In a recent address, Mr. Gough said: “We have no reason for searching the Bible to find permission to drink intoxicating beverages. All we need ask for from the Bible is permission to let the drink alone. Unless the Bible commands our using them, we ought not to think of touching strong drinks. Suppose a man asked you to take a lighted candle and go with him by night into a powder magazine, would you think of doing it? ‘But’ he might say, ‘there is no command in the Bible against your doing this thing if you want to.’ ‘That may be true,’ you would be likely to respond, ‘but unless I am commanded in the Bible to run such a needless risk, I will stay in a safer place than you propose to me.’ And you would be a great deal more sensible than the man who takes just a little wine daily because he finds no explicit command in the Bible against such a course.”
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, etc., etc.
Prices in Coin.
Cruden’s Complete Concordance. In this any passage in the Scriptures can readily be found. $2.00 per copy, post-paid.
Bible Dictionary of Bible names, customs and countries, and maps of Bible lands. $2.00 per copy, post-paid.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week, by J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1.25.
Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian of noble birth, who was a prisoner of the inquisition, officer in the army of Garibaldi, and extensive traveler in Africa and Syria. By Francesco Urgos. $1.25 per copy, post-paid.
Thoughts on Daniel. By U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. By U. Smith. $1.00.
Life of Wm. Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. By U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.
The Constitutional Amendment. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the “Christian Statesman.” Bound, $1.00. Paper, 40 cts. First part, 10 cts.
The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. By Ellen G. White; 416 pp. $1.00.
Hygienic Family Physician. $1.00.
The Game of Life (Illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In board, 50 cts.; in paper, 30 cts.
The United States in Prophecy. By U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 20 cts.
A Word for the Sabbath; or False Theories Exposed. (Poem.) By Uriah Smith. Muslin, 40 cts.
The Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts. Gilt, 40 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. By J. N. Andrews, 30 cts.
Testimony for the Church, No. 27., by Mrs. Ellen G. White. 30 cts.
Facts for the Times, revised and enlarged, 30c.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. By D. M. Canright, 25 cts.
The State of the Dead. By U. Smith. 224 pp. 25 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary and Saving Faith. 20 cts.
Refutation of the Age to Come. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Ministration of Angels; and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. By D. M. Canright. 20 cts.
The Bible from Heaven; a Dissertation. 20 cts.
The Atonement. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
Miraculous Powers. Evidences, Scriptural and historical, of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts. 20c.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. By J. N. Andrews, 15 cts.
A Refutation of Forty-four so called Objections against the Ancient Sabbath, by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. 88 pp., 15 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Morality of the Sabbath. By D. M. Canright. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust: a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Redemption, or the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness (Life of Christ, No. 2). By Mrs. E. G. White. 15 cts.
The Saints’ Inheritance, or the Earth made New. By J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
Dangers and Duties of Our Times. An Earnest Appeal from the General Conference Com. 10 cts.
The Conference Address. An earnest appeal to Seventh-day Adventists. 10 cts.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers, and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Truth Found: The Sabbath. By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts.
Sermon on the Two Covenants. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel: What it is, and when it will be consummated. By J. N. Loughborough, 80 pp. 10 cts.
Brown’s Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the True Sabbath. Morton. 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. By James White. 10c.
Prophetic Chart in Miniature, with explanations. 5 cts.
Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent.—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—The Present Truth—The Suffering of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost-Time Question—Argument on Sabbaton—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture References—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14—The Second Message of Rev. 14.
Two-cent Tracts: The Second Advent—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Sabbath by Elijah—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Markers of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—The Spirit of Prophecy.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Sign of the Day of God—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day, and God’s Answers.
* Address, Signs of the Times.
OAKLAND, CAL.
Business Department.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 Each. Mrs Jane Rowland 4-1, D Bowe 4-7, E H Mulligan 4-6, J W Pate 4-6, I D Van Horn 5-25, A T Jones 4-12, E A Stockton 4-1, J N Loughborough 4-1, W E Dawson 3-28, Edward Williams 4-7, Mary King 4-1, Elizabeth Lewis 4-8, M A Colby 4-1, E F Powers 4-1, Elbridge Green 4-1, L J Hall 4-6, Wm Humphries 4-6, Wm Shannon 4-7, Henry Clarke 4-6, C B Stockman 4-6, Alvin Miller 4-6, Wm Harding 4-6, Thomas Elprick 4-6, E A Wright 4-6, Charles Buck 4-1, Mary Wright 4-6.
$1.50 Each. Wm C Van Voorhees 4-7, James H Chittenden 4-6, B P Bruce 4-6, F H Lewis 4-6, E W Collins 4-6, W P Andrews 4-6, Ashley Sweet 4-6, Sarah Smith 4-6, James Buchanan 4-6, Mary E Powers 4-6, Nina La Dow 4-6, John Mc Cane 4-6, John Dally 4-6, Wm Mc Cane 4-6, B W Anderson 4-6, Mrs M H Hilderbrand 4-6, Sylvester Clark 4-6, Naiman P Nofstger 4-6, Mary Helmick 4-6, Mrs J H Peck 4-6, Jane Willis 4-6, Mrs Kate Drew 4-6, John M Lyne 4-6, David Henderson 4-6, Mrs H L Longey 4-6, The Library Association 4-6, Y M C Alliance 4-6, Thomas Litch 4-6, W A Zork 4-6, J W Steininer 4-6, Benjamin Pool 4-6, E W Hyde 4-6, N N Smith 4-6, Samuel Walker 4-1, Clara E Mapes 4-6, H L Leroy 4-6, Willie Osborn 4-6, Frederick Shiek 4-6, Nelson Cory 4-6, Stephen Hinkley 4-6, Peter Parker 4-6, Joseph Otis 4-1, E W Wheeler 4-1, James McKinstry 4-1, Cyrus Rayn 4-1, P M Coffin 4-6, Elijah Osborn 4-6, Mr J Earl 4-1, Marcus Kerns 4-6, Elihu Lindsley 4-6, E Edna M Hunston 4-6, Lawrence Hunt 4-6, C Huffman 4-6, Z W Whitney 4-6, O M McMillan 4-6, S L Brann 4-6, E E Brann 4-6, J W Brann 4-6, E C Lawrence 4-6, U B Turnure 4-6, H H Mann 4-6, Austin I Vilsen 4-6, James Thomas 4-6, H Raymond 4-6, A Tuttle 4-6, Geo Slater 4-6, O J Bungha 4-6, Olive Miller 4-6, Mattie Baird 4-6, A E Miller 4-6, Eliza Vine 4-6, Helen O Stagg 4-6, James D Hallock 4-6, Mary Hayden 4-6, Joseph Roberts 4-6, Joseph Varty 4-6, Vale P Thielman 4-6, Hugh Borkley 4-6, Lizzy Cummings 4-6, Geo M Bennett 3-36, Lewis Marian 4-6, John Marian 4-6, John Lunger 4-6, A E Westpert 4-6, Peter Haines 4-6, Hannah E Hopkins 4-1, Louis Waldman 4-6, James B Brinkerhoff 4-6, A H Colman 4-6.
Donations to the Signs.
A Papworth $20.00.
Cash Received on Account.
Cal T and M S. Dis No 9, $26.35; Cal T and M S Dis No 7, 3.65; Wis T and M S, 36.00; A O Burrill 15.75.
California Publishing Fund.
M G. ——— * $100.00.
Systematic Benevolence.
By James White
The Jews had a system of tithing to support the cause of God which bore upon the people in an equitable manner. It did not oppress the poor, nor burden the rich. It touched all, and burdened none.
God would have his people bear the burdens of the way in the Christian age in a manner to secure the same desired results. There was system then. There should be system now. There was equality then, according to every man's ability. There should be system now that shall require means, according to what a man hath, as well as then. The same God rules in the Christian age that reigned in the Jewish age. He is a God of order and equality.
What men give they should give willingly. God called for free-will offerings in the days of Moses and the Jews. He calls for free-will offerings of us Christian men. But a free-will offering does not imply absence of order. What is wanted in the Christian church is free-will, systematic giving under a sense of duty to support the cause of God.
Seventh-day Adventists have prospered and succeeded in sustaining the ministry wonderfully, under a system of benevolence, which, if carried out, would appropriate a sum equal to one per cent annually of all the property held by the members. While this touches the poor man very lightly, if at all, the rich would not feel it, only as it might vibrate on the chord of covetousness.
But the practical workings of this system up to the present year had to do with the support of the ministry only, and the raising of means for home and foreign missions, and other worthy objects, was left to the mercy of the old hap-hazard style which calls a stinted amount from the liberal, who are generally poor, until the subject was pretty thoroughly considered at the General Meeting at Battle Creek a few months since.
It was decided at that meeting, that system which would secure equality in raising funds for missionary work at home and abroad was as necessary as in raising means to support the ministry. The winter's work of the T. and M. Society was at hand. Means must be raised in some way to carry forward this work. The manner of raising means by individual subscription, especially in these hard times, was proving a failure. The Conference decided to put into operation the plan of equality, and to meet the urgent, immediate want of means to carry on the T. and M. work, recommended that one-third be added to the S. B. of all our churches, to be used by the T. and M. Society in the distribution of our periodicals and publications.
The general management of this work should be left to the General Conference Committee, who will labor to do their work well and without confusion. We are pleased with Elder Haskell's article on this subject in the Review for Feb. 8, 1877. The explanations of C. W. S. in the same paper tend to confuse the workers. The strength of the T. and M. movement lies in unity among managers and workers. Very minute explanations in our prints, and too many managers will produce confusion. The members of the General Conference Committee will set forth general plans in our prints. And if more definite explanations are wanted, presidents and directors of the T. and M. Societies will please address either Elder S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., Elder D. M. Canright, Rome, N. Y., or Elder James White, Oakland, Cal. J. W.
North Pacific Mission.
By James White
We receive good news from Elder Van Horn of the North Pacific Mission with great pleasure. He builds slowly and surely. He is not one of those fitful men who build rapidly, and then tear down a part, at least, of their work. We congratulate Elder Van Horn on the returning health of his family.
Elder Van Horn found his good wife at the house of the writer in Michigan, where she had been a member of our family five years. Afterwards, she ably and faithfully served our Michigan Publishing Association as secretary for several years, and did more to lift it from financial embarrassment than any other person. She then broke in health, and came to this coast with faint hopes of recovery. For three years, the case has been balancing, but the scales are turning favorably. If she can be spared from the mission, her services will be greatly prized to take charge of the books at this Office, where her work will be comparatively light.
The cause is onward in the North Pacific missionary field. We are in receipt of letters from men of mind in Oregon and Washington which we would gladly give in the SIGNS, if they had been written for the public. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a power in that field, as it is wherever circulated. The friends in that field should take and circulate one thousand copies of the SIGNS. They should encourage the proper men to preach the message. There should be not less than ten men preaching the word and circulating our publications in the North Pacific Mission where now there are but two or three. J. W.
The Biblical Institute.
In council with Elders Loughborough and Waggoner we have decided that the course of Biblical Lectures which have been suggested in the SIGNS should be held at Oakland, Cal., and commence March 22, at 2 P. M. The course will probably hold until the 8th of April.
Eola, Polk County, Oregon.
By I. D. Van Horn
The third Sabbath and Sunday in January we had an excellent meeting at Eola. We organized a church of eight members. Some good souls have been brought into the truth here through the labors of Bro. Jones. He is now at work at Jefferson, a little village about twelve miles from Salem. He reports a good interest, and some keeping the Sabbath. Last Sabbath he held his first Sabbath meeting in Jefferson. Twenty-six were present.
I am now holding a protracted meeting in South Salem, with a good attendance and a good interest. We hope to add some to the church by this effort.
We shall try to push the work as fast, and as far, as we can the coming season.
I. D. VAN HORN.
Salem, Oregon, Feb. 2.
P. S. We are having a very fine winter for Oregon. There is but little rain, but little freezing weather, no snow so far, and a good deal of sunshine. I. D. V. H.
Our Books in Foreign Countries.
In a private letter to Eld. S. N. Haskell, Bro M. Wood of Boston writes as follows:—
“Last week we placed reading matter on several large ships bound for Calcutta, Honolulu, Spain and Mexico. In fact, we sent to nine different nations. The captain of one vessel cheerfully volunteered to place our bound books in the public library at Bombay. Thus our papers and tracts are finding their way to every conceivable place where vessels go from Boston Harbor.”
A Universalist Text, Is It?
By Dudley Marvin Canright
I HAVE often heard the Universalists quote this text and claim it as a very triumphant argument on their side: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever.” Ps. 136:1.
“There,” say they, “don’t you see that the mercy of the Lord endureth forever?” Now if God’s mercy endureth forever, then the time never will come that there will not be mercy for the sinner. But, unfortunately for our Universalist friend, this text is squarely against him; for the very reason given in the text itself. Why God’s mercy endureth forever, is because God punishes the wicked and destroys the enemies of the Lord. Let us read a little further, and notice that every verse of this chapter closes with this declaration, “For his mercy endureth forever.” Now look the same through, and notice the tenth verse. “To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; for his mercy endureth forever.” But why does the Psalmist say, “His mercy endureth forever”? The reason is given, “Who smote Egypt in their first-born.”
“But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever.” Verse 15.
“To him which smote great kings; for his mercy endureth forever; and slew famous kings; for his mercy endureth forever; Sihon king of the Amorites; for his mercy endureth forever.” Verses 17-19.
Thus it will be seen that every time the Psalmist says the Lord’s mercy endureth forever, he quotes some act of God where he overthrew the wicked and destroyed the enemies of the Lord. That is the way his mercy endures forever. The simple truth is that his mercy lasts forever towards the righteous, towards his servants, but not toward the wicked.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Heart, Home, Hope, Happiness, and Heaven
Five of the sweetest words in the English language begin with h,—heart, home, hope, happiness, and Heaven. Heart is a hope-place, and home is a heart-place, and that man sadly mistaketh who would exchange the happiness of home for any thing less than Heaven.
Appointments.
OAKLAND—Services at the new church, on the corner of Clay and Thirteenth 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 o'clock Sabbath morning.
SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the house of worship, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and First-day 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 R. R. cross Laguna street near the church.
State Quarterly Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
The second Cal. State Quarterly Meeting for this fiscal year will be held at Oakland, March 31, and April 1 and 2. We hope to see a full attendance both of directors and members.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Quarterly Meetings in California.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE quarterly meetings in the respective missionary districts of California, for the present quarter, will be held as follows:
DISTRICT No. 1, at Santa Rosa, March 3 and 4.
DISTRICT No. 2, at Fairview, March 17 and 18.
DISTRICT No. 3, at Napa, March 10 and 11.
DISTRICT No. 4, at San Pasqual, March 17 and 18.
DISTRICT No. 5, at Woodland, March 17 and 18.
DISTRICT No. 6, at Lane's Ranch, Tehama Co., as Bro. Disher may arrange, March 17 and 18.
DISTRICT No. 7, at Oakland, March 24 and 25.
DISTRICT No. 8, at San Jose, March 10 and 11.
DISTRICT No. 9, at San Francisco, Feb. 24 and 25. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.