p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 8. (2/20/1896)

ANGELS, Their Nature and Ministry.

Revised by the late J.H. Waggoner. In two parts. Part Two considers some hints on the Origin, History and Destiny of Satan, as gleaned from the Scriptures. Bible Students' Library No. 83. 140 pages. Paper covers. Price, 20 cents.

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The Testimony of History to the Truth of Scripture.

By Rev. George Rawlinson, M.A., author of “Seven Great Monarchies.” This is a pamphlet of 240 pages, takes up the most recent archæological discoveries, and shows how thoroughly they agree with the Bible record. “The religion of the Bible, unlike almost all other religions, has its roots in the region of facts,” are his opening words in this valuable work, and the whole book is just as forcible and to the point as this opening sentence. We say again, it is a valuable aid to those who wish to briefly study the subject. Price, paper cover, 35 cents.

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SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.

A study of the book of Daniel.

A concise study of this important prophetic portion of the Bible. Fully illustrated. Paper covers. 96 pages.

Bible Students' Library No. 131. Price, 10 cents.

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NEWS AND NOTES

By Editor

FOREIGN.

—Advices from Brisbane, Australia, state that forty lives were lost on the 13th inst. by the capsizing of a ferry boat on Brisbane River.

—A despatch from Peking says that Li Hung Chang and Shas Yu Lien have been appointed delegates to represent the emperor of China at the coronation of Nicholas II. of Russia at Moscow.

—A fire in Guayaquil, Ecuador, February 12, caused $4,000,000 damages. Nearly one hundred and fifty buildings were burned, among them many fine public buildings, and President Alfaro was obliged to take refuge from the flames on a steamship in the harbor.

—A report has been received that Dr. Nansen, the Arctic explorer, has discovered the North Pole, and is now returning. The news has caused considerable talk, but is variously affirmed and denied. If it proves true, Andre's balloon trip will command only secondary interest.

—A report has found its way from Madagascar that an uprising of the Hovas has recently occurred against the French, and that several thousand natives were killed. It is no light affair, it seems, to hold a nation in subjection, even after it has been whipped in the fight.

—The government officials of Montreal have seized a large illicit whisky still that has been operated by the Trappist monks of the monastery of Oka. Since the seizure, the monks have approached the Inland Revenue Office with offers to pay the fines, but have been referred to the Ottawa Government.

—The U. S. cruiser Olympia has been showing off before the Japanese. In a recent run from Yokohama to Kobe, the vessel, running before a storm, made twenty-one knots an hour for several hours. It is currently reported that the trip was made to offset a recent run by a British war vessel in Japanese waters, when something like nineteen knots were made. Japan is preparing to place an order for war ships, and these exhibitions may tell one way or the other in the placing of the order.

—Perhaps the most distinct item of news this week concerning affairs in Turkey is the defeat of Turkish troops at Zeitoun, with a loss of several thousand men. The usual reports of outrages continue to come by the way of private letters from Armenians and foreign missionaries to friends in this country. The latest move in this country is the petition of the sixty-two bishops of the Episcopal Church to President Cleveland, as well as to the archbishop of Canterbury, and to the czar, president of France, and the emperors of Germany and Austria, to take some forcible action in reference to the massacres of Christians in Armenia.

—It is said that the king of Korea has issued a proclamation, and himself set the example, that all his subjects must henceforth cut off their queues, and dress their hair as do western nations. As a result, many ministers have resigned, and retired to the country, where consternation reigns, and opposition is manifested. We can not blame the people for wishing to evade such foolish and unjust laws. The people have a natural right to dress as they please. As well might the king pass a law requiring his subjects to receive a mark in their foreheads or right hands, to cease the use of rikshas on Tuesdays, or prohibit all work on the day dedicated to the sun. But then similar actions have been taken by “Christian” nations.

—The principal item of interest in England at present is the relations of that government with the Transvaal. A week ago it was announced that President Krueger would visit England, and the latest report is that he will do so. But this move was at one time in doubt, as exceptions were taken by that gentleman to the publication in England of Mr. Chamberlain's proposals to the South African Republic before they were submitted to him. The investigation of Jameson's raid, with the attendant circumstances, has not yet taken place, but it is hinted strongly that the whole move was instigated by financiers, some say outside and some inside the Chartered South African Company, of which Cecil Rhodes was head. Rhodes, however, is out of power, has made a visit to England and returned. All magisterial, military, and constabulary power has also been removed from his company. Mr. Chamberlain's proposals to the Transvaal embody reforms in that government, looking to a betterment of the condition of the Uitlanders. From statements made by President Krueger, some action of this kind may be looked for, although British interference, if it assumes that form, is bitterly resented, the South African Republic refusing absolutely to be regarded as a dependency of England. It is also stated that President Krueger stipulated as one condition of his visit that the proceedings of the convention of 1884 be reopened for discussion. The president of the South African Republic is reputed to be a most astute diplomat, and his visit to England, if it takes place, will doubtless be of interest to the world, backed up as he seems to be by Germany.

—Again a disquieting rumor comes from the Orient, with Korea as the usual central bone of contention. A recent despatch reports the landing of several hundred Russian troops at Chemulpo, ostensibly to protect the Russian legation. This move is induced by reported riots in Korea, the latest of which is said to have resulted in the death of the premier and seven officials at Seoul. It is well known that Russia is closely watching the movements of Japan, and it is generally believed that sooner or later she will occupy Korea, at least to the extent of providing herself a seaport in that peninsula. While Russia promised China in 1886, through the direction of the latter by England, not to occupy Korea, yet ten years have changed relations considerably, and in view of Russia's relations with China during and since the late war, a move by that power to establish herself in the Far East in open waters may be looked for at any time.

—The case of Waller, U. S. Ex-Consul to Madagascar, now in jail in France, is nearing its settlement, as far as the United States Government is concerned. The papers of the trial before the French military court, where Waller was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment, have been examined by the Secretary of State and President, and Mr. Olney has reported that there is abundant evidence of Waller's guilt. Nevertheless, because of the demand of the United States for his release, the French Government has offered to pardon him and release him from further imprisonment, providing that the affair be terminated as between France and this country. Ambassador Eustis has been instructed to accept the offer. Waller, however, may institute personal proceedings against the French courts if he chooses. In the meantime the United States Government has paid out over thirteen hundred dollars in providing for Waller's family, who were in destitute circumstances.

—The wonderful discovery of Professor Roentgen, by means of which objects are photographed through opaque bodies, and which has been so widely heralded to the world in the past few weeks, is now followed by still more startling revelations in the same line. Professor Salvioni, an Italian, is now perfecting a device whereby the human eye is enabled to see through these bodies without the aid of the camera. Then comes Dr. Simon, of New York, who has succeeded in photographing his own brain. This will mean that the lungs, liver, heart, stomach, and other organs will be photographed, and diseases and ills that attack them located. Professor Roentgen had succeeded only in representing coins through softer substances, or the bones through the flesh. Already a practical test of the method has been made by Chicago experimenters, who successfully located and removed a shot from a person's hand. These later developments are a decided advance, and the limit is probably by no means reached.

—The Cuban war seems to be assuming more definite proportions, both the Spanish and Cuban forces being better organized, and plans better laid. Since the arrival of General Weyler the press censorship has been largely removed, correspondents being allowed to send their despatches upon furnishing a copy of same to the war office. However, criticisms of the Spanish rule, and reports intended to aid the Cuban cause, are not permitted. The city of Managua has been occupied by the Cubans, and a letter received at Cuban headquarters in New York states that in an attack on Bayamo the insurgents used dynamite, killing over three hundred Spanish troops. The letter also announces the arrival of a steamer with 1,000 rifles, 1,000,000 cartridges, 500 machetes, and two small field pieces, besides smaller arms. Another filibustering steamer is reported to have sailed from Wilmington, N. C. General Weyler's plan is to thoroughly organize the troops before making any decided moves, and he has also called for native volunteers. Several thousand have responded, but in the battle at Managua, referred to above, the volunteer garrison is said to have joined the insurgents as soon as the latter made their way into the city.

DOMESTIC.

—During recent heavy storms on the New England coast, three large schooners went to pieces, causing the drowning of eleven sailors.

—Edward F. Uhl, of Michigan, has been appointed to the position of U. S. Ambassador at Berlin, the place recently made vacant by the death of Theodore Runyon.

—The Senate Free Coinage bill, advocating the free coinage of silver at 16 to 1, passed by that body as a substitute to the House Bond bill, has met its death blow in the House of Representatives, the vote being 190 to 80 against the measure. Had it even passed this body, it was certain to have been vetoed by the President, whose predilections in favor of gold are well known.

—An ice dam which formed above Niagara Falls on February 13, caused the river for the first time in half a century to run nearly dry on the American side.

—The report from Maine shows a depressing condition of certain kinds of business, on account of the lack of snow. There are 50,000,000 feet of logs in the Penobscot lumbering district which can not be moved because of the absence of snow, and fully as much more in other districts, as well as 50,000 cords of hemlock bark for tanning, and all the lumber and milling industries are suffering severely. The unique experience of putting wheels on sleds has been tried in some districts. Every previous winter when ice has been cut it has been hauled to the houses on sleds. This year there is no snow, and the ice has been cut and wheeled away. The farmers say now that the absence of the warm blanket of snow means short crops next year.

—In October, 1894, a train robbery occurred near Sacramento, this state, and the robbers secured $50,000 from Wells, Fargo & Co.'s safe. At a subsequent robbery, one bandit was killed, and later his comrade, the notorious Jack Brady, was captured. He told where the money secured on the former occasion was buried, and officers found $18,000. It now develops that the money was found by a tramp at the time of the robbery, who got away with $32,000, and has since that time lived and spent money like a millionaire, most of the time in San Francisco. His name was Harms. But he has been found out and confesses the whole matter. As a result, the Express Company will probably be able to secure about $8,000 of the amount taken by the tramp.

—The Washington correspondent of the Christian Advocate says: “It will surprise many readers of the Christian Advocate to learn that, according to the present law in the District of Columbia, all occupations may be pursued on Sundays as during the week, except those of barbers and barkeepers.” Attention is then called to a bill now before Congress asking for a general Sunday law for that district, and urging those who love righteousness to help the matter on through their representatives. The cause for surprise should rather be why barbers and barkeepers should be so prohibited on Sunday, and, too, why a law is sought to prevent every one else from following his regular vocation upon that day if he so desires. Congress is forbidden by the Constitution to make any laws concerning religion, and it is certain that these laws now sought for through Congress are nothing else but religious laws, in favor of a religious day. It would be well for those who love righteousness to consider well whether aid in such direction will be in accord with the Golden Rule, or if it will not rather be subversive of liberty of conscience; for such laws are sure first to work wrong to some who can not conscientiously observe the Sunday, and, second, may react upon the heads of their promulgators, should such ever experience a change of belief, and desire to observe another day, the seventh day of the Lord's commandment, the Mohammedan sixth day, or any other day of the week. It will be well to think, we say, before helping along any such move.

THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE

Or Civil Government and Religion

BY ALONZO T. JONES

An Up-to-Date Pamphlet on the Principles of Religious Liberty.

This book can not fail to be of great value to all in the study of the series of S. S. Lessons on Religious Liberty for the last three months of 1895. It was not written to go with these lessons, but it is fortunate and timely that it should be published at this time.

“THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE” contains fifteen chapters, the following being a portion of the chapter headings:— Christianity and the Roman Empire—What Is Due to God and What to Cæsar—The Powers That Be—How the United States Became a Nation—What Is the Nation?—Who Made the Nation?—Religious Right in the United States—Religious Rights Invaded—The People’s Right of Appeal—National Precedent on Right of Appeal—Sunday-law Movement in the Fourth Century and Its Parallel in the Nineteenth—Will the People Assert and Maintain Their Rights?—Religious Rights in the States.

In the four appendixes to the book are given the Declaration of Independence—The Constitution of the United States—The Dred Scott Decision, and the “Christian Nation” Decision.

This is a book of permanent value for reference and study, and one that all should possess. It contains 384 pages, with several illustrations, is issued as No. 32 of the Religious Liberty Library, and is bound in paper covers. Price 40 Cents.

A FINER EDITION on laid paper is also ready. It is neatly bound in cloth. Price One Dollar.

Address orders to

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43 Bond Street, New York City.

THREE MESSAGES OF REVELATION XIV.

This is a pamphlet of 140 pages, giving in a brief and concise manner the character and importance of the warning messages now going to the world. Price, 15c.

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Lincoln and Washington

For the past week, yes, and two or three years, much has been said of Abraham Lincoln, the “martyred President,” and of Washington, “the father of his country.” They are noble characters, and it seems almost a remarkable coincidence that the shortest month, February, should be the little period in the zodiacal circle which should contain the birthdays of two such illustrious men—Lincoln, February 12, Washington, February 22. They were men who lived above the fog of superstition, bigotry, and tyranny. They deserve honor of their country. Illinois, and now New York, we believe, have made Lincoln’s birthday a legal holiday, even as most states have made Washington’s birthday. But it is a sad fact that as these men are honored more and more outwardly, the principles for which they risked reputation and life are more and more trampled underfoot. So it has ever been; men build sepulchers to the prophets whom their fathers stoned, and themselves stone the prophets’ successors. The Jews of Christ’s day honored Moses outwardly and in word, but they crucified Him whose Spirit spoke through Moses and of whom Moses wrote. Washington and Lincoln are honored now in word by the very ones who are crushing the principles of liberty which made these heroes what they were. See Matt. 23: 29-31; John 5: 45-47.

Government Funds for Denominational Indian Schools.

It is worth noting again that in the strife between Roman Catholics and Protestants for government funds for Indian schools under denominational control, the Catholics are left almost sole masters of the field. For instance, during the years 1886 to 1896 inclusive we give the following appropriations to all schools outside of regular government schools, and the amount to Roman Catholics. The difference between the total to all schools and the amount to Roman Catholics will show what Protestant churches and some undenominational institutions have received:—

In 1886, total amount to all private schools, denominational and undenominational, $228,259, of which Roman Catholics received $118,343; 1887, total $363,214, Catholics $194,635; 1888, total amount $376,264, Catholics $221,169; 1889, total $529,905, Catholics $347,672; 1890, total $562,640, Catholics $356,957; 1891, total $570,218, Catholics $363,349; 1892, total $611,570, Catholics $394,756; 1893, total $533,241, Catholics $375,845; 1894, total $537,600, Catholics $389,745; 1895, total $463,505, Catholics $359,215; 1896, total $370,796, Catholics $308,471. The total amount thus appropriated during the eleven years for all private schools, most of which are or were under denominational control, is $5,147,212, of which Roman Catholics received $3,430,157, or more than three-fifths of the total. The undenominational institutions and all the Protestant denominations combined have been no match for Rome in politics over school appropriations. What will the outcome be when we come to the final test?

Sunday Measures Before Three State Legislatures

The Legislatures in three states are now in session, and all of them have Sunday measures before them in some shape.

Talk of Another Parliament of Religions

THERE is more or less talk of another Parliament of Religions. Some are opposed to it, more notably the conservative Protestant journals. Roman Catholics seem to favor it, and it is conceded in some circles that as the Vatican says, so will it go. But in case there is one, Rome expects to manage it. She did the last one, in fact.

Our Next Symposium.

By Editor

Our next symposium, or one-subject, number would naturally come next week. But it has been thought best to postpone it a month. The subject is important, the relations of church and state, and our contributions are not yet in. The postponement will give the writers more time, and will make the paper better. In the meantime we purpose to furnish just as good numbers of a diversified nature as our symposium numbers.

Good Words.

By Editor

We receive continually from various parts of the field, from persons of different religious affiliations, words of appreciation for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Some of these we publish from time to time for the encouragement of those who are assisting us in this work. To us it is not egotistical so to do, nor will it seem such to those who pause to consider that the work is God’s, the truth is his, and from him come all the light and ability and power and merit of any kind which the SIGNS OF THE TIMES possesses; and to God, through our colaborers and contributors, be all the glory. We are thankful for all the good words; we take courage even in the words of execration and bitterness which sometimes reach us. We pray earnestly that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES may ever grow better, as indeed it ought, and to this end we earnestly ask the prayers of our readers and friends, and their aid in giving it a still larger circulation.

To Our Correspondents.

By Editor

—We have many correspondents. Many questions are asked to be answered through the Signs. Many must be answered by letter. Many other letters must also be written. Besides this, the editor’s whole time may be profitably filled with other work. But we wish to help our friends and readers all that we possibly can; yet we are forced many times to neglect correspondence for what seems more important work. However, our correspondents may help us in these things. Let us ask them to: (1) Be patient at our often long delay. We will answer every letter which seems to demand an answer, and as soon as we can. (2) Be sure to give post office directions clearly, post office, county, and state if a village, if the place be small; number and street if a town or city, or if preferred in either case, number of post office box. If the post office from which you write is not your permanent address, please give your permanent or future address. (3) In asking questions let them be as brief as possible and to the point. Do not ask an explanation, as some have, of the last eleven chapters of Ezekiel, the third chapter of Galatians, or a half dozen other Scripture texts, on which a volume might be written. Such questions must of necessity wait a long time or go unanswered. (4) In asking an explanation of a text please state the special point in your mind. Sometimes a text is very broad, and we are not mind-readers. (5) In sending a contribution to the paper do not paste the sheets together in one continuous strip. That is the worst way possible. Do not write on close-lined or very thin paper. Some not-too-well prepared manuscript has come to us typewritten on tissue paper. Do not run the lines close together. This makes it difficult to interline corrections. Write plainly on any good paper, on one side of the sheet only, with lines not too close together, properly paged at the top, and fold them in the ordinary way, as the size of your envelope demands. (6) The Subscription, Book, Manufacturing, and Editorial departments of the office are separate. Please do not mix business. You need not pay extra postage, but place each on a separate slip of paper, with post office, state, date, and name of writer on each. If all our correspondents will heed these suggestions (some already do), it will greatly assist both us and them. (The proof-reader says, “Write in ink.”)

A Wicked Thing.

By Editor

A reprinter of one of the English competitors of the Standard Dictionary, published by Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York, has perpetrated a wicked wrong against that most excellent work. It is generally known that an unabridged dictionary must place in its vocabulary and define certain words which would be considered indelicate in common conversation. These words were reduced to the minimum number in the Standard, yet eighteen such words, all doubtless that could be found, have been collated, printed with their definition, and circulated among teachers, school trustees, and parents throughout the country, to prejudice minds against the Standard. The attempt is wicked, and reveals the last resort of a low rival. For all that a convenient dictionary ought to be in all things, in our humble opinion the Standard has no equal. A man or woman who should attempt to palm off upon the public such a circular would be an enemy to youth and children. If such a thing should come to our readers, we hope it may be treated as it deserves.

Heir of the World

“Heir of the World.”—In Rom. 4:13 it is taken for granted that God had promised that Abraham “should be the heir of the world,” but it is asked, Where is it promised? It might be replied that it is promised in the land of Canaan, which is typical of the whole earth. Compare Gen. 13:14–16; 17:8; Ps. 72:8. A seed so numerous must occupy the whole earth for its inheritance. But, further, in Gen. 22:17 we read that Abraham’s “seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” His seed is, primarily, Christ. All that are not for, and therefore, of Christ are against him. If he then possesses the gate, the power, the dominion, of his enemies, he will rule over all the earth, now cursed by sin and ruled by the wicked. Gen. 22:17 is therefore a promise that Abraham in his seed should be the heir of the entire world. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Is It Not a Mistake?

—The editor of an esteemed contemporary, in speaking of hard Sabbath school lessons and how to study them, gives in the midst of his good advice the following wonderful counsel:—

“Read all the books you can find that treat on the subject. After receiving the thoughts of others, take your Bible and ascertain how many of these thoughts you can find in the Scriptures.”

It must be that by some hocus-pocus of type-setting a mistake has been made in expressing the writer’s thoughts. In the lesson printed in the paper containing the above advice it would not be difficult to find a year’s solid reading on the subject. Query: When would the student get to the Bible? And why would it not be best to learn what the Bible said first, and then, if there should be time, consult other works, not to receive many thoughts, but to confirm good ones?