Earlier text: The Closing Messages of the GospelReligious News and Notes.
—Dr. Newman, of England, has at last been made a cardinal. —No Catholic church is permitted to substitute gas for candles. —In Africa there are 182,000 native members of Protestant churches. —It is said the Zulus have not the Bible complete translated into their language. —The Imperial Government in China has ordered the closing of the Buddhist nunneries. —Moy Jim Kee has opened a Christian mission house in Mott street, New York, for the Chinese. —Rev. Edward Palmer regularly fills the Presbyterian pulpit in Barnwell, S. C., and his age is 91 years. —Robert Laird Collier has accepted a call to the Unitarian church of Bradford, Yorkshire, England. —The oldest Presbyterian minister in the United States is in Vienna, Mich., Noah M. Wells, in his 97th year. —Forty Presbyterians voted, Yes, and sixty-four, No, on the overture for reduced representation in the General Assembly. —Major Whittle, the friend and co-laborer of P. P. Bliss, has been holding successful revival meetings in Syracuse, N. Y. —Prof. Dr. Patton, of Chicago, has received a call to the chair of Apologetical Theology in the Presbyterian College of London. —Rev. G. D. Turino of Italy is visiting the Presbyterian churches in the United States as representative of the Waldensian church of Italy. —The French clergy have been warned that they will be punished if they continue to indulge in attacks upon the Republic from the pulpit. —It now appears that John Wesley's first hymn book was printed in America. A copy has been found, dated 1737—earlier than that first printed in England. —The mania for “show” in the churches is thus hit in the Norristown Herald:—“It requires a new spring bonnet to develop the latent Christianity of a woman.” —The English Wesleyans are increasing their “Thanksgiving Fund” so that there is a prospect of putting all their denominational schemes in good financial condition. —Bishops Scott, Simpson, Foster, Bowman, Peck, Wylie, Merrill, Haven, and Andrews were in Wheeling, W. Va., May 18, attending the M. E. Bishops' semi-annual meeting. —The Baptist State Convention passed resolutions endorsing Dr. Graves of Tennessee, he having been challenged by the Disciples of California to a discussion of their differences. —A sheriff in Stephensville, Texas, with a posse of citizens, undertook to arrest a man at a prayer meeting, but was resisted with revolvers, and the “church militant” triumphed; the arrest was not made. —The school and mission work of the Friends among the Indians is carried on mostly among the children, the adults being too strongly attached to their old habits of life to be successfully reached. —The civil authorities of Prague, Austria, have directed that no more meetings be held by the Missionaries of the American Board, under penalties of fines and imprisonment. Very little encouragement for missionary work is found in Austria. —Dr. Shedd writes from Hamadan, Persia, that one of the oldest colonies of Jews in the world, in Hamadan, is agitated with the question, “Is not Jesus the Messiah?” The whole city is moved; four of the chief men have been baptized, and many others are confessing Christ. —Dr. Holland, in Scribner for May, favoring choirs in churches, says,—“The churches are full, as a rule, where the music is excellent. This fact may not be very flattering to the preachers, but it is a fact, and it is quite a legitimate question whether a church has a right to surrender any attraction that will give it a hold upon the attention of the world, especially if that attraction is an elevating one, and in the direct line of Christian influence.” —Good Words says of Japan: It would be hasty to leap to the conclusion that Japan will become rapidly Christianized. Christianity is a word of terror to nine-tenths of the people. A resident told me that an excellent servant he had from the country used to fly past the door like an arrow if the family knelt at prayer; they were weaving a charm, she thought, that would bewitch her; and a native gentleman mentioned, as if it had been almost beyond hope, that the people in the country were ceasing to speak of Christianity as witchcraft, and were expressing curiosity to learn what it was. Centuries of denunciation have inspired a terror that is slow to abate. Nor are the people a religious people. Their temples are poorly attended but their demeanor is little reverent; but they have a regard for their priest, and with the priest it is a question of life or death. Christianity finds the priesthood an implacable and by no means contemptible foe. The young men who have been in Christian countries seldom profess Christianity on their return, and some of them are distinctly hostile, and have adopted the negative criticism that they found in Europe. There is not much of what at first sight seems to favor the missionary that is really on his side. - Short costumes are coming in fashion for out-door wear.
- The business portion of Farmersville, La., was burned May 16.
- Russia is reported to be still making further demands on China.
- Germany has concluded a favorable treaty with the Island of Samoa.
- A French Coast Guard Cutter has captured six English fishing vessels.
- Henry J. Cross, city Treasurer of Salem, Mass., hanged himself May 16.
- Henry M. Stanley is in Africa, acting as interpreter to an exploring expedition.
- A heavy rain storm—"a regular southeaster"—visited California May 17, 18.
- Fires in Russia are "catching." Upwards of 80 houses were destroyed at Irlit May 17.
- The earthquake in Persia March 22 totally destroyed 21 villages and killed 922 persons.
- The Empress Augusta of Germany arrived at Windsor Castle on a visit to England, May 14.
- There is complaint that many peach trees in Napa Valley are affected with the curled leaf.
- In a menagerie in Pawlings, N. Y., a camel attacked and severely whipped a large elephant.
- A "new party" to run the Constitution of California has been organized, and Denis Kearney has been left out!
- The town of Halas, Hungary, has been inundated in consequence of continuous rains, and much damage is done.
- There is some prospect that England will have an Egyptian trouble on her hands, with her other little war matters.
- It is said that Queen Victoria has a "morbid dread" of assassination, to which sovereigns seem to be much subject of late.
- Potatoes in San Francisco county are affected with blight. Crops which one week look well, the next look as if the tops were burned.
- The President having vetoed two army bills, his political opponents have held several secret caucuses to determine what to do to accomplish their object.
- Gen. Frisbie, formerly of California, now in Mexico, says the Mexican mines are poorly worked, little machinery being used; the annual production is about $25,000,000.
- The depression in farmers' interests in England increases. Rents are being reduced yet with little prospect of relief. The immense supply of food from the United States causes a gloomy outlook for English producers.
- Gen. Howard, in a letter to the Governor of Oregon, complains that the murderers of Indians of the Umatilla Reservation go unpunished, the civil officers ignoring complaints. Gov. Thayer, in his reply, offers no hope of a remedy.
- The newspapers are inviting the United States Government to mediate between the belligerent South American Republics, which are just now doing great damage to each other in destroying improvements which are much needed.
- Prof. Dwight of Columbia College, in his address to the law graduates, said that the New Constitution of California is "a sort of Noah's ark, with all sorts of creeping things and slimy creatures, without any Noah to take charge."
- Correspondents represent society as being terribly demoralized in Russia. Nihilism, or communism, is rampant, and the lack of morality apparent everywhere, amounts even to public indecency. Is the colossus nearing its destruction?
- The Oldham, England, Chronicle says that salmon caught in the Tweed have been found diseased. Prof. Christian of Edinburgh says that attached to the fish appears to be an irritating fungus which eats into the flesh, causing them to rub their destruction on the gravel.
- The President of Tufts College offers the products of one hundred acres of land to the manager of the boarding club, if he will give the students board at $2.50 per week. We know of no institution which has successfully reduced board to a rate almost nominal in price equal to the College of Battle Creek, Mich.
- An enthusiast International Canal Congress has been held in Paris, to take steps toward the construction of a canal across the isthmus of Panama. There were delegates from all the great powers of the world. M. de Lesseps, originator of the Suez canal, was elected president.
- Wallace Wilkerson was sentenced by Judge Emerson in Salt Lake city, to be shot, having been found guilty of a murder committed in 1877. Judge Emerson's decision was affirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court of Utah, and by the Supreme Court of the United States, and the sentence was carried out at Provo city, May 16.
- George F. Maynard, city Auditor of San Francisco, committed suicide at the house of Mr. Gwin, his son-in-law in Amador county, May 16. There appears to be no doubt of his integrity, but he was exceedingly sensitive, and the unscrupulous charges of corruption by the "sand lot" orators caused a depression of mind leading to self destruction. This at present is given as the cause.
I HAD the privilege of listening to a very interesting discourse from M. Coon, a missionary to Persia. This man has spent the better part of his life laboring among the Nestorians and Mussulmans till gray-headed. He has now come ten thousand miles to arouse the cooling ardor of American Christians to the importance of missions to the heathen. The speaker mentioned a tradition which he declares prevails through all those countries where Mohammedanism is in the ascendancy, and which is universally believed by them. They say there are to be in the history of the world twelve Imaums, i. e., great teachers, before the great day of Judgment. Of these great personages eleven have already passed off the stage of action. To the memory of some of these, shrines have been erected, and multitudes of pilgrims throng thither with rapt devotion. Among these, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed figure conspicuously. Mohammedans believe Jesus was a true prophet and teacher, and that his religion, as first taught, was good and true; but they claim that it became corrupted, and Mohammed followed and taught the only true religion. But the lecturer stated that the twelfth Imaum, for whom all Mohammedans are looking, is Jesus Christ; and there is a general expectation among them that his coming is to be very soon. He stated that this expectation has had so much effect upon them that many look upon Christianity with far more favor than formerly, and that many small sects are springing up among them whose existence is more or less directly traceable to a belief in this tradition. I confess this was a startling thought to me. While the speaker, of course, drew the conclusion from it that there was to be a mighty movement through the 180,000,000 of Mohammedans toward the acceptance of Christ as the Saviour and the world's conversion, it looked to me as though God had, through his inscrutable providence, caused even the many millions of the followers of Arabia's false prophet to contemplate the return of Jesus our Lord. Who shall say that in the loud cry of the closing message rays of glorious light shall not reach these far-off missionary stations, and that these poor and oppressed disciples of Jesus, who have taken their lives in their hands to follow him, will not receive his last work; and that this tradition so widely disseminated and believed may not prepare the way for many honest souls? However this may be, it is most remarkable that at the very time the proclamation of Christ's soon coming is being made through all the nations of Christendom, a tradition to the same effect already exists among the 180,000,000 of Mohammedans. How the zeal of missionaries to these distant lands should excite us to emulation! With a truth so much clearer than their creeds, with a hope almost consummated, a message founded on the sure prophetic word, and so near fulfilled that it has become almost a matter of sight instead of faith, how ardently should we labor. Our pathway is strewn with roses compared with the thorny path of missionaries to the heathen. Why should these excel us in zeal? Oh, for more of the self-sacrificing spirit among ministry and people that characterize those who take their lives in their hands and go away from the earthly associations they love, to live and die for the salvation of the ignorant and degraded! Missionary fields exist all around us, where we may labor for God. The heart to labor is the great thing needed. May the Lord give it to us all. GEO. I. BUTLER. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. At the meeting in Oakland, May 11, Brother P. M. Partridge was designated as worker among the shipping in San Francisco Bay, to be assisted by Brother Chittenden as his other labors will admit. Bro. P. is at present in the “Rural Health Retreat,” near St. Helena. We hope he will be able to enter upon this labor in time to work among the fleet of English grain ships now on the way to this coast. WE have received from the publisher, H. L. Hastings, of Boston, a book on the subject of tobacco using. It consists mainly of the tracts of the late Mr. Trask, who was an earnest laborer for reform. And no reform is more needed than the tobacco reform. We have also received a pamphlet of 76 pages on the same subject, from the author, "Rev. Albert Sims," published by him at "432 King street East, Toronto, Ont." In his circular letter he says:— Send a small sum, and we will forward you a package of Anti-Tobacco Tracts, suitable for distribution among lovers of the weed. These Tracts show the evil effects of Tobacco in a variety of forms. Some of them especially will be found very useful to Temperance workers, for circulation in Temperance meetings. We will furnish 100 of these for 30 cents. We hope these publishers will have success, not only in scattering their publications, but in freeing many from the degrading slavery of the tobacco nuisance. Religion That Governs and Saves
A RELIGION which does not suffice to govern and control a man, will never suffice to save him. That which does not distinguish him from a wicked world, will never distinguish him from a perishing world. TRY IT.—If you speak the right word at the right moment; if you are careful to leave people with a good impression; if you do not trespass on the rights of others; if you always think of others as well as yourself; if you do not put yourself unduly forward; if you do not forget the courtesies which belong to your position, you are sure to accomplish much in life, which others, with equal abilities, fail to do. This is where the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. It is where you make people feel that you are unselfish and honorable, truthful and sincere. This is what society is looking for in men, and it is astonishing how much men are able to win for self-respect and usefulness who possess these qualities of good breeding. It is about the turning point of success in practical life.—Anon. IT is not until the flower has fallen off that the fruit begins to ripen. So in our life, it is when the romance is past that the practical usefulness begins. Walla Walla, W. T., June 4-10.
Salem, Oregon, June 25-July 1.
Southern California, August 13.
Northern “ “ 21.
Wisconsin, Madison, June 11-17. I EXPECT to be with the church in Pacheco next Sabbath, May 24, J. H. WAGGONER. OAKLAND—Services at the Seventh-day Adventist church, corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 10:30 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:30. Sabbath-school at 9:15 o'clock Sabbath morning. SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the Seventh-day Adventist church, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:30. The Hayes Valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central railroad, cross Laguna street near the church. Business Department.
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