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Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 26.

General Articles
Earlier text: Are the Missionaries There?

SECULAR.

—About 1,700 cases of small-pox have been reported in England.
—A young man, aged 25 years, died of leprosy at New Orleans, on the 22d ult.
—A large planing-mill at Red Bluff, Cal., was burned June 29; loss, $70,000.
—The Pigeon Indians, in northern Montana, are said to be rapidly dying for lack of food.
—The socialists in Vienna, Austria, are reported to be openly threatening the Government.
—The United States Cremation Company has purchased a site in New York for a crematory.
—Work has been commenced in earnest, at Berkeley, on the California and Nevada Narrow Gauge Railroad.
—A car load of new wheat from Texas, in good milling order, was sold at auction last week, in St. Louis, for $1.21 per bushel.
—The Dominion Government has granted the Canadian Pacific Railroad permission to carry Montana cattle over its line in bond.
—A cholera epidemic is reported at Toulon, France. The Spanish and Italian Governments have ordered strict quarantine against French vessels.
—Baltimore is improving in some respects; a man there was recently sentenced to three months' imprisonment and $25 fine for lying in a horse-trade.
—Twenty-five Mormon missionaries, with 501 converts, comprising 401 Scandinavians and 100 English, arrived at New York on the 23d ult., en route for Utah.
—The tenth annual Sunday-school festival and picnic took place at Woodward's Garden, San Francisco, on the 26th of June. The crowd was estimated at 15,000.
—Lewis Keckley, who was supposed to have been burned to death in his dwelling at Cornelius, Or., has been arrested in Ashland, for attempting to swindle life insurance companies.
—Recent advices from Queretaro state that eighteen men engaged in placing obstructions on the track of the Mexican Central Railroad were captured and shot within two days.
—A colored men's national convention for the purpose of considering the material, educational, and political interests of the colored people of the United States of America, will meet at Richmond, Va., on July 8.
—A severe hail-storm occurred in the southern part of Russia June 25. Hailstones fell as large as goose-eggs, damming rivers, and flooding the country. Many houses were destroyed, and as far as heard from forty persons were killed.
—By the breaking of the levees around Union and Roberts Islands, San Joaquin County, Cal., several thousand acres of excellent grain, ready for harvest, have been destroyed by overflow. This is the second destructive break this season.
—Steamer racing across the Atlantic Ocean is coming in vogue. It is in the memory of men not very old, when that kind of contestant gambling on the Western rivers became so destructive to life and property as to demand suppression by law.
—While sawing a log recently in a Mississippi mill, the workmen were astonished to see the log suddenly take fire and the machinery stop. Examining the saw, they discovered that every tooth was gone, and on splitting the log a cannon-ball was found buried in the heart.
—Gov. Stoneman and other prominent citizens of this State have issued an appeal for aid in the work of restoring the old adobe church of the Mission San Carlos at Monterey, to be preserved as a monument to its founder, Father Junipero Serra. The mission was established August 28, 1784.
—Thomas Walling recently met his wife at Muncie, Ind., for the first time since 1849. At that time he left her and three small children, and departed for California. She did not hear from him after 1852. Supposing him dead, she has since been married twice, and is now a widow.
—A number of Jews who had fled from Russia to the island of Cyprus to avoid persecution, have been returned to Odessa, as destitute subjects, and are being sent to the interior.
—There is a promise of better days in Ireland. The Land Commission has agreed upon a reduction in rentals, which will amount to about $15,000,000 this year. This amount distributed amongst the people will be considerable relief.
—Taintor and Holt, bankers of New York City, have given a careful analysis of the decline in speculative securities of the country, beginning with the assassination of Garfield in 1881. They show that there has been an aggregate depreciation of about $1,500,000,000—and still the tendency is downward.
—Last week, as the usual crowd of boys gathered around a circus tent in this city, and became, as usual, somewhat annoying, a performer, known as "the man with the iron jaw," threw an iron bar into the crowd. The missile struck one little fellow on the head, and fractured his skull. He will probably die; in the meantime the circus man is in jail, and refused bail.
—A most destructive rain-storm occurred throughout western Maryland and the Cumberland Valley on the night of June 25. A telegraphic dispatch says: "For several hours the rain poured as though hundreds of cloud-bursts had let their torrents out upon the earth." The loss in houses, crops, farm implements, live stock, etc., is said to be immense, together with some loss of human life, but to what extent is not yet known.
—Secretary Chandler has written a caustic letter to the members of the court-martial who recently acquitted Lieutenant Field of the navy, charged with drunkenness. He says no head of the department would ever venture to send Field to sea; that they have failed in their duty; and if officers will not condemn those of their own corps for drunkenness, the Legislative branch of the Government will in some way "stamp out the vice of alcoholism among officers of the navy."
—A young man at Vincennes, Ind., two weeks ago shot and killed a young married woman who refused to marry him because she had not yet procured her divorce. A few days afterward citizens congregated at the jail and took him out and hanged him to a telegraph pole. He requested them to hang him on the spot where he had committed the deed. He said he was sorry for the crime, and, strangely enough, asked that his mother be told that he could not meet her in Heaven.
—Sacramento is just agitated over the question of licensing houses of ill-fame. This is in direct line with the predictions of the Mail. It is now nearly a year since faro was recognized by the municipal authorities of that town as a legitimate industry, and was taxed the same as meat markets and drug stores. We foresaw then the coming of a time when all other social evils would be fostered with a view to revenue.—Stockton Mail. How long will it be before murder is thus "regulated"?
—The brig Morning Star, the missionary vessel of the American Board, which has done duty in the Pacific waters for about twenty years, has been totally wrecked on the island of Kusac. A new and larger vessel is being built, intended to take her place, but until that is finished, another will have to be chartered, as many of the Pacific mission stations depend for supplies upon the regular trips of the missionary brig. The new vessel is to be provided with steam apparatus as well as sails.
—A correspondent of the San Francisco Bulletin, writing from Constantinople, says: "The Turkish Government does not fear America, and it does not care to please those whom it does not fear. For a time our people, when they wanted any favors of the Government here, would apply to the English officials, who are backed by iron-clads, and, as a matter of courtesy, they would act for them. But the Turk is finding this out and the artifice no longer succeeds. Gen. Wallace, our Minister, has tried to protect the rights of American citizens, but he finds his position so embarrassed in trying to do this, and having nothing back of him—no cannon or bayonets close at hand to make his efforts effective—that he has asked permission to return to Washington. It is said, to have an interview with the home Government. It is to be hoped that our country will adopt a more vigorous policy in the East, and that American citizens may not be compelled to seek the aid of foreign powers that make themselves respected by the Turk." A recent dispatch, however, of a later date than the above, represents the Porte as disposed to be very friendly to this Government, and full of liberal promises.

Publishers’ Department.

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OUR GENERAL AGENTS.

Michigan—Miss Hattie House, care Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
New England—Mrs. E. T. Palmer, N. E. Tract Repository, South Lancaster, Mass.
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Switzerland—B. L. Whitney, care Les Signes des Temps, Bale, Suisse.

Street and Number.

Will the city colporters and canvassers please to be careful to give full address—street and number, or P. O. box—of subscribers, when sending in subscriptions to the Signs. Please write names plainly as possible. We desire to use every precaution necessary to insure the prompt and regular delivery of the paper.

"Sunshine at Home."

EIGHT hundred of the new edition are now printed, and ready for delivery. It has a new design for the cover, and is bound in fine English muslin, embossed in jet and gold. Price, $1.50. Agents wanted.
PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal. General agents for Pacific Coast States and Territories.

The Fourth Volume.

ALL who have read the three volumes of "The Great Controversy" (or Spirit of Prophecy, as it has been called) have looked forward with interest to the time when the fourth and closing volume would be completed. The period of history which it covers is one of deepest interest to every Christian, and the fact that the closing chapters relate the present duty and future experience of the people of God adds still greater interest to the volume. Most of the manuscript is now written, and the type is being set. A prospectus has been prepared, and we can speak confidently of the contents of volume four.
Several chapters are especially devoted to an exposure of the great deceptions by which the arch rebel has led the world captive, and to a vivid portrayal of his subtlety in introducing these heresies one by one into the church.
Earnest Christians of all denominations will find in it encouragement and instruction in the delineation of the struggle maintained by men raised up of God in each successive age to preserve the pure and true religion, and they will see that the world has been led to accept one after another of Satan's devices, till her teachers are corrupted with false doctrines and with infidelity.
While reading the manuscript of this volume, we have been deeply impressed with the importance of placing it, as soon as published, in the hands of thoughtful people of all sects and classes; therefore we have decided to employ agents and sell this with the three preceding volumes on the subscription plan.
If our agent fails to call on you, or if we have no agent in your locality, notify the publishers or the State Secretary of the S. D. A. Tract Society in your State, and our agent will be notified to call on you.
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.

Science and Christianity.

THERE has for several generations been a class of men who claimed that science overthrew Christianity. Christians have not been slow to reply that the Bible was capable of being interpreted so as to harmonize with science, and many are the books which have been written to establish the harmony. Each new discovery in nature and each new theory of science are arrayed against our religion, and Christians busy themselves to harmonize the Scriptures with them, claiming that between true science and the Bible rightly understood there is no conflict. While this is true, yet Christians foolishly allow themselves to be thrown upon the defensive, and they forget the history of the conflict. There is not now and has not been any conflict between science and religion. The conflict has been between the science of one age with the science of a previous age. Take the case of Galileo, which skeptics are so fond of citing. True, those who claimed to be Christians persecuted him for denying the Ptolemaic theory of astronomy. But where did that theory come from? Was it not invented and advocated by scientific men? Time was when it was "contrary to science" to deny the Ptolemaic system. Galileo's controversy, therefore, was not with any article of religion or any doctrine of Scripture, but with the science of a previous age. It was simply science against science. The fault of Galileo's persecutors was that they believed what science had taught them. Scientific men advance their theories. Theologians believe them. Presently the scientific men change their theories, and then a small class of them attack the theologians for believing what science has taught them, and say that the Bible is overthrown and Christianity must go. A more absurdly ridiculous performance it would be difficult to conceive. If the theologians of the past were to blame for believing what the scientific men of the past taught, then the proper thing for us is to refuse to believe what scientific men of the present teach, so that we will not be blamed in the time to come, and so that no contradiction can be made out between our scientific beliefs and the future theories of men of science.—T. T. E., in N. Y. Examiner.

THE SABBATH QUESTION.

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
Eleven Sermons on the Sabbath and Law. 228 pp. 25c
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

THE SECOND ADVENT.

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—Without Excuse—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

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.

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.

Duty and Contentment

A good man and a wise man may at times be grieved with the world, but no man is ever discontented in the world if he does his duty in it.

Volcanic Action in Alaska

PROF. GEORGE DAVIDSON has communicated to Science the following particulars of recent volcanic action in Alaska: "The explosion of October 6, 1883, split perpendicularly in twain the mountain of St. Augustine, situated on the island of the same name, forty-nine miles west of the settlement on Port Graham or English Harbor, in Cook's Inlet, Alaska. Vast columns of smoke were seen to rise from the summit of the mountain, a column of white vapor rose from the sea near the island, and a great earthquake wave, twenty-five to thirty feet high, came upon Port Graham, followed by two other waves, estimated at eighteen and fifteen feet. Had it not been low water, all the people of the settlement would have been lost. The tides rise and fall about fourteen feet. Captain Sands, who was at English Harbor, states that if there were plenty of water in the line of rupture of the mountain, it would be possible for a vessel to sail through. Captain Culkie, of the schooner Kodiak, who approached St. Augustine on November 10, found a new island about a mile and a half long and seventy-five feet high, that had been upheaved in the ten-fathom passage between the island and the mainland. At the same time two extinct volcanoes on the Alaskan Peninsula, reported to be about west from the active volcano Iliamna (12,000 feet high), burst into activity. A party of Aleuts, living on the island, are supposed to be lost."

Church Entertainment Extraordinary.

THE newest thing in church entertainments comes from Georgia. The members of the Darien M. E. Church (colored) widely distributed a flaming poster announcing a grand excursion from Darien to Brunswick, on June 19, to witness a hanging at the latter place. The steamer was to leave on Thursday afternoon, a big supper and a hop were to be given in the evening, the hanging could be seen next forenoon, and the return trip made the following evening, all for only one dollar. A band of music was to attend, and especial attention was called to the fact that children were not excluded. Tickets could be obtained at any time from the committee, which consisted of a doctor and the pastor of the church.
We think our colored friends are a little ahead on the matter of church entertainments. Some fastidious persons may be inclined to think that they did not display very good taste in their programme of exercises, but we can assure such that they are behind the times. The object in all church festivals and parties is to make the event so attractive that the world will be willing to patronize. Those who are best able to meet the wants of the people, are the ones who increase the church finance. Good taste should not for a moment be allowed to stand in the way of the church's prosperity. As the Independent says, beside this entertainment the church lottery and grab-bag and mock wedding pale into insignificance. The Darien church has certainly earned the title of "working church." We may now expect to see the church fair entirely superseded by this new novelty. Hanging for murder is so rare an occurrence in California that an entertainment of that kind would be apt to "draw" immensely.

Teach the Children.

THE instruction from the Lord, after he had given the commandments, was, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” This is imperative. The duty to give proper instruction to children is so clear as to be recognized by all. No one questions it, but thousands fail in the discharge of it. Very often this failure comes not so much from willful neglect on the part of parents, as from lack of knowledge; they do not know how to impart instruction to the young minds in their charge.
It will be noticed that the command is unqualified. No statement is made as to how old the children should be before the teaching begins. We must suppose, then, that it is to begin at the earliest time at which the child is capable of learning. This is really at the very beginning of its existence. The mother who asked an eminent educator when she ought to begin the education of her four-year-old boy, was told that if she had not already begun it she had lost four years.
Passing by the earliest infancy of the child, when it learns chiefly from its mother's countenance, as it lies in her arms, and from the tone of her voice, rather than the words she utters, we come to the time when its mind begins to reach out and grasp its surroundings. It is astonishing how much a child learns in the first few years of its life. Its mind is active, and then is the time to make deep impressions upon it. The question to be decided is, “Shall these impressions be good or bad?”
We believe it to be the truth that religious impressions may be made upon the mind of a child more readily than at any subsequent time. Why not? It is sin that separates us from God, and the long indulgence of sin that makes it so difficult for us to exercise simple faith in Christ. But the child is comparatively innocent; its nature has not been warped by a career of self-indulgence. The ground is therefore clear for the reception of the seeds of truth. And it is very necessary that the ground be occupied then. The child will learn, and if you do not keep its mind filled with that which is good, Satan will see that it is filled with evil. Many parents who would tremble at the thought of teaching their children bad habits, or implanting evil principles in their breasts, do that which is but little better, namely, nothing. Instead of putting in good seed at first, they wait until they have to pull up weeds before good seed can be sown. This certainly is not the part of wisdom.
But how shall the child be taught? Its mind cannot grasp abstract reasoning, and you could not hold its attention for a moment, should you attempt it. Fortunately, we have but to take advantage of a means that always exists. Curiosity is strong in every child. This is not a fault, and should not be repressed, but directed. If it had no curiosity to ask about that which it sees, it would always remain an infant in understanding. There is no child that does not love pictures, and this love for pictures is manifested at a very early age. Side by side with this, is the desire to hear a story. When you show a child an attractive picture, and then propose to tell a story about it, you have his attention secured at once. If you do not hold it, it is because you yourself are not interested in the story, or do not put life into its recital. If now the picture that you present is one representing some Bible incident, you have everything at your command for imparting valuable Bible truth. In this way children may learn the story of Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, etc., or be familiar with many events in the life of Christ, even before it can read; for everybody knows that each repetition of an interesting story only makes a child more anxious to hear it again; and there are no stories so thrillingly interesting as those of the Bible. The result of this will be that as soon as the child is able to read, he will want to read these familiar stories for himself, and thus a habit of Bible study may be one of the first things established.
We have now before us a series of twelve pictures, fastened upon a piece of wood, and inclosed with a neat cover, forming a roll, entitled, “From the Manger to the Cross.” As the name indicates, it represents scenes in the life of our Saviour. The pictures are colored, so as to readily attract the eye, and are 21x26 inches in size. The roll is designed to be hung on the wall, by a cord attached to each end of the roller, and thus any one picture may be continually exposed to view. While the mother is at work with her sewing, the attention of the little one can be directed to one of the pictures, and its story told. Advantage can be taken of the interest thus awakened, to dwell upon Christ's love, and the child will early learn to love Him who loved children.
The price of this roll, post-paid, is two dollars; for sale at the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We shall have more to say on this subject hereafter. We hope many will supply themselves with these and other helps to lead the children into the way of life.

Camp-Meetings for 1884.

IOWA, Marshalltown Aug. —
TEXAS, Dallas “ 1-10
NEW YORK, — “ 14-26
ILLINOIS, Peoria “ 19-26
NEW ENGLAND, — Aug. 20 to Sept. 2
VERMONT, Burlington “ 29 to “ 8
MAINE, — Sept. 4-15
OHIO, Columbus “ 11-22
COLORADO, Denver “ —
GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

No Paper Next Week

THERE will be no paper next week; number 27 will bear date of July 17.

Posters for Tent Meetings

A FEW weeks ago we mentioned the fact that we had prepared some posters for advertising special subjects at tent-meetings. One who ordered a set of them writes: “I would never begin another series of meetings without them.” If there is not a daily paper in the place where the meetings are held, we do not see how they can be well advertised without these posters; and if there is a paper, they will serve as a valuable help, catching the eyes of many who would not see the paper.

Cooper Union Annual Report

WE have received the twenty-fifth Annual Report of the trustees of the Cooper Union, of New York, which contains an interesting account of the founding of this institution, and its workings up to the present time. It is doubtful if the gifts of any philanthropist in the United States have been of more practical benefit to the people than those of Peter Cooper. The free reading-room and library of this institution contains nearly 18,000 volumes, and 451 periodicals, among which is the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Visitors to the library can always find this paper.

Are the Commandments Abolished?

IN the editorial columns of the last number of Messiah's Herald, it is stated with great positiveness that “the commandments are abolished,” the writer not allowing of any exception. In an adjoining column another of the editorial staff speaks of “corrupt human hearts which are ‘enmity against God,’ and cannot be subject to his law.” Cannot be subject to what law? Is it possible that one of the editors of the Herald hasn't been told by his brethren that there is no law? How does he know that human hearts are corrupt? And how can anybody be an enemy of God when he has no law to define his will, or, in other words, has no will? We accept the second quotation as a slip of the pen, and an evidence that when truth is so plenty, men who have anything to do with the Bible cannot help giving expression to it once in a while, even against their will.

To Colorado Sabbath-Keepers.

All the Sabbath-keepers in Colorado who are not directly connected with the churches of the State, please send at once their post-office address to N. H. Rankin, S. D. A. Tent, corner Twenty-third and California Street, Denver, Col.

A MINE OF INFORMATION.

HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AND FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.

By Eld. J. N. Andrews.
The Bible record of the Sabbath; the secular history concerning it; the successive steps by which the change to the first day was made, and the work of restoration, are given in detail.
EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE concerning the Sabbath is commented on at length; and the COMPLETE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS in regard to the Sabbath and first day is given. The comparative merits of the seventh and the first-day Sabbaths are fully shown. A copious index enables the reader to find any text, or the statement of any historian.
Should be read by everybody. 528 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE

International Tract and Missionary Society.

A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, . . . . . . . . $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary Work, . . . . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

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Signs of the Times · Jul 3, 1884