Earlier text: The Son of God Died"In Due Season."
By William N. Glenn
IN the 24th chapter of Matthew the Saviour gives his disciples instruction in regard to his second advent. Although explicit signs are given by which they may know that his coming is "near, even at the doors," yet "of that day and hour knoweth no man." On this account he cautions them to watch, and to be ready; and then inquires, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" Verse 45. By due season we understand, at the proper time. The force of the Saviour's language was brought to mind a few days ago, by reading in the Mendocino Beacon's San Francisco correspondence, an account of the writer's attempt at getting novelties for a Thanksgiving dinner. He was to have some Eastern friends at his house on the occasion, and wished "to boast of our climate, soil, and State generally." He procured strawberries, raspberries, and cucumbers, and comments as follows: "With the exception of the raspberries, the novelty did not compensate for the insipidity of the lot. Fruit out of natural season is not good." The meat or food which the Lord refers to, as above quoted, is evidently, proper and timely teaching in regard to his coming. This meat must be given at the proper time, "in due season." Hence he is careful to give the time and manner of the event. He not only specifies the true, seasonable food which should be given to his household, but he points out that which would grow out of season, and was to be avoided: "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Verse 24. The true signs of his coming are given in verse 29: "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." But the contrast between the true and false manner of coming is given in verses 26, 27: "Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." The doctrine of the coming of the Lord is good food for the church. But to place it at a wrong time, or to present it in a wrong manner, is insipid meat, being out of due season. The Thessalonian church early imbibed the notion that the Lord was coming in their day, and it had a bad effect upon their Christian deportment. The apostle Paul wrote to them directly upon this point, reproving them sharply for their conduct. Some of them, on the strength of this idea, had ceased to labor for their own support, and had become busybodies, imposing upon others. Why did the doctrine of the second advent have such a bad effect upon them? Because the Advent was placed at the wrong time, and thus became false doctrine; it was premature—in advance of the season—hence it had an injurious effect. The apostle sets them right, and exhorts them to "be not quickly shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." 2 Thess. 2 : 2. On the other hand, in the early history of the church, certain teachers went from Judea to Antioch and taught the Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. What was the effect? The account is given in the fifteenth chapter572 of Acts. It caused great discouragement to the Gentiles, and dissension in the church, and a delegation of apostles and brethren had to go to Jerusalem and have the question settled before the work could progress any further. Now why this disastrous effect? Had not circumcision been given to Abraham as a sign of distinction between the people of God and the worldly nations? And had not the Gentiles under the Mosaic dispensation been required to become circumcised before being admitted to the privileges of Israel? If an outward sign was required before recognition as typical children, why not on becoming members of the real family? The reason is obvious. Circumcision, although good in its season, had passed away. The circumcision of the heart, as a distinctive badge, had taken its place, and was now in season. Hence the preaching of that which had passed away could not be nutritious meat for the church; the season was too late for that kind of food, it could only produce disorder in the body. The Spirit had signified this at various times previously; hence they were false teachers who persisted in giving the household stale food, just as they were false teachers who would give the Thessalonians unripe fruit. In neither case was meat in due season administered, and in both cases was the result detrimental. According to the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, which is Jesus' own exposition of his second advent, there will be a time when to teach that his coming is "near, even at the doors," will be "meat in due season." When will this be? Before answering this question, let it be remembered that the Lord speaks to his entire church through the apostles, even to the end. He had given the signs, as above quoted, and then he says, "when ye see all these things, know ye that he is near, even at the doors." The time was not in the apostles' day, nor did they expect it, as has already been shown by Paul's letter to the Thessalonians; hence it is clear that, when he says "ye shall see," and "know ye," that he did not mean those to whom he spoke directly, but those who should live at a time when it would be possible for them to know that he is "near, even at the doors." It would not be possible for the apostles. Then when will this doctrine of the Lord's near coming be meat in due season? When these signs are accomplished. They are given as the signal for the servants of God to proclaim the messages pertaining to the last days. The signs have been identified by many witnesses—bearing evidence sufficient to convince any reasonable unprejudiced mind. [See pamphlet, "Matthew Twenty-four," published at this office.] The falling of the stars occurred in 1833. From that time on, the Judgment and Advent messages (Rev. 14) became food in due season, including the warnings against the deceptions of the "man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3), and his two-horned imitator (Rev. 13). The next sign in order will be the sign of the Son of man in heaven; but then it will be too late to warn anybody—even the proclamation of the Advent will be out of season. For the last forty years or more the professed churches of God have been growing more worldly, proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, and spiritually powerless. Their own best ministers and organs acknowledge and deplore this upon every hand. Why is it? The precious meat that pertains to the season is withheld from them. That which is given in profusion is not calculated to produce spiritual health and vigor. The perverted appetite has been taught to disregard the law of the Creator, and to loathe the Christian's hope (the coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the dead); David tells us in the first psalm that he who delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates upon it day and night, "bringeth forth his fruit in his season." And the Saviour expressly says, "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." The Papacy in the Apocalypse.
By John Nevins Andrews
IN our last number we have shown, in reply to M. C. B. of the Eglise Libre, that the dragon of Rev. 12 is the pagan Roman Empire through which Satan ruled the world at the birth of Christ. We have also shown that the seven heads and ten horns of the dragon do not pertain to the person of Satan, but symbolize the different forms of the Roman Government. Thus the fact that the seven heads are successive and exist one at a time shows that the Roman Empire was to have seven successive forms of government before being divided into separate kingdoms. Thus also the ten horns represent the Roman Empire after being divided into ten kingdoms, for the horns are cotemporary; that is, they all exist at the same time. But the seven heads represent seven forms of government that must precede the ten kingdoms; for John was told by the angel that the ten kings were yet future, whereas five of the seven heads had already fallen, one then existed, and one had not yet come. Rev. 17 : 9-12. The dragon had crowns upon his heads (Rev. 12 : 3), showing that he bore rule while the empire was undivided. The beast had crowns upon his horns (Rev. 13 : 1), showing that he bore rule after the division of the empire into ten kingdoms. The dragon certainly represents the government which ruled the world at the birth of Christ. Rev. 12 : 4. This government had its throne at Rome. Luke 2 : 1. But the dragon gave his power and his throne to the beast. Rev. 13 : 2. This shows that the beast must bear rule in Rome where the dragon had ruled before him, and that the power of the beast is a continuation of that of the dragon. Thus the seven heads and ten horns of the dragon are the same seven heads and ten horns which are seen upon the beast, the heads representing the dominion of the dragon, and the horns representing the dominion of the beast. Now we see how definite is the prophecy concerning the beast. 1. His throne is to be found at Rome. 2. His dominion commences after the Roman Empire is divided into ten kingdoms. This division was represented to Daniel by the ten toes of the image (Dan. 2 : 41, 42), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast. Dan. 7 : 7, 8, 20, 24. These ten kingdoms arose between the years 356 and 483. This blasphemous king, symbolized by the beast of Rev. 13 : 1, must therefore make his appearance at Rome soon after the commencement of the sixth century. It is the same king that was represented to Daniel by his little horn which arose after the ten horns on the fourth beast. Dan. 7 : 8, 24. Thus also the beast of Rev. 13 : 1 does not bear rule until the ten horns appear with crowns. Moreover all the things which Daniel predicts concerning the little horn, John predicts concerning the beast. Each was to blaspheme God. Dan. 7 : 25; Rev. 13 : 6. Each was to make war against the saints and to overcome them. Dan. 7 : 21; Rev. 13 : 7. Each had a mouth that spoke great things and blasphemies. Dan. 7 : 8, 20; Rev. 13 : 5. Each was to have dominion 1260 days, or a time, times, and a half. Dan. 7 : 25; Rev. 13 : 5. We know therefore that the little horn of Dan. 7 and the beast of Rev. 13 : 1 each symbolize the same kingdom. Whatever kingdom or government is symbolized by this beast may be known by these important facts: 1. By the time of its appearance, which is when the Roman Empire exists as ten kingdoms. 2. By the place where it is to bear rule, which is Rome itself. 3. By the acts which it is to perform, which are, first, to speak great words and blasphemies; second, to make war upon the saints and to overcome them; third, to have dominion 1260 days, which signifies 1260 years, for when kingdoms are represented by beasts, the years of their continuance are represented by days. Eze. 4 : 6. Since the early part of the sixth century, or immediately after the rise of the ten kingdoms, there has been seen in the city of Rome a priest-king who has spoken great words and blasphemies. This priest-king has claimed dominion over all kings; he has often humbled the mightiest monarchs, and he has made war upon the humble people of God because they would read the Bible, and would not acknowledge him as the head of the church. Witness the wars against the Waldenses of the Alps, against the Albigenses of the south of France, and against the heretics of Spain by means of the inquisition. Moreover, the period of 1260 years intervenes between the decree of Justinian constituting the pope the head of the church and the overthrow of the papal government in 1798 by the French. Is not this priest-king the Antichrist? When Antichrist cometh shall he do greater things than have been done by Gregory VII., Innocent III., and Alexander VI., and by those popes of the tenth century, whom Cardinal Baronias, the greatest of Romanist historians, pronounces "monsters of iniquity"? Prof. Gaussen tells us that it was once the 31st article in the confession of faith of the Protestants of France, that the pope is the Antichrist and the son of perdition. It does not therefore well become M. C. B. and the Eglise Libre to speak of our journal with contempt for holding fast this faithful testimony. Cardinal Manning the head of the Romanists in England has stated the exact truth in saying: "The papacy is either the kingdom of Christ, or the masterpiece of Satan." Those Protestants who seek a middle ground only deceive themselves. If the pretensions of the church of Rome are well founded, all men ought to submit to them. But if they are not well founded, they are in the highest degree blasphemous. The papacy is either the kingdom of Christ or the masterpiece of Satan. We bear no personal ill-will to any Romanist. We have only pity for those who suppose that they honor Christ by acknowledging the pope as the head of the church. It may be said that the terrible cruelties and blasphemies to which we have made reference are things of the past, and that they ought to be forgiven and forgotten. We should be glad to have all men do this, if first, the church which has stained her garments with these crimes would but acknowledge her past wickedness. But she is so far from doing this that she declares herself infallible and affirms that she has never erred! She has recently held a general council for the sole purpose of declaring that the pope is infallible. So we must believe that pope Gregory the Great was infallible when he said that whoever bore the title of universal bishop was Antichrist, and we must also believe that his successors who have all borne this title are also infallible. Even those men whose crimes were such that they cannot be mentioned, were the infallible pontiffs of the kingdom of Christ, unless indeed we judge them by their acts. M. C. B. cannot believe that the mouth which has spoken great things and blasphemies from Rome for more than 1,000 years is the subject of Prophecy. The pontiffs, to use their own language, have thundered, and our friend has not heard the sound. They have put forth the most arrogant pretensions, and these seem to him but harmless words. They have exercised the terrible power of the inquisition, and he sees no cruelty in this worthy to be denounced in the prophecies. But our friend supposes that the mouth of the beast which uttered blasphemies was the Emperor Caligula, though it would be hard to say why Caligula merits this distinction rather than Nero, except that the reign of Caligula from 37 to 41 did not vary greatly from 42 months, while that of Nero greatly exceeded that period. But the reign of Caligula was about four centuries previous to the rise of the last of the ten kings, and his brief career of wickedness bears no comparison in importance to that of the priest-king who has claimed universal dominion as the vicar of Christ. Our friend asserts that Rev. 13 : 5 should read simply that the beast had "power to make 42 months." This certainly does not make very good sense. But if we strike out the word "war" in verse 5, that word still remains in verse 7, so that while verse 5 is made to declare simply the duration of the power of the beast, verse 7 tells us how he was to use that power in making war on the saints. M. C. B. asserts that Julius Cæsar was the first head of the beast, and that Augustus was the second. But it is not possible that the seven heads should signify simply seven men who should successively rule over the Roman Empire; for there were twelve Cæsars and a long line of emperors. But the angel told John that five of the heads had fallen, that one then existed, and that one was yet to come. Rev. 17 : 10. This was true if applied to the seven different forms of Roman government, but wholly untrue if applied to seven different emperors, for the number of emperors was very great. Moreover the seven heads of the beast were without crowns, whereas all the emperors were crowned and exercised despotic rule. Our friend also supposes that the beast received her deadly wound at the assassination of Julius Cæsar. But assassination was the fate of a great number of emperors. M. C. B. asserts that if the beast with seven heads and ten horns is the successor of the dragon of Rev. 12, then the beast of Rev. 17, with the same heads and horns, is the successor of the beast in Rev. 13. But it is expressly shown by Rev. 13 : 2, that the beast of that chapter is the successor of the dragon, while the beast of chapter 17 is introduced for the purpose of explaining the seven heads and ten horns, and to show other important things which could not be given in chapter 13. It is also true that the beast is introduced in Rev. 17 to show its final history in immediate connection with its perdition. Rev. 17 : 8, 14; 19 : 19, 20. We hope shortly to print the discourse of Prof. Gaussen, in which he shows that the papacy has fulfilled several important prophecies found in Dan. 7, 2 Thess. 2, and Rev. 13. To this discourse we respectfully invite the attention of all our readers, but especially that of our contemporary at Nice, and that of our friend M. C. B. —Translated from "Signes des Temps." International Tract and Missionary Society.
THE first meeting of the eighth annual session of the International Tract and Missionary Society was held at Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 11, at 9 A. M. The State Societies were represented by one hundred and nine delegates. Remarks were made by the President, in which he stated the object of the Society, and briefly reviewed the labor of the past year. He also set forth to some extent the work to be accomplished the coming year. Publications to the value of over $3,500, at much less than wholesale prices, consisting of bound books for libraries, "Life of Christ" (Library), in pamphlet form, other pamphlets and tracts, clubs of the SIGNS, and old periodicals have been distributed since the last annual meeting by this Society, to different parts of this country and to other countries, including the following places: Boston, New Bedford, Providence, New York, Chicago, life-saving stations along the coast, different points in the South, Canada, Dakota, Oregon, N. A.; Hayti, Tobago, Trinidad, W. I.; British Guiana, S. A.; Hull, Bristol, Liverpool, and London, Eng.; Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. This work has largely been accomplished by persons to whom publications have been sent in quantities. In addition to the avenues already opened for sending reading matter free of cost, the demand for it at several points in the West Indies, South America, Nova Scotia, and other places, is such as to require a free transportation to these countries. With the exception of bound books presented to libraries, about one-half of this reading matter has been sent from So. Lancaster, Mass., and the balance from Oakland, Cal., and Battle Creek, Mich. SECOND MEETING, NOV. 13, AT 10 A. M. The President stated the following points for consideration: 1. Certain defects in the Constitution. 2. Shall the Society use new periodicals for distribution in the place of old ones? 3. What relation does this Society sustain to such missions as the Chicago and New York City Missions? A letter was read from Boise City, Idaho, containing an earnest appeal for labor, as illustrating the many existing openings where clubs of SIGNS could be used to advantage. This letter called forth interesting remarks from Brn. White, Cudney, Loughborough, and Sisley. It was voted that the Executive Board be privileged to have all the publications which it can use judiciously. Eld. Loughborough spoke in behalf of the mission at Liverpool, and Bro. Wm. J. Boynton, of the New York City Mission, both urging the need of more publications. The wants of the Chicago Mission were also spoken of, as well as the necessity of systematic missionary labor in other cities. Eld. S. H. Lane spoke in behalf of Indianapolis, and Eld. J. O. Corliss, of Washington, D. C. In view of the great demand now existing for reading matter, it was suggested that our brethren should carefully preserve their papers, and when they do not longer need them for reference, that they should donate them to the missionary work. A portfolio was exhibited, and recommended, for the purpose of receiving periodicals as they come from the publishing houses week by week. The committee appointed for the purpose at a previous meeting, reported a revised Constitution, which will appear in the next issue of the SIGNS. The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:— 1. WHEREAS, The holding of Bible-readings in families and with individuals, accompanied with other colporter work, is one of the most effectual ways to interesting people in the present truth; and,
WHEREAS, The distribution of the SIGNS has been found to be the best introduction of the Bible-readings; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend to our colporters the following plan: First, Let the fields be thoroughly canvassed for trial subscriptions for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; Secondly, Visit all subscribers once in two weeks, or oftener, to arouse the interest of those who have not read their papers, and to answer the queries of those who begin to be interested, by reading or persuading them to read such Scripture texts as will answer their inquiries; Thirdly, Continue the work by frequent Bible-readings, the judicious circulation of tracts, the sale of larger works, and by other missionary work as the way may open. 2. WHEREAS, Four weeks is too short a time to fully interest readers in the SIGNS; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend trial subscriptions to be taken for six weeks at twenty-five cents.573 3. WHEREAS, There are many persons who, in connection with other business, can secure short-term subscriptions for the SIGNS, but who are unable to re-visit and carry forward the work; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend such to do all they can, placing their lists in the hands of the State Secretary, or some Vigilant Missionary Society, who will send the papers, and follow up the work by correspondence. 4. WHEREAS, The Conferences in which most of our city missions are located, are unable to fully meet the expenses of those missions; therefore,
Resolved, That this Society furnish them with periodicals and books as the Executive Committee may think best. 5. WHEREAS, It is very important that our leading books be widely circulated, and the public libraries present one of the best avenues of circulation; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend "Sketches from the Life of Paul," "The United States in Prophecy," and "The Sanctuary," to be placed in those libraries having the ten volumes; and that all these volumes in their best binding, be placed in the best libraries of our large cities which have not the ten books; and that this society furnish these volumes to the State Society, for this purpose, at one-fourth the retail price. 6. WHEREAS, The city of Washington, D. C., is an important missionary field, and should be entered by some of our workers; and,
WHEREAS, Bro. Reuben Wright is quite thoroughly acquainted with that field, and is one whose circumstances would permit him to devote time and means to the work; therefore,
Resolved, That we invite him to immediately engage in the work of introducing the printed truth in that vicinity, doing colporter work, or aiding others to do the same, and that he have the oversight of that field.
Resolved, That this society furnish for that field periodicals and books as the Executive Committee may deem advisable. 7. WHEREAS, God has given us great light on the subject of temperance; and,
WHEREAS, Our health journal (Good Health) occupies a position in the temperance field that no other journal does; therefore,
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend our State Societies to labor diligently to secure the subscriptions of all the Sabbath-keeping families in their territory. 8. WHEREAS, Some of our successful canvassers for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" have secured many subscribers for Good Health without detriment to their other work; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend our experienced canvassers for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" to work for Good Health at the same time. 9. WHEREAS, We believe the steel engraving, "Christ the Way of Life," teaches an important lesson, and may be successfully used in the missionary field as an introduction to our other religious works; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend it to our agents and colporters as a valuable auxiliary to the financial success of their work. 10. WHEREAS, Experience in canvassing and colporter work is more valuable than oral or written instruction; therefore,
Resolved, That, as far as possible, beginners should be sent out in company with experienced workers; and where this is not practicable, we recommend them to labor in companies of two or three, in order that they may frequently meet to compare experiences, and counsel with each other for mutual encouragement. Physical and Mental Labor Combined.
By George Ide Butler
THE following extract, entitled "Brain-work for Children," taken from the N. Y. Tribune, not only shows the drift of public opinion and what leading educators are thinking relative to this subject, but it also presents important facts showing the practical importance of combining physical and mental labor in the education of the young. It reads as follows:— "One of the most forcible statements showing the effect of disproportional brain-work and industrial occupation in the case of children, is that made by Dr. Chadwick to the British Association. It appears that in one large establishment containing some six hundred children, half girls and half boys, the means of industrial occupation were gained for the girls before any were obtained for the boys; the girls were therefore put upon half-time tuitions; that is, their time of book instruction was reduced from 36 to 18 hours a week, given on the three alternate days of their industrial occupation—the boys remaining the full school time of 36 hours per week, the teaching being the same system as well as teachers, also the same attendance in weeks and years. At the periodical examination of the school, surprise was expressed by the inspectors at finding how much more alert, mentally, and how much further advanced in book attainments the girls were than the boys. Subsequently, industrial occupation was found for the boys, and their time of book instruction reduced from 36 to 18 hours weekly; and after awhile the boys were proved, upon examination, to have regained their previous relative position, which was in advance of the girls." This is of deep interest to us at this point, when the problem is before us so prominently of connecting physical and mental labor in all the schools among our people. Attend the Coming State Meeting
By Editor
WE again express the earnest hope that the coming State meeting in Healdsburg will be very largely attended by the members of the churches, and that they will go to remain through all the meetings. All need the benefit of the meetings. College Items.
By Sidney Brownsberger
THE spring term of Healdsburg College opens on Wednesday, Jan. 2, and this will be a favorable time for those to come who have never attended before. There is room in our classes for one hundred more, and at the College boarding-hall we can accommodate thirty more. Why should they not come? It is certainly not because there is not that number in this State who need just what the College can do for them, and who can come just as well as not. We have heard from several that expect to attend next term for the first time, and we have good reasons for expecting a largely increased attendance. Now if all those persons, both in youth and middle age, that are impressed that they should come, would make as commendable an effort to do so as they do often make to secure other advantages which possess not half the importance, I am sure we could not well accommodate them without increased facilities. No doubt they will all be here sometime, but why wait for better opportunities? Now is the time. You will probably never have a deeper impression of your duty to come. Perhaps no time is more favorable for leaving home than the first two or three months of the year. We may never offer any better inducements in the way of special instruction than is now promised for the coming term. A conflict is impending, the noise of preparation is heard in the enemy's lines, and it behooves us to prepare for battle. Our weapon is Bible truth. The design of the special instruction next term is to prepare the student to defend nobly those truths against which the opposition will make the most desperate attacks. Read article in last week's issue entitled "The Coming Conflict." The Captain of the Lord's host is our leader. He calls for brave men and women. Who will answer, "Here am I"? The influence in college boarding-houses, upon the students associated in them, is frequently very pernicious, and many people not without reason, have refused to patronize them on account of it. Some of the friends of Healdsburg College, while they have entered heartily into the spirit of our school work, have yet held a mental reserve in regard to our boarding system, and have not reposed sufficient confidence in its workings to cheerfully resign their own children to its care. But how completely is this impression changed when they visit the institution and see the effects of its management with their own eyes. Their distrust and opposition is then converted into a hearty approval, and an eagerness to place their children under such discipline. No friend of true education can be but delighted with a system founded on principles so well adapted to strengthen character, improve health, and refine the tastes. There are associated at the boarding-house, one student from Iceland, one from Portugal, one from England, four from Oregon, three from Nevada, and twenty-eight from California. FOURTH MEETING, Nov. 18, 9 A. M.
The committee on tract distributors recommended that the matter of their use be left to the discretion of those having charge of the missionary work in the State or mission. From experiences related, it was evident that while in some places the distributor would do a good work, there are many places where reading matter placed in them would immediately be destroyed. It was recommended that persons having charge of such means for distributing reading matter should exercise great care in their use. The committee on collecting old periodicals made the following report: "Your committee appointed to devise means for gathering periodicals which are donated to the missions from the different States, and forwarding the same, would recommend that all periodicals of this kind be delivered to the State Secretaries, and when a sufficient amount for shipment (not less than one hundred pounds) has accumulated, the State Secretaries shall report the same to the Secretary of the International Society, and await said Secretary's order when and where to ship them. To save confusion, we further recommend that all orders from the different missions for papers shall be addressed to the Secretary of the International Society. We also recommend that each State Society pre-pay freight on shipments to the different missions. The matter of using printed letters was then introduced, and after a free discussion, the following resolution was adopted:— Resolved, That a printed letter is contrary to the spirit of our missionary work, and should be discouraged among our workers throughout the field. Several present who had used these letters testified to the unsatisfactory results of the same. Resolved, That we recommend that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES be sent to all those libraries which have received our books, and that this Society assist our poor State Societies by furnishing the SIGNS to them for this purpose at one dollar a year. This resolution was adopted; also a resolution explanatory of Art. V. of the Constitution. The financial report was read as follows:— Cash on hand last year, . . . . . $2,068.07
Received during the year, . . . . . 2,930.25—$4,998.32
Paid for bound books for libraries, . . . . . $2,031.53
“ “ other publications, . . . . . 1,012.98
“ “ periodicals, . . . . . 385.37
SIGNS, port-folios, printing, freight, etc., 325.28
Cash on hand, . . . . . 1,243.16—$4,998.32 The Committee on Nominations presented the following report, which was adopted as a whole:— President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, W. C. White; Secretary and Treasurer, M. L. Huntley; Assistant Secretaries, Nellie Sisley Starr, Jennie Thayer, Barbara Rice; Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, Geo. I. Butler, O. A. Olsen, M. H. Brown, W. C. Sisley. Lakeport, Cal.
By Wm. Ings.
I SPENT two weeks with this church. Held twenty-four sessions of Bible-readings, on some of the most essential points of our faith, which proved a source of encouragement to this little company. Quite a number not of our faith were in attendance, who gave good attention to the evidence presented. One adult signed the covenant to keep all of God's commandments, and others were strengthened in the faith. December 10, 1883. Wm. Ings. FIFTH MEETING, Nov. 20, AT 3:30 P. M.
Moved by W. C. White that the Society recommend the use of the same premiums with periodicals, and the same terms, as last year. A printed table showing the labor performed by the State Societies and other items of interest was distributed, which showed the following increase over the labor performed last year:— No. of reports returned.................................... 2,538
“ “ members added.......................................... 398
“ “ missionary visits....................................... 32,437
“ “ letters written.......................................... 5,919
“ “ yearly subscriptions obtained............................ 1,563
“ “ pages of tracts distributed.......................... 3,642,588
“ “ periodicals “ .......................................... 125,766 On motion, it was voted to recommend the several State Societies to raise a sufficient reserve fund to meet the expenses of issuing a paper in connection with the Sunday agitation, at such times as it may be done to advantage. The intent of this resolution was not that the reserve fund should be consumed by any enterprise of this kind, but simply that it be held in readiness to be used in case of an emergency, and afterward replenished in some way. Valuable suggestions were then made by W. C. White respecting the sale of books by tract societies. He recommended the use of advertising circulars got out by the Offices, bearing the address of the Society as agent, affixed by the means of rubber stamps. "The Coming Conflict" was spoken of as a book which should be at once circulated among the people. S. N. HASKELL, Pres.
M. L. HUNTLEY, Sec. General Sabbath-School Association.
THE sixth annual session of this Association was held in Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 10, 20. The Executive Committee having previously arranged subjects for discussion, the following were presented: How to Study the Lesson, by Eld. M. H. Brown; Teachers' Meetings, by W. C. White; Sabbath-school Conventions, by A. D. Olsen; Camp-meeting Sabbath-schools, by J. H. Durham. Elders S. N. Haskell and D. A. Robinson were requested to prepare a Bible-reading on the subject of Sabbath offerings. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:— WHEREAS, There are many of the most studious members of our schools who, in preparing their lessons, study the synopsis of the lesson as printed in the Instructor without a study of the Bible itself; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend to the careful consideration of the Executive Committee, and the lesson writer in particular, the advisability of discontinuing the synopsis for a time, and using in its stead the references to the Scripture proofs. The officers elected for the ensuing year are as follows: President, W. C. White; Vice-President, O. A. Olsen; Recording Secretary, D. A. Robinson; Corresponding Secretary, Winnie Loughborough; Assistant Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. K. White. Executive Committee: W. C. White, O. A. Olsen, G. H. Bell, E. B. Miller, and R. M. Kilgore. Publishing Committee: W. C. White, Dr. E. J. Waggoner, and G. H. Bell. Learning and Doing in Life
The following timely strictures upon the general tendency of college education is worthy of general attention, and, as a cotemporary says, is "more than a college question":— "It is to be regretted that so wide a difference exists between the employments of early years and those of manhood and womanhood. That fifteen or twenty years should be spent in learning without doing, and the rest of it in doing without learning, cannot be a wise arrangement. The break is too sudden. The youth, on leaving school or college, is at once plunged into a new world, requiring qualities and capabilities that have never hitherto been called forth, and he finds it hard, if not impossible, to make his mental possessions available for practical use. If young people were accustomed to do more, and older ones to learn more, life would be happier and more successful. In fact, these two should never be separated, but act and react with each other all through life. Just as the earth is ever receiving sunlight, air, and moisture, and at the same time giving out her blossoms, fruit, and fragrance, so our best interests demand a continual taking in and giving out—a perpetual alternation between learning and doing from the earliest to the latest years. Whatever tends to divorce these, or to limit them to different epochs, banishing the one from youth and the other from maturity, must be detrimental."