—The annual Convention of Christians at Work in the United States and Canada is now in session at Atlanta, Ga.
—Ministers of several denominations have united with the Massachusetts Sunday Protective League in a protest against the Sunday papers of Boston.
—The Christian Endeavor movement is being introduced in the Chinese missions of California by all the denominations that uphold that movement.
—A Sunday-closing ordinance went into effect last week in Santa Barbara, Cal., which includes all business houses except drug stores, bakeries, and news stands.
—A murderer who a few weeks ago fatally shot two men in this city, and was himself seriously wounded, now professes penitence and has joined the Catholic Church.
—A Cleveland, Ohio, dispatch says that a conference of Liberal Presbyterian ministers has resulted in a decision to remain in the churches to which they belong until forced out.
—The decision in the case of the city of Redlands, Cal., against Captain Paine, of the Salvation Army, found guilty of disturbing the peace in violation of an ordinance forbidding the beating of drums on the streets, has been sustained by the Supreme Court, and the Salvation Army hereafter will be compelled to dispense with the drum in their street parades.
—Rev. Reams, who eloped from Fresno, Cal., some two or three months ago, with a young girl of his flock, and afterward escaped from custody in Victoria after his arrest, was recently recognized in Seattle, Wash., where he was engaged as a painter under an assumed name, and had become quite prominent in church work. He suddenly left when he learned that a man from Vancouver had recognized him.
—Dr. Martin, of Missouri, the noted revivalist of the Christian denomination, is holding meetings in Stockton, Cal., and has collided with the other evangelical ministers. In reply to some of his assertions, they united in publishing him as sailing a pirate craft, flying the Christian flag. They also denounced him as an Ishmael and a Judas. Martin retorts in kind, and tells how his accusers recently attended a "purity meeting" of one Mrs. Teats, at which "they themselves had made statements which no paper had had the temerity to publish." A press dispatch says, "The spicy altercation is making the ungodly smile."
—Governor Pennoyer, of Oregon, is so tenacious of his own prerogative in the State that he has issued a proclamation for a Thanksgiving day one week in advance of the time designated by the President. He hopes that the next Legislature will "designate Thanksgiving day by statute, thus obviating the necessity of any proclamation." Probably such a measure is not improbable, as the religio-political trend is all toward worship by legal compulsion. Such would be the natural result of the "Christian nation" theory. The Ministerial Association of Salem (the capital) and the faculty of the Willamette University have decided to observe the day appointed by the President.
—A late number of the Occident comments on the fact that a California city of 50,000 people has thirty-five organizations dispensing charity, many of which overlap each other, producing a great waste of time and means. People with the best of motives "impulsively start up some new enterprise with a high-sounding name, the object of which could be far more economically and satisfactorily accomplished through an organization already in existence." This evil is not only true of merely charitable organizations, in the ordinary sense of the term, but it is especially true in modern church work. The tendency is to multiply special organizations to do the work for which the church itself was organized, all of which the one organization could accomplish far more economically and harmoniously, and, therefore, more efficiently. Not only so, but this adding to the machinery is an insinuation that the church is not sufficient for its legitimate work, and that the Lord failed to foresee the necessities of his cause when he set the machinery in motion.
SECULAR.
—Three inches of snow fell in Omaha, Neb., on the 11th inst.
—The census shows that 140,000 men in Georgia cannot read their votes.
—A Constantinople dispatch of the 10th inst. reports a recurrence of the cholera, with fifty new cases.
—The new extradition treaty between the United States and Sweden and Norway will go into effect December 9.
—The heads of the Berlin Jewish community will send a petition to the emperor protesting against the anti-Semitic excesses.
—Another small rebellion in Cuba has been very promptly squelched, the participants having been defeated in the first engagement.
—At Fort Wayne, Ind., on the 12th inst., the World's Museum building and Aldine Hotel were destroyed by fire. Loss, $100,000.
—U. S. Senator Jones, of Nevada, an extensive owner of silver mines, is now investing heavily in North Carolina gold mines. So says a press dispatch.
—Colorado mining men are turning their attention to California. Quite a number are in the State now, quietly at work prospecting in the foothills of the Sierras.
—A press correspondent reports that the periodical revolution has again struck the government of Haiti, the rebels having declared in favor of General Manigat.
—The new U. S. cruiser Olympia, recently completed in San Francisco, has made her trial trip, with a record of 21.26 knots per hour, the fastest record of any vessel in the navy.
—A meeting of labor and trades unions in Philadelphia, last week, passed resolutions declaring in general terms that the Knights of Labor officers are corrupt and should not be reëlected at the approaching convention.
—Another battle between the British troops and the Matabeles in South Africa is reported. Fully a thousand Matabeles were killed, and they were completely routed. The British loss was only three killed and seven wounded.
—The Red Man, organ of the Indian Industrial School at Carlisle, Pa., speaks out squarely against the principle of "specializing" Indian education through either the church or the State. It says: "Massing tribes, massing races, Cahensleyizing, are un-American principles."
—At Breslitovsk, Germany, on the 10th inst., an explosion of chemicals wrecked a large building entirely and damaged several others. Twenty persons were killed, and a large number injured. The disaster is said to have been wholly the result of carelessness on the part of chemists.
—Judge Morrow, of the U. S. District Court, San Francisco, has decided that a personal letter containing obscenity, if securely sealed, sent through the mails, does not constitute an indictable offense. This is a new ruling, and District Attorney Garter will appeal the case involved to a higher court.
—The town of North Middleton, Ky., was terrorized on the 12th inst. by eight desperadoes riding into town and shooting promiscuously at citizens. It is supposed they were bent on robbery; but they were finally driven out, with three of their number badly wounded. One citizen, an old colored man, was fatally wounded.
—Disobedience of orders is accredited with another railroad collision, the time and place being the 9th inst., near Rising Sun, Ohio. The engineers of both trains, a fireman, and an express messenger were killed. Another collision at Seventy-first Street Station, Chicago, caused the death of four persons and the injury of thirty.
—A party of unemployed men numbering about 100 camped near Colton, Cal., on the 11th inst. They are said to have been officered and well organized. A committee of four went over to San Bernardino in quest of raw food to last them till they could get to Arizona. Their immediate wants were supplied by the city marshal.
—The New South Wales mineral exhibit at the World's Fair has been attached by the Sells Circus Co., on a suit for alleged damages while the show was in Australia last year. The N. S. W. Government appeals to the United States for protection, on the ground that the colony is the guest of this government for exhibition purposes.
—In Barcelona, Spain, on the 8th inst., while 4,000 people were assembled in an opera house, two dynamite bombs were thrown from a gallery to the lower floor. One of them exploded, causing the death of thirty people and the injury of eighty others. Several Anarchists were arrested, and one is said to have confessed his part in the crime.
—A late steamer arrival at Victoria, B. C., brings word from Alaska that there have been four earthquakes during the summer at St. Augustine Island (Chorna Borna), where the mountain is now emitting dense clouds of smoke, forewarning another eruption. The natives, remembering the devastation caused by the eruption twelve years ago, are deserting the island in haste, abandoning all their interests. The last eruption rendered useless all existing charts of the neighboring waters, causing five shipwrecks.
—In Elyria, Ohio, on the 6th inst., a man named Manning shot and killed his wife, who had commenced divorce proceedings against him. He then shot and seriously wounded her sister, after which he killed himself. On the same day, in Dallas, Texas, a wealthy young man named Martin shot to death a Miss Cole, and then committed suicide.
—The Brazilian Government is said to have an agent in Baltimore enlisting men for the army of that country. The news from the rebellion is quite conflicting, the latest being to the effect that the rebel navy was again shelling Rio Janeiro, in hopes of making their success decisive before the arrival of the new government squadron now being fitted up at New York.
—An express train was robbed at Mayfield Trestle, Kentucky, on the 11th inst., by five masked men. The men had previously boarded the train, and, covering the engineer with a gun, he was compelled to stop and go with them to the express car. To save the engineer's life the messenger gave out two bags of money, something over $7,000. The engineer was then ordered to move on.
—By way of Victoria, B. C., we have news of a series of massacres of traders in the New Hebrides Islands. The latest was a raid by bushmen on an American vessel's boat which lay on the beach of the island of Pentecost. The traders were exchanging merchandise for natives, to be hired out on other islands of the group. Three men were killed, and the others escaped to the ship.
—When the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's steamer Costa Rica, flying the U. S. flag, left the port of Amapala, Honduras, on the 6th inst., seven cannon shots were fired after her by order of the authorities. The reason was the refusal of the captain to surrender General Vasquez, the defeated revolution leader, who was a passenger on the steamer. The Honduran Government has since apologized for the act.
—The trouble with the Moors is demonstrating the weakness of Spain as a government. Although there are 20,000 troops at Melilla, Morocco, they are unable to break the siege thrown around them by the Moors, and the home efforts to reinforce the Melilla garrison are notably slow for such an emergency. Besides this, the government finds it necessary to take extra precautions to guard against Anarchism at home.
—Secretary of State Gresham has written a report disavowing on the part of the government all the acts of Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltse in connection with the dethroning of the Hawaiian queen and the establishment of the provisional government. The new Minister, Mr. Willis, has not yet been heard from, and the modus operandi of the new policy is not yet fully understood in this country; but it is a subject of much and varied speculation.
—A London dispatch of the 12th inst. says: "All the horrors of famine are now raging in the mining districts. The newspapers are filled daily with an appalling story of death, destitution, and mute endurance. The terrible record of the London dock strike of five years ago did not match the present truth about the English midlands. The newspapers of to-day, for instance, tell about one community of 200 families which existed two or three weeks on two meals a week of plain bread, supplied by charity. This pitiful ration has now been cut down to one meal a week."
Catalogue free on application to the nearest Columbia Agent, or sent by mail for two 2-cent stamps. POPE MFG. CO., 221 Columbus Ave., Boston.
IF YOU ARE GOING EAST
TAKE THE FAVORITE WINTER LINE!
ARRANGE for your trip via the "Santa Fe Route" and you will be assured of a pleasant and comfortable journey.
It is the most popular Overland Route, and cannot be excelled in the way of facilities and service.
It is the only Line running Pullman Palace and Tourist Sleeping cars through to Chicago, every day, without change, on the same train.
Personally conducted Overland Excursions leave every Tuesday, baggage checked through to destination.
Steamship tickets sold to and from all European cities.
For full information in regard to rates, berths, etc., write to or call on the undersigned. J. J. Warner, Agent, 972 Broadway, Oakland, Cal., or W. A. Bissell, G. P. A., 650 Market Street, Chronicle Building, San Francisco, Cal.
"RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LIBRARY."
By Editor
No. 12, "The Columbian Year, and the Meaning of the Four Centuries." This tract is an address by Alonzo T. Jones on Columbus' day, 1893. It is revised to date. It is all that its name implies. It shows the grandest triumph of liberty in the history of nations, as well as the most shameful fall. 44 pages; price, 5½ cents.
No. 14 is entitled "Christ and the Sabbath," by Professor Prescott. This is in substance the sermons preached on the Oakland camp ground, and published in the SIGNS. 40 pages; price, 5 cents.
The above are important numbers, and should have an enormous circulation. The two will be sent postpaid to any address for ten cents. Address Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
"Views of National Reform," a 150-page pamphlet; price, 15 cents. It is a series of articles from different authors, treating upon the various phases of the National Reform movement—just what should be read and circulated at the present time.
"Civil Government and Religion, or Christianity and the American Constitution." A pamphlet of 175 large pages; price, 25 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.
Editorial Notes
By Editor
READ, without fail, the article entitled "The Good Shepherd's Estimate of a Lost Sheep."
NEXT week we give an article on "The Wisdom Religion," or Theosophy, by one who has placed not a little thought on the subject.
WE present the third of Professor Magan's articles on the "Review of Sunday Legislation" in this century. Read it in connection with what has gone before.
AN article on "Christian Science" which appears in another column will be found not only interesting reading, but profitable in showing the baselessness of that which claims so much, but is neither Christian nor scientific.
THE work entitled "The Parliament of Religions," which we noticed last week, has, we have been informed by Mr. F. T. Neely, the publisher, undergone a change of title. It will be published in one volume (fully illustrated) under the title of "The Parliament of Religions and Religious Congresses." This work is compiled from original manuscripts and stenographic reports. Terms as stated last week. F. T. Neely, publisher, Chicago.
HERE is the title of an article in the Prophetic News of October, which gives a good idea of the character of its "news" as relating to the interpretation of the prophetic word: "The Testing Date, Passover Day, April 21, 1894, expected to be the day of Napoleon's seven years' Jewish covenant, IF Passover week, 1901, is to be the end of this age." This is indeed sweetly definite. This is true now if that will be true seven years hence. What good will the now do us then?
FROM our office in Basel, Schweiz (Bâle, Switzerland), we have received the following publications: "A Catalogue of Publications in German, French, Holland, Italian, Russian-German, Spanish, Bohemian, Polish, Armenia-Turkish, and Greco-Turkish, etc. We are glad to see publications in so many languages. The second is "Los Angeles de Dios y Otros Objectos," a little brochure in Spanish, which put into English means "The Angels of God and Other Subjects." The other subjects treated in this little work are, "Satan and His Work," "Christ, the Resurrection and the Life," "Daniel 2," and "Signs of the Second Advent of Christ." Price, 5 cents. The third is composed of seven Spanish Bible readings on "The Inheritance of the Saints," "The Millennial Reign," "The End of the Wicked," "Immortality through Christ," "Importance of the Prophecies," "The Hope of the Christian," and "The Judgment." Price, 5 cents May they have a large sale.
A WORD TO THE POOR.
By Editor
This present financial depression throughout the world has brought about what may emphatically be called "hard times." And this is especially true in the large cities; and the poverty and distress will doubtless increase as the season advances. At such times of depression many in the country flock to the cities,—one of the worst things, generally speaking, they could possibly do; for the number of unemployed in the cities is always greater in proportion to the whole population than in the country.
There are those of our faith, and others who profess to be for the loaves' sake, who seem to think that in times of depression, such as we are now passing through, work or help may be obtained in a city like Oakland, where there are large churches. It is true that we have a fairly large church in Oakland, but most of its members are poor. Very few indeed own the house in which they live. They are dependent on their weekly wages for the support of themselves and families. A large number of those connected with our office of publication are apprentices. Such a church has all the poor of its own it can well provide for. Oakland church has not only its own poor, but those who have come here from other churches, till the burden is indeed heavy, besides the constant calls for help from the outside world. The advice of the Signs to everyone is, Do not come to Oakland or San Francisco unless you are assured of work before coming, or are able to live without work. The opportunities for working even for one's board are few indeed.
Another word: Economize. If you have useless or hurtful habits, leave them off. Do you drink habitually, or at all? Leave it off for the sake of wife and children. Do you use tobacco? Quit it; it is better for you and all around you. Tea and coffee are not foods; and you are better without them. Purchase that which is good, wholesome, and cheap. Do your part as God bids you and he will do his. And let all those who have abundance remember the poor.
THOSE “MIRROR” ARTICLES.
By Editor
The tract “The Christian Sabbath” from a Roman Catholic Standpoint, a reprint of the articles from the Catholic Mirror which appeared in the Sentinel, and which is No. 113 of the Bible Students’ Library, is NOW ready. We regret that some “unaccountable delay” made our first notice, two weeks ago, seem premature. But the tract is out, and all orders, we trust, will be promptly filled. Price, 4 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.; or 43 Bond Street, New York; or 18 W. Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo.
"BIBLE STUDENTS' LIBRARY."
By Editor
No. 1. BIBLE SANCTIFICATION, by Mrs. E. G. White. A pamphlet of 84 pages, eleven chapters. It is just what its name implies, and should be read and circulated everywhere. It is just what is needed to meet the claims of bogus sanctification. Price, 10 cents.
No. 2. THE "ABIDING SABBATH" AND THE "LORD'S DAY." A pamphlet of 174 pages, by A. T. Jones. It is a review of a $500 and a $1,000 "prize essay" on the Sabbath. It contains some mighty arguments, and should be widely circulated. Price, 20 cents.
No. 3. VIEWS OF NATIONAL REFORM. This number is composed of 13 tracts of the Sentinel Library bound together. 152 pages. Price, 15 cents.
No. 4. THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE, a pamphlet of 82 pages, by J. N. Loughborough. It tells of God's precious promise concerning our earth, the future home of the redeemed. Price, 10 cents.
No. 10. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES, thoroughly revised, with useless matter eliminated, and much of profit added. It is, indeed, a help to the understanding of many subjects. Price, 4 cents.
No. 14. THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, by Mrs. E. G. White. This tract portrays with vivid reality the last hours of the earth life of the world's Redeemer, the climax of his sacrifice for man. Most valuable and interesting. Price, 4 cents.
No. 16. CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, by James White. This is a good tract to hand to those who think that Christ, the Son of God, had little or nothing to do with the people of God before the first advent. Price, 2 cents.
No. 23. HONOR DUE TO GOD, by E. J. Waggoner. This little treatise shows how we may honor God, and the honor that is due him, by rendering to him his own in tithes and offerings. It is worthy of careful reading. Price, 10 cents.
Any of the above sent postpaid, on receipt of price, by Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal.
Those S. S. Lesson Pamphlets for the first quarter of 1894 are now ready and will be in the hands of the State tract societies by the time you read this notice. If you wish to get these quarterlies before the first Sabbath in the quarter, be sure to order them now. Bible Students' Library No. 116. Pacific Press, publishers.
USEFUL AND INTERESTING BOOKS
By Editor
FOR BOTH OLD AND NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
We will send the SIGNS one year with your choice of either one of the following books, postpaid, for $2.00:
PROPHETIC LIGHTS, by E. J. Waggoner, Prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, interpreted by the Bible and history. Paper bound, 180 pages, handsomely illustrated.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF FOREIGN MISSIONS of the Seventh-Day Adventists, with maps showing location of churches, etc., 294 pages, paper binding.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
is a 16-page weekly Religious Journal, and will be furnished at the following
PRICES OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Single copy, one year, postpaid, - - - - $1.50
In clubs of 10 and over to one address, @ 1.25
To foreign countries in Postal Union, ($2) 8s
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
12th and Castro Sts., Oakland, Cal., U. S. A.
Two Principles
By Editor
THE two great mainsprings of word and act throughout the entire universe are the principles of love to God and man on one side, and love of self on the other. The first is the root of all good, the second of all evil. The exceeding breadth of these passes the comprehension of mortals, and yet God has set them before us that we may choose the one and refuse the other. The reader may be helped in this study by a perusal of the article beginning on the first page, entitled "Two Principles," etc.
