Earlier text: Dedication of the School Buildings at South Lancaster, MassHISTORY OF THE WALDENSES.
By J. A. Wylie
ILLUSTRATED BY TWENTY FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS. This work describes the conflicts waged by the Waldenses, and the martyrdoms they endured in defense of their faith and their liberty. Recent events have brought the Waldenses to notice, and thrown a new light upon the grandeur of their struggle and the important issues which have flowed from it. To them are we to trace the Constitutional liberties that Italy now enjoys. In their mountain fastnesses they maintained the faith of the early Christians, and by their untiring missionary labors this faith was diffused to all the nations of Europe, thus preparing the way for the great Reformation. 212 pp. Price, 90 cts. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THIS volume contains the earliest writings of Mrs. White, first printed in 1851. It contains an account of her early religious experience, and a brief account of the wonderful dealings of God with her. Apart from its intrinsic value, it will be of interest as showing the harmony between the earliest writings of the Seventh-day Adventists and those published at a later date. Its publication is very timely. In paper covers, with Supplement, 25 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. College Health Improves with Each Year
PRESIDENT SEELYE says that, by close statistics, carefully kept for twenty years, it appears that the health of an Amherst College student is likely to grow better in each year of his college course; that the average health of the sophomore class is better than that of the freshman, and of the junior better than that of the sophomore, and of the senior best of all. This average is shown to come from an improvement in the physical condition of the individual student, and not from a dropping out of the course of those who might be too weak to complete it. -The total membership of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is 405,000. -President Northrop, of Minnesota, thinks that the church has made a general movement in the direction of modified Universalism. -The Moravians of Bethlehem, Pa., have decided that the Esquimaux of Alaska present greater obstacles to conversion than any other people. -The pastor of the Methodist Church in Schwartzenpach, Saxony, and some of his people, were recently fined 160 marks for meeting to sing on a Sunday at the hour of service in the State church. -The S. F. Post some days ago contained the following announcement: "'Rev.' Mr. Miln, the tragedian, opens at the Grand Opera House on the 10th." There is nothing that sticks to a man like a title. -The rector of a certain London parish has not been seen within the limits of the parish within seven years. His income from the parish is $5,325 a year, while his duties are delegated to a curate at a salary of $700 a year. -At the meeting of the Church Congress at Carlisle, Dr. Lightfoot, Bishop of Durham, said that the so-called "Teaching of the Apostles" "is to be accepted as the private venture of some one who desired to set forth his views on moral conduct and church order, believing them to represent the mind of the apostles." -The Christian at Work says: "The cry is for open Protestant churches, six days in the week. When Protestantism holds that private prayers in a church building are more efficacious than prayers at home, we will speak to the sexton and have the doors kept open." In addition, it suggests that those who are so anxious to have the church kept open to pray in, look after the family altar. -The Christian at Work asks, "Was all wisdom interred with King Solomon in his sepulcher 3,842 years ago?" Well, now, we would like to hear its answer to its own question. Our answer would be that all the wisdom which Solomon communicated to others survived him, but that his own wisdom perished when his thoughts perished. More than that, Solomon's great-grandfather wasn't born 3,842 years ago. -The Congregationalist, commenting on the loose manner in which Sunday is observed by professed Christians, says: "The superintendent of a Sunday-school in a thriving village, and a devout leader in the prayer-meetings of the church, is the proprietor of a provision store. He opens his store on Sundays as on other days, and, when business is brisk, he takes his young clerk from the Bible-class to drive the meat wagon." -An Eastern college president says that he was recently conversing with a "conscientious" Episcopalian, a communicant, and a regular attendant at church, who was not aware of the existence of the Thirty-nine Articles, a copy of which was, of course, in his own prayer-book. This is a fair sample of the amount of knowledge that the majority of people possess concerning their own church. The number of people who belong to a church because of an intelligent belief of its doctrines, is very small. -A correspondent of an Episcopalian paper is shocked at the "irreverence" of speaking of the apostles as simply "Paul," "John," etc., prefixing no title. But why put handles to the names of the apostles any more than to those of the patriarchs, like Abraham and Adam, who were even more venerable? And would profounder respect be shown by saying Professor Socrates, General Cæsar, etc? Is it unduly "familiar" to speak of "Charlemagne," "Washington," etc., without using any title?*—Independent. -The Indian Witness says that the purely native Roman Catholics of India are "not better than the heathen around them," and adds: "The rich are like the rich Hindus, and the poor are like the poor Hindus. Their religion is gross superstition and idolatry. Christianity has not added a spark to their intelligence or respectability. They are closely on a par with Hindus of the corresponding classes in education; and we never heard of any collector or commissioner remarking upon the paucity of crimes among them." This is just the state of things in other countries, where Catholicism bears away; and yet there are people so deluded as to call it a branch of the Christian church. -At the Episcopal Church Congress at Detroit, there was a strong plea by many ministers for the establishment of the confessional. The Rev. Edward Osborne, of Boston, said that to him it was not a matter of consultation and advice; it was confession of individual sins, and absolution by the priest. He said that he knew by experience the value of the confessional. One reason urged for introducing it, was that nine out of ten who had left the church for Romanism, had gone because of a longing for the confessional. The theory seems to be that people must be kept from joining the Roman Catholic Church by giving them everything that that church offers. It is much like the man who set up a bar in his own house, so that his boys might not acquire the habit of going to the saloons. —Mr. Fawcett, Postmaster-General of England, died on the 6th inst. —One-fourth of all the Government expenditures of Iceland is devoted to education. —During the last ten years Italy has expended $100,000,000 on monster war vessels. —The drink bill of Tennessee is said to be $2,000,000 more than the value of her wheat crop. —Foreign syndicates and capitalists own nearly 30,000 square miles of territory in this country. —The Argentine Government has suspended the bishop of Salta for issuing a curiously worded pastoral. —The entire business portion of Napoleonville, La., was destroyed by fire, Nov. 7. A prominent citizen perished in the flames. —During October British imports decreased, as compared with October of last year, £4,737,000. The exports decreased £725,000. —The principal part of the mining village of Silver Plume, Col., was destroyed by fire, on the morning of the 6th. Several lives were lost. —By the explosion of a dynamite mill near Robesonia, Pa., Nov. 6, three men were blown to atoms and a neighboring building badly shaken. —During a religious riot of Arabs at Haiderabad, India, on the 1st inst., eleven policemen were killed, and many wounded. Many houses were plundered. —In Germany a man dare not cut down the trees on his own land without consent of the proper authorities, so zealous is the Government in preserving the forests. —The Georgetown and Placerville (Cal.) stage was stopped by a highwayman on the 5th, and a large quantity of gold-dust was taken from the driver, who had it in charge. —The latest reports from Egypt are that Gordon's entire force, having been forced out of Khartoum, has been captured, and that he himself is now a close prisoner in the Mahdi's camp. —A San Antonio dispatch says: "Thirteen thousand car loads of wheat from California to Liverpool are passing over the Sunset road. It will take from now until June to finish the shipment. —President Solomon, of Hayti, on the fifth anniversary of his taking the presidential chair, the 23d ult., granted full and complete amnesty to all political offenders in the country, as well as all exiles. —The earnings of the Union Pacific Railway for the past nine months were $18,370,000, a decrease of $2,449,235 from the same period of last year. The surplus earnings were $7,832,839, a decrease of $2,823,586. —It is stated that on the Saturday night preceding the election, there was debauchery everywhere in New York City, and that more drunken men could have been counted in one hour than in any week previous. —A storm of wind and snow, the severest ever known, raged on the coast of Quebec, Nov. 4-6. There was a high tide, the waves running to the height of sixty feet, which inundated the coast, destroying property to the value of a quarter of a million dollars. —The director of the mint has prepared a statement in regard to the present money circulation in thirty-nine countries of the world as compared with the circulation as reported a year ago, which shows a decrease in the gold circulation of about $52,000,000, an increase in the silver circulation of $42,000,000 and an increase in paper circulation of $112,000,000. He attributes the loss in gold circulation to a reduced production and to the increased use of that metal in ornamentation and the arts.687 —Floods at Alicante, Spain, destroyed the Faubourg Caradie, and a rock thrown down by an avalanche battered down the old stone walls of the town of Caroajente, near the river. Jucare and Alciria, on an island in the river Jucare, all in the province of Valencia, have been submerged. Great damage has been done to factories, bridges, and residences. —The steamboat Fannie Freeze was burned to the water's edge at Madison, Ind., on the evening of the 7th inst. The fire caught from a torch igniting hay, 400 bales of which composed her cargo. The flames went up through the deck in less than half a minute, obliging the passengers and crew to jump into the river to escape. The boat and baggage of the crew are a total loss. —The President of the Columbus, Hocking Valley, and Toledo Railroad has requested the Governor of Ohio to order out the militia, on account of the burning of bridges by the miners, in Hocking County. The Sheriff of Hocking County also requested the Governor to call out troops. He says that Murray City was attacked by 300 or 400 miners, who carried tin cans filled with giant powder. —Great excitement has been caused in Paris by the acknowledgment by the municipal authorities of the existence of cholera in that city. The health officers have known of the prevalence of the disease for some time, but thought that it would disappear on the approach of cold weather. The increase of the plague in the last few days has been so great that no further deception was possible. Medical experts say they do not fear an epidemic during the winter months, but that the disease will probably break out in the spring in its worst form. —Clawson, the Salt Lake Mormon who two weeks ago was convicted of polygamy, when asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed upon him, made a speech denying the constitutionality of the statute against polygamy, saying that he thought polygamy right, and he was determined to practice it. Judge Zane said he had thought to pass a light sentence upon him, but he could not now. A defiant criminal was not entitled to leniency. He therefore sentenced him to four years' hard labor in the penitentiary, and to pay a fine of $800. THESE volumes describe the great conflict between Christ and Satan, as illustrated in the history of man, his temptations, conflicts, victories and defeats, and the final triumph of right and truth with a crowning immortality. Volume one treats of the rebellion of Satan, the fall of man, and the lives of the patriarchs to the time of Solomon. Volumes two and three are devoted to the Life of Christ and the Ministry of his Apostles. Volume four contains sketches of the history of the Church from the destruction of Jerusalem to the close of time. These books are not argumentative, yet they throw much light on the sacred page. They afford especial encouragement to the Christian, and are excellent to place in the hands of skeptics to convince them of Bible truth. The four volumes contain over 1,500 pages, and are furnished to the subscriber for $4.00 per set. Either volume may be furnished separately for $1.00, post-paid. PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. THE MINISTRATION OF ANGELS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
ALSO giving an exposition of the origin, history, and destiny of Satan. 144 pp. Price, 20 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Publishers' Department.
By Editor
NOTICE.—We send no papers from this Office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving them are not indebted to the Office. Money orders, drafts, etc., should be made to "Pacific Press," NEVER to individuals, as they may be absent, and business thereby be delayed. Michigan—Miss Hattie House, care Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
New England—Mrs. E. T. Palmer, N. E. Tract Repository, South Lancaster, Mass.
North Pacific—Mrs. C. L. Boyd, East Portland, Oregon.
England—The Present Truth, 72 Heneage Street, Great Grimsby, Eng.
Norway—Eld. J. G. Matteson, Akersveren No. 2, Christiania, Norway.
Switzerland—B. L. Whitney, care Les Signes des Temps, Bale, Suisse. NOTICE.—The change of figures on the address labels will be in all cases a sufficient receipt for money sent for the paper. If these changes do not appear in due time, and if books ordered by mail are not received, please notify us. All other business is acknowledged below. CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.—Vacaville, per J N Dennison $32, San Jose, per V L Peach $9.15, B R Sheckler (tithe) $35, J W Ford $20, D E McKee $1, J V Woolford $10.50, R C Austin $53.25. CASH RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.—Indiana T and M Society, per Review and Herald $200, North Pacific T and M Society $173.30. CALIFORNIA T AND M SOCIETY.—Dist No 4, per Sarah McEnterfer $14.28, J Gotterke, 20c, J B Brannen $2, Mr McClellan, $1, Ira Young 75c, Mary A McPhie $1, D W Burton $2, Anna Burton 75c, E Simons $3.20, Lydia Wauchope $7.30, J F Lameneth $1.80. ORDERS FORWARDED.
By Editor
BOOKS SENT BY FREIGHT.—Clara E Low, Eld N C McClure, Lizzie A Stone, W C Sisley, Eld G W Colcord. BOOKS SENT BY EXPRESS.—Mrs A Robinson, J M Hartman, S C Bice, S F City Mission. BOOKS SENT BY MAIL.—Nestor A Young, N H Kresky, Eld Nahum Orcutt, W A Young, H M Prittle, Geo C Beach, Joseph Robinson, Mrs King, Jennie Thayer, Eld J H Durland, Mrs R S Naylor, L H Church, Geo McDonald, D W Burton, S H Wentworth, Mrs S E Saunders, P M Partridge, D M Prosser, Geo H Derrick, Jos Eggleston, Mrs Susan Smith, Harry Chapman, Mrs H M Church, M A Johnson, Mrs W B Goodfellow, Simon Peter, Wm Harmon, Mrs E J Howard, Geo Vickery, R C Austin, Mrs A T Stickney, A Miller, Miss Libbie Saunders, T J Frost, Phoebe Yokom, L C Stiles, A S Hickox, Mrs T N Long, Mrs J E Cole, Thomas Pyle, Mrs A Robinson, W R Harrison, John Clasby, J W Bagwell, Z Thorp, Libbie Saunders, Jos Dennison, Horace Munn, W H Ingels. THE SABBATH QUESTION
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 1. Price, 10c.
Which Day Do You Keep, and Why—Who Changed the Sabbath—The Sabbath in the New Testament—Elihu on the Sabbath—God's Memorial—Sunday Not the Sabbath—Why Not Found Out Before—One Hundred Bible Facts about the Sabbath. Assorted Package No. 2. Price, 25c.
This package contains all the tracts in package No. 1, and the following in addition:— Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined—The Ten Commandments Not Abolished—The Seventh Part of Time—The Definite Seventh Day—Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Address to the Baptists—The Sunday Law. OTHER WORKS ON THE SABBATH.
The Truth Found.—A comprehensive exposition of the nature and obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. 64 pp.......................10c Sunday Seventh-day Examined.—A critical examination of the claim that Sunday is the true seventh day of the fourth commandment. 88 pp.......................10c Brown's Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath Question. 64 pp.......................10c Appeal to the Baptists.—An address from the Seventh-day Baptists to their first-day Baptist brethren, urging a restoration of the Bible Sabbath from the stand-point of Baptist principles of argument and interpretation. 48 pp.......................10c Vindication of the True Sabbath.—By a former missionary of the Presbyterian Church.......................10c Morality of the Sabbath.—Showing that the Sabbath commandment, being found in the midst of the nine acknowledged moral precepts, is, like the others, moral in its nature. 96 pp.......................15c Testimony of the Fathers of the first three centuries concerning the Sabbath and First-day. A candid examination of both sides of the question. 112 pp.......................15c Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THE SECOND ADVENT.
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 3. Price, 10c.
The Coming of the Lord—Is the End Near—Can We Know—The Signs of the Times—The Judgment—The Second Advent. Assorted Package No. 4. Price, 25c.
Containing package No. 3, and the following in addition:— The Millennium—The Present Truth—The Third Angel's Message—Exposition of Matthew Twenty-four. OTHER WORKS ON THE SECOND ADVENT.
Our Faith and Hope.—A series of ten sermons on the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 198 pp....................................................25c Second Coming of Christ.—An exposition of Matthew 24th chapter. 64 pp..........................................10c Three Messages of Rev. 14.—Showing the nature and character of the warning messages designed to prepare the world for the last great Judgment. 96 pp..............................................................10c The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth Made New. 82 pp..............................................................10c The Seven Trumpets. An exposition of the symbols of Rev. 8 and 9. 96 pp......................................10c Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. MAN'S NATURE AND DESTINY
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 5. Price, 10c.
Is Man Immortal—Thoughts for the Candid—End of the Wicked—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Departing and Being with Christ—Milton on the State of the Dead. OTHER WORKS ON MAN'S NATURE.
The Hope of the Gospel.—What is it, and when will it be consummated? 80 pp...................10c Matter and Spirit.—An argument on the relation of matter and spirit, and the dependence of thought upon organization. 66 pp.....................10c History of the Doctrine of the Soul.—The belief in its immortality traced among all races and peoples to the present time. 186 pp., cloth............75c Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. MISCELLANEOUS TRACTS.
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 6. Price, 25c.
The Plan of Redemption—The Sufferings of Christ—The Sanctuary of the Bible—Scripture References—The Spirit of Prophecy—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The End of the Wicked—The Two Thrones. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. International Tract and Missionary Society.
By Stephen N. Haskell
THE International Tract and Missionary Society was organized Aug. 13, 1874. It has furnished health and religious publications to co-operative missions and individuals in every State and Territory in the United States, and to every civilized nation on the globe. During 1883-84 it placed in free public libraries in this country over 10,000 volumes of standard religious books, at a cost of over $10,000, two-thirds of which was donated by other funds and the publishers. It has also placed valuable books in many libraries in England, Australia, the United States, and supplied reading-rooms with health and religious periodicals. Free reading and lecture-room, 914 Laguna Street, San Francisco, Cal., from which place all ships are visited which enter that harbor. Andrew Brorsen and H. C. Palmer, city missionaries. C. R. Robbins, ship missionary. Free reading-room on L Street, near corner of Fifth, East Portland, Oregon. It has a free reading and lecture-room, 744 Broadway, New York City, where it will keep constantly on hand Health and Temperance publications to furnish co-operating missions and branch offices on the Atlantic Coast and in Europe. Ships visiting this harbor are supplied with reading matter. William J. Boynton, manager and city missionary. Free reading and lecture-room, 21 Boylston Place, Boston, Mass. J. R. Israel and A. T. Robinson, city missionaries. Ship missionary, C W. Priest, 191 Atlantic Avenue. Parlor reading and lecture-rooms at 13 West Huron Street, Buffalo, N. Y., open from 2:30 to 9 P. M. Alex. Gleason, Superintendent. Parlor reading and lecture-rooms, 52 Crouse Building, Warren Street, Syracuse, N. Y. N. J. Walsworth, resident manager. Free reading-room at 219 West Madison Street, Chicago; Room 2, second floor. Eld. Geo. B. Starr and James Sawyer, managers. Mission and free reading-room at 2339 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, Mo., N. W. Allen, Superintendent. Free reading-room and book depository, 14 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind. W. A. Young, Superintendent. The ship work at Liverpool, England, is under the charge of Geo. R. Drew, 32 Grange Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire; J. H. Durland, Southampton. Tract and book depository, 72 Heneage Street, Great Grimsby, Eng., in charge of Miss Jennie Thayer. Branch societies are being organized in all parts of the United States and Europe. The New York State branch has its offices and depository at Rome, N. Y. E. W. Whitney, President; Miss May Taylor, Secretary. At the above-mentioned places the public are cordially invited. The society is sustained by the liberalities of friends of missions. Donations by draft or otherwise will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged by any of the above-mentioned agents, or Miss M. L. Huntley, Secretary, South Lancaster, Mass., U. S. A. S. N. HASKELL, President. CAN the evil wrought by gossip be estimated? We think not. A wise woman can scarcely say too little in company if the conversation trenches in the least on scandal. Many a social, noble-minded woman has been obliged to withdraw herself from a neighborhood intimacy which would have been pleasant otherwise, because her remarks are returned by some idle tale-bearer so perverted as to make her doubt the existence of genuine friendship, and accept loneliness for the sake of the safety it brought. You say we must talk "about something." Yes, and through that very fact we see a remedy for the evil, to so thoroughly interest ourselves in other and better things that we find no space to spare for our neighbor's affairs. Let us talk of our work, our homes, our houseplants, our books, or our babies. Let us teach our eyes to find beauty everywhere, while we blind them by constant watchfulness to blemishes. Never under any circumstances cast the first stone. Then if any erring neighbor goes down, you cannot blame yourself for assisting the downfall. Faith and Righteous Living
"NOTHING has ever been found to take the place of faith in the living God, and of obligations to his righteous demands as an influence to promote pure thoughts, just feelings, upright benevolent purposes, disinterested conduct, and everything else that goes to make up a clean, sweet and noble life."—Christian at Work. OAKLAND.—House of worship, northeast corner of Clay and Thirteenth Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:30 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:45. Seats free. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30. SAN FRANCISCO.—House of worship, 912 Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:45 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:45. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30. Mission Reading-rooms at the church. THE most common action of life—its every day, its every hour—is invested with solemn grandeur, when we think they extend their issues into eternity. Our hands are now sowing seed for that great harvest. We shall meet again all we are doing and have done. The graves shall give up their dead, and from the tombs of oblivion the past shall give up all that it holds in keeping, to be witness for or against us. Oh, think of that! In yonder hall of the Inquisition see what its effects on us should be. Within those blood-stained walls one is under examination. He has been assured that nothing he reveals shall be written for the purpose of being used against him. While making frank and ingenuous confession, he suddenly stops. He is dumb—a mute. They ply him with questions, flatter him, threaten him; he answers not a word. Danger makes the senses quick. His ear has caught a sound; he ties his tongue. An arras hangs behind him, and behind it he hears a pen running along the pages. The truth flashes. Behind that screen a scribe sits committing to the fatal page every word he says, and he shall meet it again on the day of trial. Ah! how solemn to think that there is such a pen going in Heaven, and entering on the books of judgment all we say or wish, all we think or do. Would to God we heard it—everywhere and always heard it! What a check! and what a stimulus! Are we about to sin! how strong a curb; if slow to duty, how sharp a spur! What motive to pray for the blood that blots out a guilty past, and for such grace as, in time to come, shall enable us to walk in God's statutes, to keep his commandments, and to do them. "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."—Dr. Guthrie. Our Journey East.
By Editor
OUR journey from Oakland, Cal., to Battle Creek, Mich., was unusually pleasant in many respects. Contrary to our usual experience in crossing the mountains, we took no cold on the way. This, we think, was owing to the mild weather; but little fire was needed at any time, and therefore the cars were not heated. Colds are generally taken by the cars becoming too warm for comfort and health. And it seems strange to our friends in Battle Creek that we, coming from "a warm country," so frequently complain of the high temperature of the rooms here. Our route was by the Southern Pacific Railroad to Mojave, Cal.; by the Atlantic & Pacific to Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe to Kansas City; and the Chicago, Alton, & St. Louis to Chicago. The Atlantic and Pacific runs through northern Arizona and New Mexico. This line was new to us, and to those who have time to "lay over" it presents some rare attractions. At Holbrook, in eastern Arizona, conveyance may be had to one of the most interesting petrified forests on the continent. Near the western line the Grand Canyon of the Colorado is only thirty miles from Peach Springs Station. Though we did not have opportunity to visit the forest, we obtained some excellent specimens of petrifications near the line of the road. The "Santa Fe" is always reliable, and we had every reason to be pleased with the "Alton line." This road comes behind none in its accommodations. We found the weather here unusually cold for the season; but this lasted only a few days. After considerable rain it has become warmer. We are much pleased to meet our old friends in Battle Creek. There are so many at the Sanitarium and the College whom we never saw, that our congregation in the Tabernacle on the Sabbath was largely composed of strange faces. By means of these institutions many come to the knowledge of the present truth. After a week of travel on the railroad, the table at the Sanitarium was truly attractive. There has been much improvement made in Battle Creek since we were here two years ago. A great many good buildings have been erected. The addition to the Sanitarium, and the new boarding-house for the College, are among the most notable improvements of the "west end" of the city. Ministers and delegates are coming in to the Conference, and in a few days we shall be in the midst of our important work. Much is to be done, and we pray that the Lord will grant grace and wisdom to do all to his own glory. EDITOR. Various Matters.
By Editor
THE President has designated Thursday, the 27th of this month, as a day of general thanksgiving. G. W. J., Loganville, Ga.: You will find the views of Seventh-day Adventists on the subject of Sanctification, in the pamphlet entitled "Bible Sanctification," by Mrs. E. G. White. Price ten cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THE Boston correspondent of the N. Y. Observer says: "The Salvation Army have been quietly at work here for seven weeks, and claim one hundred converts." Quietly at work! Can they not afford a fife, and big drum, and tamborine? They must have a different kind of "army" in the East from what they have in California. THE Review, which comes to hand just as we close up, reports favorably of the opening of the General Conference. The editor of the Review states that "there is a more general representation of the different State Conferences by delegates than at any previous meeting, every field being thus represented except Canada, Upper Columbia, and a few of our foreign missions." A CORRESPONDENT asks if we can find space in the SIGNS to answer the question, "What do the different churches believe?" Not in one issue, nor two. If we take all the churches collectively, our answer would be that they believe almost everything; there are few imaginable things that are not held by some one or other of the denominations. To specify the differences in the belief of the different denominations would require a large volume. Our work is to point out to the best of our ability what the Bible teaches, and thus give people an opportunity to test by the true standard the various opinions that may be advanced.