefferson.

SOME RESULTS OF MISSIONARY WORK IN TURKEY.

By W. A. Farnsworth

BY REV. W. A. FARNSWORTH, D.D.
At just this time, when nearly every missionary station in Asia Minor has been baptized in blood, the question is asked, What are the results of sixty years of missionary work in that land? In answering this question I would call attention to several points.
1. What has been accomplished in reference to the Sacred Scriptures? The missionaries found in Turkey a number of churches, such as the Greek, the Armenian, the Jacobite, the Coptic, and others, claiming to be Christian and professing to take the word of God as their sure foundation. But that word, whatever it might have been to them in ages past, had ceased to be a fountain of instruction, had indeed become, to the common people, nothing more nor less than a fetish. It did not exist in the vernacular of any portion of the people. It was indeed read in their churches but not understood. The reading was a form which it was supposed might have some mysterious influence. The book was held up for the worshiper to kiss as he passed out of the church. So far from being in common use was it that it was considered a sin for an unordained man to take it into his hands. The first work of the missionaries was to translate the Sacred Scriptures into the vernacular of the several different nationalities. This has been accomplished. The greatness and importance of this work can hardly be overestimated. It may be remembered that this land is not very far from Babel. The word is now found in some twenty-seven different languages and characters, including even Koordish. In the meantime a complete change of sentiment has been wrought in the minds of all the people as to the use of the Scriptures. So far from believing it to be a sin to take the Book into their hands, they now believe it to be their duty to have it, to study it, and to make it the guide of their lives. Despite all political changes, despite all opposition, here is this book, in all these different languages, and here is this change of sentiment; and great must be the result, both temporal and spiritual, in future ages as well as in the present time.
2. The second result accomplished to which I would call attention is the giving to the people an educational and religious literature. When missionaries began their work, there were no books, or next to none, in the vernacular of the common people. They began at the foundation. They prepared spelling books and reading books, grammars and geographies, and by these awakened a desire for a practical education. They also translated some of our best religious literature. There are now sung in that land, in I know not how many languages, such hymns as “Rock of ages cleft for me,” “There is a fountain filled with blood,” “My faith looks up to Thee,” and very many others. Many of our choicest books are doing a work among the people only second to what they have done in their original English garb. A good illustration is “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Whether he speaks in Turkish or Armenian, in Bulgarian or Greek, that “Pilgrim” is still the same that our childhood knew, and he tells the same fascinating story. This literature can not perish, much less the spirit that it has awakened.
3. I mention next the American Bible House in Constantinople. This, tho not built by the board, is an outcome, a natural, and, I might say, a necessary result of the missionary work in Turkey. It is a grand building and a center of literary and religious influence. Here presses, worked by steam, are printing newspapers in several different tongues; religious tracts, lesson helps, cards, etc., necessary for good Sunday school work, are prepared, and religious and educational books, in nearly thirty different languages, are stored, most of these also prepared here. In the same building there is a bookbindery, where work is done that will compare favorably with first-class work of the same line in Boston or New York. In other parts of the building there are offices where Americans, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Armenians are hard at work preparing material for the hungry presses and the more hungry people. Besides the weekly and monthly periodicals, the many religious tracts, Scripture cards, etc., which flow forth from this building in an unceasing stream, something more than 80,000 volumes of the Sacred Scriptures and other books go out every year for the enlightening and uplifting of the people. We are not surprised to hear that those who love darkness rather than light wish to see this Bible House razed to the ground. Even should it be so, it has already accomplished a glorious work. We trust that it has before it a glorious future.—Condensed from Missionary Herald.

HINDUISM AND ROMANISM.

In much of its teaching Romanism is far more pagan than Christian; for, tho Roman Catholics believe in Christ, it is not the Christ of the Gospel, but either a wafer god manufactured by the priests, or a stern judge ready to punish the guilty (in the same way that the Hindus regard many of their gods), and only to be approached through his tender-hearted mother, or some other merciful saint or intercessor.
The following comparison in the Missionary Herald (Baptist) is from a letter by Mrs. T. R. Edwards, of Serampore College:—
HINDUS ROMAN CATHOLICS
are subject to the Brahmans, on whom they rely in the performance of all religious rites, and whom they are taught to reverence and bow down to. are under the power of the priests, by whom they are taught exactly what they must believe, and through whom they receive forgiveness of sins and all the benefits of religion.
Are not allowed (except Brahmans) to read the sacred books; these may only be read and explained to them by the priests. As a rule are forbidden to read the Bible, which the priests alone may read and explain.
Regard Sanskrit as the religious language; it is used in worship and ceremonies, tho not understood by the people. Regard Latin as the sacred language; it is used in worship, tho unknown to the majority of the people.
Bathe in the Ganges and certain sacred rivers to wash away sins. Are taught that they are regenerated by water in baptism.
Use Ganges water in various religious ceremonies. Use holy water in the churches.
Bow down to and utter prayers before idols. Bow down to and say prayers before images and pictures.
Dress the idols in fine and showy and sometimes costly raiment. Clothe the images of saints in gorgeous apparel.
At certain festivals have great processions, carrying the idols. At certain festivals in Roman Catholic countries have great processions, in which sacred images are carried.
Pray to various gods and goddesses. Pray to saints and angels, and especially to the Virgin Mary.
Offer sacrifices. Offer the sacrifice of the Mass.
Say that when the priest utters certain words, the image they have made becomes alive by the indwelling of the deity invoked. Say that when the priest utters certain words, the wafer becomes the very Christ.
Are taught that there is a great merit in making pilgrimages to various sacred places and shrines. Are taught that it is meritorious to go on pilgrimages to Rome and other sacred places.
Believe that at certain shrines miracles of healing are performed by this or that god. Believe that at certain churches and places miracles of healing are performed by this or that saint.
Have great faith in amulets and charms as a protection against various misfortunes. Wear medals blessed by the pope as charms against misfortunes.
Are enjoined to fast on certain occasions. Observe prescribed fasts.
Count beads in repeating the names of gods and goddesses, to invoke their assistance. Count beads in saying prayers, especially to Mary.
Use lighted lamps in certain ceremonies, even in daylight. Use lighted candles in religious worship, even in daylight.
Use incense in worship. Use incense in worship.
Some priests (chiefly a wandering order) are not allowed to marry. Priests are not allowed to marry.
Some Hindu religious orders consider that the highest ideal here is the extinction of all desire and all feeling, such as joy, sorrow, hunger, pain. The aims and ideal of monks and nuns is to become like a corpse in the hand of the superior.
When death is imminent, they are taken to the riverside, and the face smeared with the sacred mud of the Ganges. When death is imminent, they send for the priest to administer extreme unction, which includes anointing parts of the body with oil.
After the death of relatives, in order to assist the spirit in the next world, they perform Shraddha; it consists of various ceremonies, and especially large presents to the priests. After the death of relatives, in order to liberate the spirit from purgatory, and take it to heaven, they pay considerable sums to the priests for masses to be performed.
Comparison might also be made between Romanism and Buddhism, as there is much in common, as the veneration of relics, forbidding priests to marry, large houses of monks and nuns, etc.

CAST THY BREAD UPON THE WATER.

By Paulina M. Alway-Anderson

BY PAULINA M. ALWAY-ANDERSON.
Cast thy bread upon the water, Throw it gently on each wave; Many souls are drifting, drifting, Jesus bids us seek and save.
Tho thy efforts seem but fruitless, Thy life labor all in vain, After many days of floating 'Twill return to thee again.
Some are sailing toward the harbor, Many drifting with the tide Out upon the surging billows, Without pilot, without guide; Quickly grasp the helm of duty; Ply the oar, and spread the sail; Gather in the struggling seamen That are drifting, soon to fail.
Cast thy bread across the ocean, Toss it o'er the deep blue sea, Break it gently to the fallen, 'Twill impart blest liberty; Give it kindly to the children, Send it graciously to all, And upon thy nearest neighbor Let some precious life crumbs fall.
Jesus is the guiding Pilot O'er life's rough, uneven tide, He, the Beacon Light of heaven, To the port will safely guide. May we land and find there many Souls, all happy, free, and safe, Through the precious Bread of Heaven We have lifted from the wave.
Cast thy bread upon the water, Throw it gently on each wave; Many souls are drifting, drifting, Jesus bids us seek and save.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

We learn that funds have been donated for the purchase of a telescope for Union College, at College View, Neb.
A recent report states that eight members have been added to the church at Eureka, Iowa, under the labors of Brethren F. L. Moody and J. W. Adams.
At Fort Gay, W. Va., during the latter part of March, a Sabbath school was organized by Brother and Sister J. F. Ward, who had been baptized but a short time before.
At Winona, Wash., according to a late report, sixteen persons had decided to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Meetings were conducted by Elder W. W. Steward.
In Plymouth, England, says a late report by Elder H. E. Robinson, five well-known halls had been secured for one meeting in each one a week. The attendance was good, and at the time of the report was on the increase.
April 30 is the date set for the sailing of the Pitcairn from this city on her fifth missionary voyage to the islands of the South Pacific. It is not yet fully decided who will compose the corps of laborers. The preceding Sunday evening there will be a memorial service in the Oakland church.
Elder A. E. Place, president of the New York Conference, reports from the work at South Onondaga that twenty-two had decided to obey the truth as presented in meetings held by Brother H. W. Lawson. A Sabbath school of over thirty members had been organized, and a church organization is soon to follow.
Cheering news comes from Christiania, Norway. Elder J. F. Hansen says of meetings being held there: “The interest is better than I had dared to hope. It has been good from the beginning, but it is growing better. From 300 to 500 are in attendance at all meetings. I never have seen a better interest in all my work.”
Elder S. M. Cobb has been holding meetings in East Wilson, N. Y., in a schoolhouse where Elder J. N. Loughborough preached the same message nearly forty years ago. The interest to hear Elder Cobb increased to such an extent that the Methodist minister, whose church is near the schoolhouse, called for ministerial help to assist him in holding his special services.
A Baptist minister in New York City succeeded in advertising the work of Elders Franke and Washburne quite extensively by endeavoring to conceal the fact that some prominent members of his church (two of them ministers) had gone over to the Adventist faith. The pastor made the mistake by trying to deceive a newspaper reporter, hence the wider publicity of the matter—as might have been expected.
Brother E. Clifford reports an interesting incident in Bath, England. A man employed as gardener and coachman decided to keep the Sabbath, and in order to hold his situation offered to accept a reduction of one-fourth in his wages. This was refused, and the man was sent to the minister, who vainly endeavored to dissuade him from accepting the new doctrine. He was to give up his place at a certain time, and in the meantime thought to do a neighbor a kindness by recommending him for the situation. But just as he was about to do so, his employer told him he could keep his place at full wages, and work on Sunday instead of on the Sabbath. The brother was much surprised, and suggested that he could work on Sunday where he would not be seen much, but the employer said he could work wherever he had work to do. The affair made quite a commotion in the neighborhood.
Elder Wm. Hutchinson, who some months ago went to labor in Ireland, reports an addition of nine new members to the church at Banbridge. He also reports good results from the recent visit of Elder A. T. Jones to the island. Many of the more wealthy class of citizens who never before had been out to any service held by our people, came in, and one gentleman, a leading merchant, declared with tears that he fully believed the message. The brethren and the cause were greatly strengthened by his brief sojourn.
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