p. 272 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 17. (2/26/1894)

LESSON X.—SABBATH, MARCH 10, 1894

MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 5: 1-16.

1. Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;

2. And he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3. And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to push out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.

4. And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5. And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

6. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;

7. And they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9. For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;

10. And so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him;

12. And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

13. And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.

14. And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

15. But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.

16. But he withdrew himself to the deserts, and prayed.

CHAPTERS 1-3 have been sufficiently outlined in previous lessons; let us see into how small a compass we may compress the contents of the fourth chapter, for convenience in carrying in our mind: (1) The temptation in the wilderness: (2) return to Galilee: (3) preaching and rejection at Nazareth; (4) at Capernaum,—casting out a devil in the synagogue, healing Peter's wife's mother and the multitudes. It will not take very long to master so brief a summary as that, and then the entire chapter is at your command. Do not, however, try to master the summary by memorizing the outline here given; master it solely by reading the chapter so carefully and so often that its contents become indelibly fixed in your mind. Use the outline here given, simply as an aid to getting each section of the chapter to stand out clearly and distinctly as you read it.

The lesson now before us is very simple in outline. Verses 1-11 record the miraculous draught of fishes, after a night of useless toil, and the calling of Peter, James, and John. Verses 12-15 tell of the cleansing of a leper. The two phrases, 'miraculous draught of fishes,' and 'cleansing of the leper,' bring the entire lesson to mind. Verse 16 presents Jesus at prayer.

Where was Jesus standing as the people pressed to hear him?
What were near at hand?
What course did Jesus take to relieve himself from the pressure of the crowd?
After he had finished speaking, what did he say to Simon?
What reply did Simon make?
What was the result of obeying the word of Jesus?
To whom did they call for help?
How large a quantity of fish had they taken?
When Peter saw the result, what did he do and say?
What did Jesus say to them?
What did they do as soon as they came to land?
As Jesus was in a certain city, who came to him?
What faith did the leper show?
How did Jesus respond to his faith?
What was the result?
What charge did Jesus give the man?
Did this diminish the fame of Jesus?
For what purpose did multitudes come to Jesus?
Where did Jesus go to be free from the multitudes? and why?

NOTES.

1. WHEN Peter and John left their business to follow the Saviour, they might have argued that it would be too bad to leave their work now, when they were so successful; but they knew that their success was wholly due to Jesus, and that he had given them that success for the purpose of showing them his power to help them in the new work to which he now called them. The power of Christ had brought the multitudes of fishes into the net. It was not a favorable time for fishing. The men had toiled all night in vain, and they would not have thought of going out to fish in the morning, even if the night had been favorable. But they followed the word of the Lord, and he gave them more than they could ordinarily have caught under the most favorable circumstances. But this was not done wholly for their sakes. It was written for our sakes also. If the Master has called us to become fishers of men, we may know that if we follow his word we shall have divine power. 'At thy word,' said Peter, 'I will let down the net.' So those who go out into the work of God may expect large results if they use only the word of the Lord. The injunction is, 'Preach the word.' The word of the Lord is all-powerful, if it is only allowed free course.

2. THE man who came to Jesus was 'full of leprosy.' So we may be full of sin, yet there is as much hope for our cleansing as there was for his. The Lord speaks thus to his people: 'The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.' Isa. 1: 5, 6. One word from Jesus made the man clean from his leprosy. So one word from Jesus will make a man clean from sin. John 15: 3. To the same ones described in Isa. 1: 5, 6, the Lord speaks in verse 18: 'Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' God 'calls those things which be not as though they were.' Rom. 4: 17. So when he 'declares his righteousness' upon a man who is full of sin, then that man becomes righteous; for whatever God says, must be. God spoke to vacancy, and the earth was. He said to the thick darkness, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.' To the troubled waters he said, 'Peace, be still,' and immediately there was a great calm. So he speaks to the troubled soul, and there is peace. We cannot understand how a man's leprosy can be healed in an instant by a word, but it was done; and it was done to show Christ's power to cleanse from sin. If we do not learn this lesson from the miracle, we read the record in vain.

3. 'And he put forth his hand and touched him.' Note that Jesus was not afraid of the leprosy. Any other person in the country would have run in horror from a leper. No one would have allowed so loathsome an object to come near him. But Jesus touched him. Disease could not stay a moment after his divine, life-giving touch. This is to show how close Jesus comes to us in our sinfulness. He will not turn away from the vilest. Sin cannot withstand his life-giving touch. If the leper had said, 'I am too vile to come into the presence of Jesus,' he would not have been cleansed. Was it not presumption for him to come?—No; it was knowledge of Christ's power, and confidence in his goodness, that brought him. These are the qualities with which the Lord is well pleased. 'Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.' Jer. 9: 23, 24. So God wants the sinner to come trusting in his power and mercy. If he says, 'I am too sinful,' that shows a disposition that would glory in self. He would come if he had something to boast of. But God delights in mercy, and mercy is unmerited favor.

4. WHEN the leper said, 'Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean,' Jesus promptly responded, 'I will.' The willingness of Jesus to relieve distress is the marked feature in his earthly life. But in this he was simply revealing to men the character of God in heaven. See 2 Cor. 5: 19. He delights in mercy. Read Micah 7: 18, 19. Jesus 'gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of

God and our Father.' Gal. 1: 4. We may not always know as surely as the leper did that it is the will of God to heal us at once from bodily infirmity; but we do know that it is always according to his will to heal us from the infirmity of sin. Of that we have the most positive assurance in the death of Christ. The apostle Paul says, 'This is the will of God even your sanctification.' 1 Thess. 4: 3. Now hear the words of inspiration through the apostle John: 'And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.' 1 John 5: 14. Then since it is God's will to save us from the infirmities of the sinful flesh, we have full assurance that he hears us whenever we ask him for cleansing and strength. But read the next verse: 'And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.' Blessed assurance! Shall we not come as confidently as the poor leper did, and be as sure as he was that we have the things that we so much need?

'Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness he requireth Is in feel your need of him.'

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 19.

RELIGIOUS.

—It is said that the Christian Endeavor movement is growing with astonishing rapidity in Ireland, but as yet there are no societies in Germany.

—The Catholic Mirror notes the fact that Protestants admit that New England, once the stronghold of Puritanism, is now practically controlled by Catholics.

—Of the population of Ireland 77 per cent. are Catholic. County Clare has less than 3,000 people who are not Catholics. Presbyterianism claims 9 per cent. of the entire population, and Methodism less than 1 per cent.

—It is said that Bishop Horstman, of Cleveland, Ohio, has, within sixteen months, confirmed 30,000 persons who were born Catholics, and 900 converts within the territory of his diocese, which is less than one-third of the State.

—It is reported that H. W. Blair will at an opportune time introduce in the House of Representatives, of which he is now a member, his once famous National Sunday Rest Bill, which he introduced and advocated so persistently in the Senate while a member of that body.

—The final decree has been issued by the pope beatifying Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans, a French heroine who flourished in the early part of the fifteenth century. She was burned at the stake by order of Henry V. of England, on the demand of the University of Paris, on charges of being a sorceress.

—A Catholic protest against the use of Myers’ “Outlines of Mediæval and Modern History” in the high schools of San Francisco has been laid before the Board of Education. The ground of objection is that it is calculated to prejudice the pupils against the Catholic religion, whereas the Constitution of the State guarantees that the public-school system shall be absolutely unsectarian.

—The Catholic News says: “Even the Lutherans of Germany are adopting some of the methods of the Catholic Church. Deaconesses and sisterhoods, in imitation of Catholic sisterhoods, have been introduced into Germany, and the Lutherans have already numerous organizations of this kind, notwithstanding the fact that Luther, Beza, Melanchthon, and the other leaders of German Protestantism, condemned such associations indiscriminately.”

—Those who advocate the claim that this is a Christian nation also propose to demonstrate the pretense by tyrannical legislation, compelling all classes of citizens to put on a religious cloak on Sunday. Thus, when they shall have secured their desired end, they will have, instead of a Christian nation, only a nation of compulsory hypocrites. That which is held up as the proof of our national Christianity is the most conclusive evidence of the fallacy of such a doctrine.

—Miss Frances E. Willard, head of the W. C. T. U., is out with another idea of reform—a “Christian theater.” Of course what Miss Willard suggests will find a large following, and even staid denominational journals indorse the suggestion. Anything goes for Christianity now, excepting the simple gospel and Bible order. The growing idea is that the world must be won for Christ with worldly methods, that the “fishers of men” must use worldly bait. But if the idea is to be adopted, there may be found many “Christian” theaters ready made; all that will be necessary will be to change the names.

SECULAR.

—Two new bridges across the Niagara are among the projected enterprises.

—Extensive floods in the Szamos Valley, Austria, are said to have inundated several villages.

—The Servian reserves have been ordered out for a protracted drill, in anticipation of a civil war.

—A cave in a coal mine at Plymouth, Pa., on the 13th inst. buried thirteen miners beyond all hope of rescue.

—There is now a joint resolution before Congress proposing a Woman Suffrage amendment to the Constitution.

—Fire in the oil warehouse of Preston & Co., at Newark, N. J., on the 14th inst., caused a loss of $200,000.

—A fire in the Bath (Me.) Iron Works, on the 13th inst., damaged the establishment to the extent of over $200,000.

—Large orders for raisins are said to be coming into Fresno, Cal., from the Eastern and Middle States. Orders to the extent of 135 car loads were reported last week.

—While the new German war ship Brandenburg was making a trial trip outside of Kiel Bay, on the 16th inst., a steam pipe exploded, killing thirty-nine men and wounding nine.

—European and American “civilization” is still onward in Japan. They are said to have adopted bomb throwing as a means of political revenge, and started fourteen life insurance companies within a year.

—A member of the Prussian Diet calls attention to the fact that the silver coins of Germany are now 60 per cent. below their face value, and appeals to the imperial government to inaugurate some measures of relief.

—From Oh-Kuh-Su, Mongolia, near the Siberian frontier, come reports of severe earthquake shocks during the last week of December. It is said that a large district was devastated, and a large number of human lives lost.

—Col. J. D. Stevenson, who came to California in 1846, in command of the First New York Volunteer Regiment, died in San Francisco on the 14th inst., aged 94 years. He attributed his long life to his extremely temperate habits.

—Property owners on Indian River, Fla., whose land was liable to damage by a railroad being constructed to Lake Worth, are said to have planted the proposed track with explosive bombs in order to deter workmen from prosecuting the work.

—Last week we announced the first dispatches that reached here in regard to the great storm, which included only the section from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. But later advices tell of its fury even to the northern Atlantic seaboard.

—At Fullerton, Orange County, Cal., last week, a delegation of armed citizens visited a company of Chinese fruit packers and notified them that they were not wanted in that town. The Chinamen immediately quit work and took the next train for Los Angeles.

—A late dispatch from Rio Janeiro says that yellow fever of a virulent type has invaded the American merchant ships in that harbor. In consequence of the rapid spread of the disease, Admiral Benham has ordered two of the American war ships away from the port.

—The highest ambition of the Liberals, now in control of the Government of Great Britain, is announced to be the abolition of the House of Lords, whose acts are declared to be always in the interest of its wealthy members and against the interests of the people at large.

—The reckless injustice of mob law was demonstrated in Chilton County, Ala., last week. A white woman was fatally shot, as was supposed by one of two negroes, and, it being uncertain which of the two had committed the deed, which both denied, the mob hanged them both.

—The entire crew of the wrecked U. S. sloop of war Kearsarge were rescued by the steamer City of Paris, after a ten days’ exposure to tropical heat on Roncador reef. They are expected to arrive in New York sometime the present week. All the money on the wrecked vessel was saved.

—Sir John Thompson, of Canada, publicly charges that the “United States Government has paid agents going up and down Canada sowing discontent and disaffection among the people, so that the present government of the Dominion might be deposed, and that American manufacturers might get control of the markets of the Dominion.”

—On the night of the 15th inst. robbers ditched an express train at Roscoe, a flag station in the southern part of this State. They blew open the express car, but the amount secured is said to have been small. By the overturning of the locomotive, the fireman and a tramp who was stealing a ride on the cowcatcher were killed. This is the second robbery that has taken place at Roscoe.

—A Frenchman, named Bourdin, passing through Greenwich Park, London, on the 15th inst., was fatally mangled by the explosion of a bomb which he had in his possession. He died in half an hour afterward, being unable to give any account of himself. The explosion is supposed to have been accidental. Other explosives were found in his room.

—Steamer advices from Japan report several extensive fires. At Kagoshima, January 24, 500 dwellings and several other buildings were burned, and fourteen men lost their lives. In Soo Chow, January 15, 1,500 houses were destroyed by fire, 400 of which were stores and shops. On January 28, at Shinagawa, over 300 houses were burned, including the city hall.

—It is reported that in Warsaw, Poland, there have been numerous searches of houses recently, by Russian officials, owing to the discovery of an extensive Nihilist Society. The editorial workers on two newspapers have been arrested, as also a number of Catholic priests, on charges of agitating the liberation of the Poles. The bishop of Kaliniki has been deprived of his stipend.

—At Penseline, Germany, on the 13th inst., a barn in which some schoolchildren took refuge from a storm was blown down, and five of the children were killed. At Lucjenwalde the storm blew down a factory chimney and ten persons were killed. At Finteln the fall of a chimney killed two persons. At Cuxhaven shipping suffered extensive damage. Great damage is also reported at Hesse and Waldeck.

—The Japan Mail states that the authorities have promised to execute the ringleaders of the riots at Sung Pu, on which occasion two Christian missionaries were killed. U. S. Consul Beck refused a money indemnity. It is claimed that the ill feeling recently manifested toward foreigners has considerably abated, and that three heads of police who tolerated the assaults on Archbishop Shaw have been removed.

—Armenians of Seevas, Asiatic Turkey, have earnestly requested the American Consul there to inform President Cleveland of the sad condition of the Armenians. They claim that the governor of Seevas arbitrarily detains a number of innocent prisoners, and that included among the number is a doctor, educated in the United States, who is falsely accused of sedition. Turks killed 125 Armenians and wounded 340 during the recent riots at Yugaq.

—Official position sometimes fails in a court of justice. A man named John Y. McKane has been convicted in a New York court of conspiracy to violate the election laws. His official and social position is designated by the press as “king of Coney Island, despot of Gravesend, chief of police, chief of the fire department, president of the Police Board, president of the Town Improvement Board, supervisor, and superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school.”

—Several associations of railway employees have petitioned Congress to investigate the legality and propriety of the order of the U. S. Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, enjoining the employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company from joining in a strike against a reduced schedule of wages. It is claimed that the injunction invades the rights of free men to confer together for mutual benefit, or to cease labor for an employer when they choose to do so.

—At the San Francisco Midwinter Fair, on the evening of the 13th inst., Carlo Thiemann, the lion tamer, was attacked by three lions in their cage, and so badly mangled that he died the next day. He was just entering the cage to begin the usual performance, when the lights went out, and the beasts suddenly became furious and attacked him. As soon as the light was restored, the owner of the show went into the cage, beat off the maddened animals, and dragged out their victim.

—A destructive bomb was thrown and exploded in the restaurant of the Hotel Terminus, Paris, on the night of the 13th inst. As a result the furniture and windows were somewhat damaged, and a number of persons were injured. The culprit who threw the bomb was arrested, and has been identified as an American, named Henry, a native of Barcelona, Spain, although a Frenchman. He seems to be regardless of consequences either to himself or to others. He fired on the police as they pursued him, and one officer received four shots.

—The leading brewers and hop dealers of this State have declared a boycott against Lake County hops, because the supervisors of that county have adopted a prohibition liquor ordinance. The daily Times of this city, speaking of the injustice of this action of brewers and dealers, says, “To all enlightened, unbiased minds the boycott is an un-American institution.” Only a few months ago the Times indorsed and even urged a boycott against a clothing merchant who persisted in keeping the store open Sunday mornings against the wishes of the Clerks’ Union. The principle of the boycott is underhanded conspiracy, whether it be inspired by business interest, political intrigue, or religious bigotry.

A Roman Catholic Correspondent

By Editor

A FRIEND of the Roman Catholic Church writes a letter to this office with reference to a statement contained in a recent issue of the paper that the 'Holy Catholic Church put to death fifty millions of the saints of God.' The correspondent above referred to emphatically says, 'You lie,' and demands proof, and then shows that he would accept no proof which might be given, by saying that 'there never was a saint of any kind in Protestantism, and never can be.' He then says that the Protestants are represented by the locusts of Rev. 9:3. Of course the destruction of fifty millions of locusts, directly or by instigation, is nothing, but the destruction of Protestant saints—there never was nor ever will be any! Nothing would be proof to such a man. He has rejected it before it is presented.

The Religious Amendment Is Unchristian

By Editor

The Christian Statesman of February 3 says in respect to the proposed religious amendment to the Constitution, now before Congress, and which we have noted elsewhere:—

"The Christian people of the land have now the opportunity to secure a clear and permanent basis in the fundamental law of the land, for all 'our Christian laws, institutions, and usages.' Prayer to God should be made continually by all Christians on this behalf. Petitions will be prepared and distributed for signature, that our national legislators may know that this is the desire of the best portion of our citizenship."

We know this, and every other soul who knows Jesus Christ will also know, that the measure is most unchristian, because Christianity is not a matter of civil law, nor can it be. Civil law can set up its counterfeit, but the genuine can be set up only as it is set up in each individual heart,—by the power of the Spirit of God. Religious laws can only make counterfeit Christians or hypocrites. Many sincere souls will be deceived by the measure, but let the friends of the truth undeceive and instruct as many as possible. Says the Statesman, "Some of the leading members of both Houses [of Congress] have already given assurance of their earnest support."

And so Constantine and the bishops of Rome found their vassals. Truly the time has come to "cry aloud, and spare not," to blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in the church of God. Christ is rejected for the world. As of old, "Who is on the Lord's side?" Christ's kingdom is not of this world.

“BIBLE STUDENTS’ LIBRARY.”

By Editor

READ the following and see if there is not some publication here which you desire to read or which will benefit some friend. The omitted numbers are not now published:—

No. 1. BIBLE SANCTIFICATION. By Mrs. E. G. White. A pamphlet of 84 pages, 11 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 promises to Abraham and all the faithful 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, upon which many Scripture references are given. 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.

Any of the above sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, by Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal.; 43 Bond Street, New York; or 18 West Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo.

Religious Liberty Library Volume 1

By Editor

"Religious Liberty Library, Vol. 1, numbers 1-6," Religious Liberty Association, 267 West Main Street, Battle Creek, Mich. Price, 75 cents.

The above volume contains the first six numbers of the Religious Liberty Library, bound in one substantial volume. It contains most excellent matter, and will be of great service to Bible workers and ministers. No. 1 is "Due Process of Law and Divine Right of Dissent," by Alonzo T. Jones; No. 2, "Religious Intolerance in the Republic; Christians Persecuting Christians in Tennessee;" No. 3, "Church and State," by James T. Ringgold, Esq.; No. 4, "The National Sunday Law; Argument of Alonzo T. Jones before the U. S. Senate Committee on Education and Labor, at Washington, D. C., Dec. 13, 1888;" No. 5, "Sunday Laws in the United States," by Jas. T. Ringgold, Esq.; No. 6, "Captivity of the Republic, a Report of Hearing by House Committee on Columbian Exposition, January 10-13, 1893; and the Present Status and Effect of the Legislation on Sunday Closing of the World's Fair," by Alonzo T. Jones. A truly important volume.

OUR NEXT NUMBER.

By Editor

THE next issue of the SIGNS will be a most important one. It will contain: 1. An article by Elder A. F. Ballenger, entitled "Protestantism, True and False." It will show just what true Protestantism is, as manifested in the Reformation, and just how the great Protestant denominations have departed from the principles of Protestantism; and it will prove this by their own recent writings.

2. "Province of Civil Government," by Elder W. A. Colcord. This sets forth the proper province of civil government, as taught by the word of God, and as held by Martin Luther and Roger Williams.

3. An article by Elder A. T. Jones, entitled "What Is Protestantism?" This has before appeared in the American Sentinel, but will be doubly valuable in the new setting.

4. Besides the above, this number will contain other articles which we cannot now definitely announce. We have several articles of worth, but just what ones we shall use of these we cannot at this writing determine. But the whole first part of the paper will be in the same line, and will be a most earnest and powerful appeal to all genuine Protestants to return to genuine Protestantism, which is Christianity.

Extra numbers of this issue will be published, and many thousand extra copies should be circulated. Let our societies order extra copies at once.

How Can They?

By Editor

Here are two sentences from the same editorial note in our Methodist contemporary across the bay, taken from its issue of January 24. In speaking of the way the Midwinter Fair managers have regarded Sunday and those who desired the Fair closed on Sunday, it says:—

"The commissioners have not hitherto shown the slightest regard for the Christian sentiment of this country."

The third sentence beyond this is as follows:—

"The lax condition of Christian sentiment in this country at this time is little less than appalling."

Query: According to the Advocate's own showing, how is it possible for the Fair commissioners to have any regard for such sentiment?

A Proposed Constitutional Amendment

The Christian Statesman, in speaking of the proposed amendment to the Constitution, given on our first page, says that "the introduction of the bill is due to the efforts of Dr. H. H. George, who has been sent to Washington, by the National Reform Association, to establish there a Bureau of Legislative Reform," a sort of congressional censor, so to speak, for ignorant and recreant legislators.

Place the Next Number of the Signs

By Editor

You have Protestant friends who are undecided in these great questions of religion and liberty now agitating the world, who desire to know the right, but who think that the churches cannot go astray. Place in their hands the next number of the SIGNS.

Sabbath School Lessons on Luke

By Editor

Sabbath school lessons on the book of Luke for the second quarter of this year are now ready. They are a continuation of last quarter, chapters 7 to 11 inclusive being considered. Remember to preserve your old pamphlets, and above all lay up in memory the precious lessons from the Book of God. Now is the time for those tract societies and Sabbath schools to order who have not. Isolated individuals may order of Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. The pamphlet is printed as No. 120 Bible Students' Library. Order by number. Price, postpaid, 5 cents.

European Politics and the Coming Storm

It is not possible to forecast European politics and changes. A few days ago war seemed imminent, and the sages were telling us that in that conflict Germany, Austria, and Italy would stand on one side, with England perhaps an ally, if not, at least a friendly neutral, and on the other Russia and France. But now Russia and Germany have entered into a treaty of commerce and amity, and no one, save Omniscience, knows what the next move will be on the great political chessboard of the world. God's angels are holding the winds of strife till his work is done. When that time comes, the winds will be loosed, the great whirlwind will rage, the battle of Armageddon and the end will be here.