Earlier text: Letter from ItalyReligious News and Notes.
By Editor
—A bill before the Legislature of Vermont prohibits gambling even in churches! —The Illinois Legislature is favorably considering a bill to tax church property. —Pope Leo XIII. proposes to make important changes in the government of the Catholic church in the United States. —A lady visitor of the First Congregational Church in Chicago recently reported having made 3,607 calls during the year 1878. —Sensationalism is running wild in the pulpit. "The first prayer-meeting in Hell," was the subject of a recent discourse in Providence. —The American Baptist mission in India numbered twenty-three converts in the first ten years; after that they increased rapidly. —Dr. Budington resigned the pastorate of the Clinton avenue Congregational church in Brooklyn. He was appointed pastor "emeritus" at a salary to be fixed at the annual meeting. —The Oakland Times is sharp on Beecher's church. It says if half his congregation was starved out by those other heathen across the Ocean he would not be in favor of the Chinese. —The Independent, answering a question takes occasion to say, "We do not care to defend infant baptism, which is at best a comparatively unimportant, if not questionable rite." —The Saxe-Meiningen (Germany) Legislature has passed a law that persons of full age may leave the State Church by certain formalities. They may form dissenting churches under certain conditions. —The following is worth a credit—it is from the Christian at Work: "The most obstinate malady to cure among church and society workers is that of the man who can't do anything now, because he wasn't consulted before." —The Christian Examiner says that "baptism is a part of regeneration; it is the finishing act of the regeneration." To which the Religious Herald (also Baptist) says, "Hold to that, brother, and not many regenerated people will hold to you." —Elder S. Logan of the Christian church recently died in Scott's Valley, Lake Co., Cal., in a manner which led to suspicion of foul play. A postmortem examination revealed the presence of strychnine in his stomach. His widow and a son are under arrest. —A preacher in Kentucky who was annoyed by the turning of heads to the door, said, "Ladies, if you will give me your close attention I will keep a lookout on that door, and if anything worse than a man enters I will warn you in time to make your escape." —The Baptist Weekly, noticing that a clerical imposter had been arrested in Wales, and sent to prison, says, "If that rogue had pursued the same course here the deacons would have advised him to leave town immediately, and before six weeks he would be preaching in some new field." —The Christian Statesman says there is a wide-spread desire on the part of railroad managers to stop Sunday passenger trains, but they are compelled to continue them by competing lines; especially by those lines which carry through mails. It thinks legislation by the General Government will soon put a stop to this. —It is reported that Pope Leo is considering whether it is advisable to call an Ecumenical Council. Also that he has admonished various prelates for the company they keep, others for their private life, and published a prohibition to priests not to dress as laymen at night, or frequent the theatres. Rather "a new departure." —There are in the German Empire 14,900,000 Catholics; in Austria-Hungary, 23,900,000; in France, 35,390,000; in Great Britain and Ireland, 6,000,000; in Italy, 26,660,000; in Spain, 16,500,000; in European Russia, 7,500,000; in Belgium, 4,920,000; and in the Netherlands, 1,235,000. Making 137,005,000. So says the New York Tablet. —The Independent says, "Look out next week for an irruption of Seventh-day arguments from the Sabbath Recorder and other seventh-day journals. A Sunday-school lesson on Sabbath-keeping is close at hand." The Independent seems to understand where their vulnerable point is. In advance of the "arguments" we will thank it for distinguishing between Sunday and the Sabbath. —Mr. Kalloch's sermon in San Francisco last Sunday was on the "school frauds." He said:—"The whole investigation was cruel and unjust, and the result exceedingly unsatisfactory. It is this conundrum-question that should be investigated. These catch-questions propounded by men incompetent to answer them themselves naturally leads to bargain and sale; the system is wrong and tends to corruption." —There was great excitement at Yreka, Cal., over a funeral which took place February 2. The deceased, a young man, had neglected the confessional, and the priest objected to his being buried in the ground of the Catholic church. The firemen and citizens, including many Catholics were determined that he should be buried there, though the priest protested, and tried to get the aid of the sheriff to prevent it. The procession was the largest had as strong backing as in the Laborde case in Canada there would doubtless have been trouble. Californians would hardly endure priestly dictation as patiently as the Canadians. —The University of Michigan has 1360 students. —A bill has been introduced in Congress to reform the Gregorian Calendar. —John Blair Scribner, head of the Scribner and Co., Publishing House died recently. He was quite a young man. —Visalia and Santa Cruz report being "shaken up" by an earthquake January 4th. Also Watsonville the 5th. —The rainfall in California Feb. 8 and 9 was timely and very welcome. It comes warmer than the preceding one. —Ex-Secretary Hamilton Fish on being "interviewed," said General Grant is under-estimated in the United States. —English statesmen say that England cannot make a Naval Station at Cyprus because of the prevalence of fever on that island. —Some inquisitive visitors claim to have, captured a "material spirit" at the rooms of Mrs. Sawyer a medium in San Francisco. —Michael Hall, in Sutro, Nev., made a bet that he would drink a quart of whisky in five minutes. He did it, but died in terrible agonies. —In Providence the number of tramps seeking relief from the city has fallen off two-thirds since the overseers established a wood-yard to test their willingness to work. —An examination into the affairs of the United States Navy show great mismanagement, and waste of funds by Ex-Secretary Robeson and some of his subordinates. The ratio of laborers and mechanics out of employment in New York City has steadily decreased during the past few years, and their future prospects are very cheering. —A cold-blooded unprovoked murder of four Indians recently took place in Mariposa Co., Cal., by seven whites, only two of whom have been arrested. The Indians were peaceful laboring men. —Ten counties of Illinois have female school superintendents, and they are more efficient than their male predecessors, and no money is lost by either ignorance or dishonesty. A strong argument. —Seven children of one family in Plainfield, Vt., died of diphtheria within two weeks. The disease is believed to have been taken from some clothes given them by a friend who had recently lost two children from diphtheria. —The Mendocino Beacon says:—"Several tons of ice have been put up at Mark West Springs, Sonoma county, this winter. This is said to be the first time in the history of the county that putting up ice has been attempted." —Turkey and Russia have at length concluded a definitive treaty of peace. It is not likely that the Turks will ever again be able to offer so formidable a resistance to their northern foes as in the recent war, unless materially aided by allies. —Captain Boynton the great swimmer, recently swam from Oil City to Pittsburg. The weather was cold, with occasional snow storms and considerable floating ice in the river. He seems determined to demonstrate that life may be saved though vessels may be lost. —The "cipher dispatches" have been investigated during the last week by the Congressional Committee. Were our politics anything but what they are, it would be humiliating to prominent men to come forward to testify to their own disgrace, as they have been compelled to do. —The snowfalls throughout Switzerland just before Christmas were almost unprecedented. In Freiburg, it has snowed, says a local journal, as in "the year of the great snow," 1784. In Lausanne no such snow has been known since 1829. In the Rhone Valley all trains were stopped. In Geneva no fewer than 670 laborers were employed in clearing the streets and public places. The saloon steamship Helvetia, on the Lake of Zug, which carries so many tourists from all nations to the Rigi-Arth Mountain Railway in Summer, was sunk by the mere weight of the enormous mass of snow which fell upon it. Fell asleep in Jesus, Jan. 9, 1879, at Wolf Lake, Noble county, Ind., Bro. Jacob Karr, aged 94 years and 6 months. Father Karr made a profession of religion sixteen years ago, but never united with any church until about one year since, when he became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church at Wolf Lake. He listened to and embraced the truth about three years ago. Although he was nearly ninety-two years old, and had been addicted to the constant use of tobacco for more than seventy-five years, he gave it up entirely. He was baptized last spring. He seemed devoted, and often spoke in the social meetings. He leaves a large circle of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to mourn their loss. Funeral discourse by the writer to a large and attentive congregation. Died, in Oakland, Cal., Feb. 8, 1879, Emma Smith, only child of Forest H. and Lizzie Scott Smith, aged thirteen months and a half. Words of comfort and hope at the funeral spoken from 2 Sam. 14:14. Calico Churches.
By Editor
AN exchange says: “A lady in the city of Boston is credited with saving the church which she attends the sum of $10,000 a year by influence of her example in economical dressing;” to which the New York Weekly Witness adds, “We have heard of calico balls, but calico churches would be a far more sensible and useful institution. It however still holds good even in the nineteenth century that the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. The lady above mentioned we think deserves high praise. She is like certain men mentioned in the Old Testament who had knowledge of the times what Israel ought to do. There is surely plenty of opportunity in the six days of the week for ladies to indulge in costly array, without going to church to display new dresses, new bonnets, or rich ornaments. Let them meet the lowly on something near an equality in point of dress in the house of God. Everybody will think more of them for it, and they will look far better than when they make spectacles of themselves by wearing extraordinary head gear or any other strange fashion. Give the Lord’s day to simplicity of dress, so as not to put to shame and drive away the poor.” The above is worthy of attention, but who will regard it? We knew a church three years ago—a Methodist church, too—which had a debt over them, greater than they were able to carry, and a large unfinished building on their hands. Things looked gloomy for them, for they knew not how to raise the means to finish their house of worship, already burdened as they were with debt. In this crisis a sister said she had a plan which, if carried out, would bring relief. She proposed that all the sisters in the church disregard the fashions, and wear plain and not costly clothing. They readily admitted that they could soon pay the debt by that means, but refused to do it, one quoting the old saying, that “we might as well be out of the world as out of the fashion.” So they remained in the world and in fashion, and let the cause of their Redeemer languish. Now we invite every one to a few moments of self-examination on this point, to see if we have any duty in this respect. No providence preventing, Elder Waggoner will preach in San Francisco on Sunday evening, Feb. 16. 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. THE Southwestern Advocate says, "We do not know of a body of ministers outside of our church that has uttered its protest against the use of tobacco." It will learn more on this subject ere long. Testimony to the Church No. 28.
By James White
THIS work is now through the press. It contains 192 pages of reading matter, of great importance, and of thrilling interest to those who are keeping the commandments of God, and waiting for the coming of the Son of man. Price, post paid, 25 cents, single copy; five copies for $1.00. One fourth discount by Express, or by Rail. Tract societies are requested to make arrangements for its immediate circulation. Address Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Michigan. JAMES WHITE. THOSE who have books, papers, paragraphs, and items setting forth the signs of the times in the political, scientific, moral and religious world, will confer a favor by forwarding the same to us. Statistics and facts, setting forth the increase of crime, of earthquakes, wars, pestilences and famines, or the amount expended for spirituous liquors, tobacco, tea, coffee, and the like, are requested to address Elder James White, Denison, Texas. Our Missionary Fields.
By Editor
THE news which we now furnish to our readers is of unusual interest. 1. The report of meetings in Texas, under the head of Reports from the Field, gives us an idea of the magnitude of the work in that State of which few have had any just conception. Texas is probably the best of all the Southern States in which to present the present truth. 2. Bro. Matteson's reports from Norway have been attracting much attention for some time. He is evidently "the right man in the right place," for that field. The cause has opened up among the Scandinavians beyond our most sanguine expectations. Bro. White some time since gave it as his opinion that no new publishing house should be opened at present, which all agreed was a most judicious decision; but the providence of God seems to open the way faster than we have foreseen. Always ready to improve every favorable opening, Bro. White is now taking steps to aid Bro. Matteson in the work of printing in the capital of Norway. This is much needed. May this enterprise be greatly blessed of Heaven. We believe it will receive the encouragement and aid it needs. 3. Bro. Ribton's letter from Italy is cheering. That is, no doubt, a hard field in which to work for thorough religious reform. But those who have embraced the faith in Italy and Africa are devoted men, and God is blessing them and sending prosperity to their efforts. 4. Bro. Loughborough's letter from England shows that the work is opening favorably there. As this mission is altogether among those who speak our own language, it will no doubt receive much of the direct aid of our American people. We propose to make up another club of SIGNS right here to send to him; we are glad to learn that the way opens to use so many. Our arrangements are such that no limit will be placed on the supply, either in the future or of the back numbers. The New York Tablet, a Catholic paper, says so many lies are in circulation about the pope that it is prompted to suggest a few more as models, among which are the following :— “That Dean Stanley has been created a cardinal in pelto., and that he will act as semi-official intermediary between the Pope and her Majesty Queen Victoria.” “That Mr. Spurgeon is in treaty with the Pope for the purchase of St. Peter’s, with a view to a tabernacle in Rome.” It says that these, and others which it gives, would scarcely pass in absurdity some of the newspaper stories about the Pope. But it has not reached the climax in its supposed models. We suggest the following :— That Pius IX. was kept a prisoner on a bed of straw by Victor Immanuel! If this does not prove satisfactory as a “model lie” we have nothing further to suggest. THE SOUL AND THE RESURRECTION.—The subject considered from a Philosophical and Bible standpoint. By J. H. Kellogg, M. D. A book of 224 pages. Cloth, 75 cts; flexible covers, 50 cts. DIPHTHERIA.—Its Nature, Causes, Prevention and Treatment. By J. H. Kellogg, M. D.; 64 pages. Board covers, 25 cts. CONSTITUTION OF THE T. AND M. SOCIETY.—Giving full instructions in regard to the workings of the Society; 35 pages. Price, 5 cts. BIBLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE ONES, No. 1.—From Adam to Moses. By G. H. Bell. Just published at this Office; 52 lessons, 86 pages, flexible binding. Price 15 cts. SECRETARY'S RECORD.—Will last a year. Price 75 cts. CLASS RECORD.—Every teacher should have one. Price 15 cts. Business.
By James Edson White
NEITHER the Editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, nor any individual in the Office, except the clerk, has any more to do with Office business than you have. Do not address business letters to any person in the Office, but to SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Make all money orders and drafts payable to SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We are troubled not a little when persons all over the country will persist in making money orders and drafts payable to the editor and almost every employee in the Office. In case of money orders we cannot find out to whom they are made payable until we attempt to draw them. We are frequently obliged to go back and get the individual before the money can be drawn. Drafts belonging to the Office frequently come made payable to Eld. James White, when the parties sending them know that he is in Texas, Colorado, or Battle Creek. Make all drafts payable to SIGNS OF THE TIMES and you will confer a favor on the clerk. Health Publications.
By Editor
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By Editor
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