p. 32 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 4. (1/18/1877)

Systematizing Mental Labor.—

As a marvelous instance of what one man may achieve by doing systematically and thoroughly whatever he undertakes we cannot do better than to consider the life of Alexander Von Humboldt. There was no part of the world he had not visited, and he had been nowhere without acquiring the most exact knowledge of the whole country, its geology, its animal life, its botany, its physical characteristics, as well as the language, habits, customs, laws, religion, and history of its people. He led this life till he was ninety years of age, and even then no fact, in any part of the world that had any bearing on scientific truth, escaped his notice. His mind was a museum, where all the knowledge that had been brought into the world was placed in order, carefully guarded, and always ready for use. We are not wrong in attributing the boundless learning and prodigious memory of this great man to his habit of systematizing his mental labor, and to his power of self-concentration, and to his belief in the wisdom of God.—Scientific American.

Swallowing a Farm.

Somebody says: “Our Government land costs one dollar an acre, and good whiskey two dollars a bottle. How many men die landless, who, during their lives, have swallowed whole townships?”

There is food for reflection in this statement. Every day of our lives, and almost every hour of each day, we meet individuals not merely landless, but houseless, homeless, penniless, who, in the course of their lives have swallowed ardent spirits enough to pay for land and house, and have money in their pockets besides. But it is not the drinker of ardent spirits alone who thus deprives himself of the comforts of a home. The tobacco-chewer, the cigar-smoker, the young man who spends precious hours of each day and evening in worse than listless idleness. How rarely such persons reflect upon the folly of their course. The young man who smokes three five-cent cigars a day—and many of them use double the quantity, at double the price—puffs away enough in the course of ten years to give him a handsome start in business, or to provide himself a comfortable home.—Irish World.

Dyspeptics Should Hoe Regularly

“Ho, ALL ye dyspeptics!” says a patent medicine advertisement. If all the dyspeptics would hoe regularly their number would be reduced amazingly.

A Great Composer—Sleep

A GREAT composer—sleep.

RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.

—News from New York, Dec. 10, states that “the annual sale of pews in Plymouth Church took place last night. The total amount realized was $48,421.” No comments are needed.

—The Pope on Thursday received the students of the American College, who read an address and presented a sum of Peter’s pence. The Pope in reply dwelt on the marvelous progress Catholicism was making in America.

—The day fixed upon by the government for the inauguration of the President occurs this year on Sunday. Twice before in our history when it occurred on that day the ceremonies were deferred until Monday, and it is the general supposition that they will be postponed this year.

—The English revisers of the Old Testament have held forty-one sessions. They have carried their revision as far as Ezekiel 44:14. The English revisers of the New Testament have held sixty-five sessions. At their last meeting they reached the sixth chapter of Hebrews.

—The Seventh-day Adventists of this country, through their missionary, the Rev. J. N. Andrews, have commenced the publication of a paper in Switzerland, which is printed in the French language. The newspaper has 400 subscribers, scattered through different countries of Europe.—N. Y. Tribune.

—Mr. Thomas K. Cree, who has been working with Messrs. Moody and Sankey in Chicago, having entire charge of the details of the work there as well as in Philadelphia last winter, expects to make a tour of the Southern States, beginning January 10, at the Y. M. C. A. State Convention at Petersburg, Va.

—Almost all of our religious exchanges have had much to say in regard to the existing complication in government affairs; but, in the words of the Advocate, we would say, “As the question to be settled is beyond the reach of editors and contributors, we have chosen to wait in silence, trusting in God, and in the officers whose duty it is to act when the proper time arrives.”

—In compensation for the destruction of the American chapel at Yen Ping Fu, China, a year ago, an apology has been sent by the local authorities, to the United States Consul, a sum of money paid for the books and other property destroyed, the chapel rebuilt and delivered to the missionaries, and a proclamation issued explaining the rights of foreigners who reside in the interior.

—In Cardinal Antonelli’s will provision was made for all the servants in his employ at the time of his death. To those who had served him twenty-five years their full monthly wages were to be continued as long as they should live; those who had served him fifteen years were to receive two-thirds their monthly wages; and those who had served him less than ten years, one-third their monthly wages.

—Dr. S. Wells Williams, Secretary to the United States Legation at Peking, having had a series of questions concerning Chinese emigration addressed to him by the Congressional Committee, has made a detailed reply in which he makes the following sensible remarks:

“I think the effects of Chinese emigration upon commerce and industry are on the whole highly beneficial. In respect to morals, it will probably be detrimental, unless measures are taken to remove the ignorance of these strangers, restrain their vices, and treat them justly. If we, who live in China, had been treated as they have been in the United States, I think a war would have ensued to defend us in the possession of our treaty rights, or we should have had to leave the country.”—Portland Transcript.

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 Wednesday 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.

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. John Collie 4-1, J A McCulloch 4-1, Rosetta Castle 4-1, E Stafford 4-1, Eld P O Rodman 4-1, Clark Tisdale 4-1, Mrs A W Gould 4-1, J M Porters 4-1, A P Wheelock 4-1, A D Love 4-1, O A Kelsey 4-1, Anna Rasmussen 4-1, R P Payne 4-1, James Peshia 4-1, E R Powers 4-1, J T Mitchell 4-1, H P Wakefield 4-1, Laura Clark 4-1, Alvira Sevey 4-1, Franklin Squair 4-1.

$1.50 EACH. Orpho O Ellis 4-1, Mary A Manning 4-1, Mrs E W Beckwith 4-1, Wm E Burns 4-1, Eld B F Taylor 4-1, Lucinda Ross 4-1, Martha J Foster 4-1, Mrs O Covert 5-1, Mrs H W Chapman 4-16, Frank L Allen 4-1, J G Benton 4-1, Wm Hawk 4-1, Jerusha Abrams 4-1, M L Parker 4-1, O C Hulbert 4-1, George McKeen 4-1, E A Sanders 4-1, Mrs L B Miller 4-1, Henry Niles 4-1, Harriet Pickett 4-1, Abraham Horner 4-1, Mrs John Foster 4-1, C R Whitman 4-1, A J Rapp 4-1, Franklin Smith 4-1, Thomas Lewis 4-1, Mrs Mary Heaton 4-1, Mrs Eskine Ames 4-1, Malinda Wilson 4-1, Rev J W White 4-1, Rev S S White 4-1, S Philbrick 4-1, Mrs E Bangs 4-1, Mrs M P Foss 4-1, John B Harmon 4-1, Charles Morrison 4-1, W B Walling 4-1, Mrs Malissa Tapley 4-1, W N McCandlish 4-1, Augustine Farrington 4-1, Prof J Allen 4-1, Eld E D Maxson 4-1, Eld A R Cornwall 4-1, Eld L C Rogers 4-1, Prof W O Whitford 4-1, Eld W Hull 4-1, Eld O W Whitford 4-1, Eld J G Crandall 4-1, Eld J B Clark 4-1, Eld H B Lewis 4-1, D R Griswold 4-1, J E Cochran 4-1, Samuel J Starmer 3-37, John Fulton 4-1, Catharine Walter 4-1, Mrs M J Campbell 4-1, A Smith 4-1, Henry Schatjein 4-1, M W Taylor 4-1, Mrs A B Manor 4-1, Mary A Stoper 4-1, W A Dawson 4-1, Geo W Dart 4-1, I Winters 4-1, Mrs Frank Lawrence 4-1, Lucy Gardner 4-1, Constant W Smith 4-1, Dan Cole 4-1, Corydon Clark 4-1, Dr J Higgins 4-1, Geo S Wing 4-16, Abraham Hathaway 4-17, W G Long 4-1, Cortes S Chaffee 4-1, Mrs Ann Thayer 4-1, Alvin Woodard 4-1, Abbie Aldrich 4-1, Irwin Palmer 4-1, Albert Smith 4-1, P Jaquith 4-1, R B Jones 4-1, John Wright 4-1.

MISCELLANEOUS. Sylvester Curtis $30.00 (20 copies) 4-1, Wm L Raymond 3.00 4-25, Gorham Umberhind 1.00 8-25, A R Merriman 75c 3-18, Martin W Fitch 37c 3-13, John Black 37c 3-13, Frank Sweet 37c 3-13, James Leonard 37c 3-13, Russell Hart 1.00 4-1, Augusta French 1.00 3-25, Mrs Margaret Ransom 75c 3-25, B C French 75c 3-25, Mrs C A Gidley 75c 3-25, George A King 1.00 3-3, Mrs A H Bradford 3.50 4-11, J E Titus 1.00 3-25, James Brown 3.50 4-36, Judson Taber 3.00 3-25, J D Kitchell 75c 3-25, E M Shafer 1.00 3-25, C W Stone 7.50 (5 copies) 4-1, J O Demmous 1.00 3-25, Mrs E Arment 1.00 3-25, Mary P Mullen 31.50 (21 copies) 4-1, Enoch Ledgwick 50c 3-17, W M Startipper 50c 3-17.

California Publishing Fund.

J Morrison $200.00, D R Leighton 11.50.

Cash Received on Account.

Cal T & M Society Dist No 7 $1.00, Dist No 9 24.50, Dist No 6 1.50.

Donations to Signs.

Mrs Julia Collie $2.00

This Week's Paper.

By James White

“Christ Stilling the Tempest,” is one of those blessed articles which must at present take the place of the writer's life and experience sketches which have been promised for the Signs.

The second page of this week's paper furnishes material for thought. The positions are not new to us. We took them fifteen years since; but out of respect to certain strong men among us who still thought it necessary to the resurrection of the dead, that the same matter be raised which constituted the mortal form, we have not presented them until the present time. But we fear to withhold them longer. We invite Bible students to patiently and fully examine the subject, and if they then see objections, to forward them to this Office.

We leave the resurrection question at present unless we shall be called out by questions or objections having a direct bearing upon the points we have considered. In our next issue we shall present the subject of the redemption of the earth, and then pass directly to the great subject of Christ and the moral code in both Testaments.

“Thoughts on the Book of Daniel” will be continued through the current volume. Here, too, the reader will find material for thought. Let each number be patiently studied. We might call attention to the lengthy article on the second coming of Christ, under the caption, “Error Supplants Truth,” and to others in this week's good paper; but we commend the entire sheet as worthy of the reader's careful perusal.

J. W.

Specimen Copies of the Signs

By James White

We forward packages of the several numbers of the current volume of the SIGNS to the Officers of the several State Tract and Missionary Societies as specimen copies to be used in canvassing for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. If more are wanted, the proper persons will please forward their orders. J. W.

J. W

By James White

The California Publishing House is young and weak, compared with our House in Michigan, and needs especial support, as that did sixteen years since. That has become a strong, self-sustaining, institution. We urgently solicit patronage at this Office from all our churches, and donations to the SIGNS to enable us to furnish the paper free to the poor.

J. W

Rain in California

Rain is gently falling. The agricultural and mining interests of California have suffered much the present season for want of rain. There had been no rain in Oakland for two months until the 15th. The face of nature and the hearts of the people are being made glad by the falling rain.

A Clown’s Sermon.

THE Virginia papers report that during the exhibition of a traveling menagerie and circus in a town in that State, where there was at the time some religious convocation in session, the painted jester of the equestrian ring illustrated his own serious capacity, and greatly affected an audience in which many church members were present, by delivering the following homily:

“My friends: We have taken in $600.00 here to-day, more money, I venture to say, than any minister of the gospel in this community would receive for a whole year’s services. A large portion of this money was given by church members, and a large portion of this audience is made up of members of the church. And yet when your preacher asks you to aid in supporting the gospel, you are too poor to give anything. Yet you come here and pay dollars to hear me talk nonsense. I am a fool because I am paid for it; I make my living by it. You profess to be wise and yet you support me in my folly. But perhaps you say you did not come to see the circus, but the animals. Why did you not simply look at them and leave? Is not this a pretty place for Christians to be in? Do you not feel ashamed of yourselves? You ought to blush in such a place as this.”

The sensation following a speech like this, in such a place, from such a speaker, may be imagined. The local clergy availed themselves of the spirit thus produced; a religious revival was attempted, and a collection for foreign missions resulted in the sum of $4.50!

Report of State Quarterly Meeting.

By John Norton Loughborough; A. M. Loughborough

The first State Quarterly Meeting of the Cal., T. and M. Society for the present year was held, according to appointment, in Oakland, Jan. 7, 1877. The meeting opened with prayer by the President. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted, after which the Secretary's report showing the workings of the Society for the quarter was called for, and read as follows:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Memberships.	88	44	12	31	48	55	165	443
No. of Reports.	18	27	15	16	42	25	47	190
Families Visited.	72	108	2	10	144	28	33	409
Letters Written.	21	8	9	4	5	57	26	162
New Members.		6	1		2	9	6	24
Donations.	7.60	40.00	40.00	17.00	7.25	15.98	$2.80	$392.08
Donations for Distribution of Signs on Ships.			41.65	13.00			$9.50	$64.15
Book Sales.	52.15	5.50	6.25	20.64	29.14	68.58	$28.60	$241.06
No. pp. Tracts &c. Loaned.	2,654	870	15,831	100	7,912	17,600	2,527	46,694
No. pp. Tracts &c. Given Away.	9,158	3,056	16,?	6,327	6,931	28,783	29,818	18,202
New Subscribers to Signs.	24	2	22	9	14	15	17	95
New Subscribers to other Periodicals.	8	85	2	16	6	15	53	192
Signs Distributed.	151	80	49	410	90	690	688	1,809
Other Periodicals Distributed.	96	2	214	22	143	12	154	698
Ships Visited.	60							60
Signs Distributed on Ships.	2,082	650	475					3,207
Libraries Furnished.	2						1	3

It will be seen that the total amount of money received for memberships, donations, including donations for Signs to be placed on ships, and from book sales is $421.29. The number of Signs distributed on ships, as seen above, is 3207, making the total number distributed, 5016. By comparing the above report with previous ones of the same character it is seen, that, incomplete as this is, it far exceeds, in point of labor performed, any other quarterly report since the organization of the society.

Following the reading of this report were interesting and instructive remarks by Eld. White relative to missionary labor, stating his interest in the Signs, and what he purposed to do for it, adding that by the grace of God the paper should be just what the people would want to place in the hands of their friends; and with words of cheer and courage to all missionary workers the meeting adjourned to call of the Chair.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres.

A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Sec.

Anathema.

Anathema, that is, a curse, a ban, signifies properly something set apart, separated, devoted.

It is understood principally to denote the absolute, irrevocable, and entire separation of a person from the communion of the faithful, or from the number of the living, or from the privileges of society; or the devoting of any man, animal, city or thing to be extirpated, destroyed, consumed, and as it were annihilated. Lev. 27. Thus Jericho, Josh. 6: 17–21, and Achan were accursed. Josh. 7.

Another kind of anathema, very peculiarly expressed, occurs, 1 Cor. 16: 22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.” This last word is made up of two Syriac words, signifying, “The Lord cometh,” that is, the Lord will surely come, and will execute this curse, by condemning those who love him not. At the same time, the opposite is also implied, that is, the Lord cometh also to reward those who love him.—Bible Dictionary.

Our Own Heart Forms True Honor

OUR own heart and not other men's opinions forms our true honor.

The Irishman and the Priest.

NEVER was a better answer made than a poor Irishman made to a Catholic priest, while defending himself for reading the Bible.

“But,” said the priest, “the Bible is for the priests, and not for the likes o’ you.”

“Ah! but, sir,” he answered, “I was reading in my Bible, ‘You shall read it to your children,’ an’ sure the priests have got no children.”

“But, Michael,” says the priest, “you cannot understand the Bible. It is not o’ you to understand it, my man.”

“Ah! very well, your reverence, if I cannot understand it, it will do me no harm, and what I can understand does me a heap o’ good.”

“Very well, Mike,” said the priest, “you must go to the church, and the church will teach you; the church will give you the milk of the word.”

“And where does the church get it from but out of the Bible? Ah! your reverence, I would rather keep the cow myself.”—Herald and Presbyter.

Hallowed Be Thy Name.

HALLOWED, ay, hallowed! not alone in prayer, But in our daily thoughts and daily speech; At altar and at hearth-stone—every where That temple-priests or home-apostles preach. Oh, not by words alone, but by our deeds, And by our faith, and hope, and spirit's flame, And by the nature of our private creeds, We hallow best, and glorify thy Name.

Nature doth hallow it. In every star, And every flower, and leaf, and leaping wave, She praises Thee, who, from Thy realm afar, Such stores of beauty to this fair earth gave. But these alone should not Thy love proclaim— Our hearts, our souls respond—“All hallowed be Thy Name.”

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.

Refutation of Forty-four so called Objections against the Ancient Sabbath, by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. 88 pp., 15cts.

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 Destiny of the Wicked. By U. Smith. 15 cts.

The Seven Trumpets of Rev. 8 and 9. 15 cts.

The Two Laws. By Eld. D. M. Canright. 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 Gillman 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 Sufferings 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 Sabbath—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: Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Sabbath by Elihu—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 Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—The Spirit of Prophecy.

One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Signs 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.