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Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 22.

General Articles
Earlier text: Books for Bible Students

The Marks of God's Hand in Missions.

By Arthur T. Pierson

THE progress of missionary advance has been supernaturally rapid. In the Hawaiian Isles, in five years, results were reached that mere human power could never have compassed; and ordinary Christian activity would have been fitly rewarded, if such results had crowned the work of fifty years. The unique triumphs of the gospel among the Karens were like the strides of a giant with his "seven-league" boots, in comparison with the common rate of progress. As to Japan, President Seelye, at the meeting of the American Board, at Syracuse, calmly affirmed in 1879, and it was confirmed by that immense assembly, that "never before has the gospel wrought such great and speedy changes as during the past seven years in Japan. It is not only the most remarkable chapter in the history of modern missions, but there is nothing in the history of the world to compare with it. We talk about the early triumphs of Christianity; but the early records of the church, bright as they may be, pale in the light of what is taking place before our eyes at the present time. Even Madagascar offers nothing to compare with Japan."
Africa was for thousands of years emphatically the dark continent. Yet so rapidly is missionary exploration going forward that our maps of yesterday are scarce accurate to-day, and will be obsolete to-morrow.
At Harpoot, on the Euphrates, we find one little mission church multiplying itself into fourteen, with 418 church members, eleven native pastors, more than half of them supported by these native churches, twelve licensed native preachers, twenty-one native teachers, and forty-one other helpers. Of pupils, 2,041; and scores of unpaid laborers are continually going forth to tell the wonderful story of Christ, under the inward impulse of love for souls. The people are very poor, yet so liberal that the faithfully paid tithes of ten converted families enable their native pastors to live on a level with their people. And all this the outgrowth of a single church, in a single missionary station, in less than twelve years, at a cost not exceeding in all $150,000—the cost of one modern church edifice.
Yes, these little churches on the Euphrates, gathered from native converts in Eastern Turkey, are, perhaps, the best illustrations in modern times of the three great principles of church life: "self-government, self-support, and self-propagation."
Study the career of San Quala, the converted Karen, the first baptized by Dr. Judson, who preached his first sermon in the hearing of Quala. Baptized in 1830, his first thought was to tell others of Jesus. He aided in translating the New Testament into the Karen tongue, for fifteen years guided the missionaries through the jungles of Tavoy and Mergui, and planted new churches. He himself began to preach and organize churches in January, 1854. Before the close of that year, he had formed nine churches, with 741 converts. In less than three years the nine churches had grown to thirty, and the converts to 2,127. He did his work in the spirit of Paul, and like him, without salary. Offered a position by the English Government as overseer of a wild tribe of mountain Karens, this apostolic convert nobly replied, "I cannot do it—I will not have the money. I will not mix up God's work with Government work. There are others to do this thing, employ them. As for me, I will continue the work in which I have been engaged." At this very time his poverty was such that he was compelled to leave his lovely wife at Tavoy, and take up his lonely pilgrimage among his people. All motives appealed to, that touch greed or ease, failed to move him; and he still went on, eating his bread with the children of poverty, that he might the better win to Christ. One such man is an unanswerable proof that the supernatural element is not eliminated either from modern conversion or labor.
"Just here," says Dr. Anderson, "is the grand defect in the practical Christianity of our age. It responds not as it should do to the calls of God's providence." And this, with the culpable ignorance prevailing as to the facts, and the awful skepticism that abounds as to the lost estate of the heathen, is sufficient to make God the foe of his own people, but for the infinite riches of his forbearance.
The voice of the Lord is heard out of the midst of the cloud: "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." And while this voice peals in our ears, as with tones of thunder, behold, a way is opened by divine power, as through the very midst of the sea! It is for us individually to obey. This matter is a personal summons to every disciple. We must not lose ourselves in the mass, nor hide behind that vague abstraction, the church. Every one of us must give account of himself unto God. We must die alone; and alone confront the open books of God. You and I must simply move, whoever else stands still, and move in the direction of divine leading. In the secret place of prayer, in the thick darkness, where God dwells, in the silence, solitude, seclusion, secrecy of the closet, we must ask in candor, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Let the localized light of the Shekinah in all its intensity shine upon us, piercing and dissolving all the veils behind which we hide, and disguise even from ourselves our true motives and ambitions. And let that light search and smite us; it shall be a kindness, as the anointing chrism of excellent oil that shall not break our head. No man is fit to preach the gospel till, like Saul, he is separated unto God for the work unto which God has chosen him. He who is not ready to go wherever God sends him, is really sent nowhere. His commission is not put in his hands until he waits, with bowed head and humble heart, to be kept at home or carried far hence unto the Gentiles.—Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D., in Christian at Work.

Camp-Meeting in Wisconsin.

By Committee

The annual camp-meeting and Conference in Wisconsin is to be held at Baraboo, June 18-23. The location is favorable for a large portion of the State. The community is an intelligent and hospitable one. Two years ago our meeting was held there, with good results. This year the prospect is very encouraging for even a better meeting.
Our people are awakening to the importance of the work before us, and new interest is taken in the different branches of the work. We believe God is moving upon us by his Spirit to engage in his cause as never before. We are assured of the presence of those who are well qualified to teach the way of God.
Preparations will be made to secure the comfort of all. The grounds are pleasant; plenty of good tents will be provided, for rent at reasonable rates. A well-supplied book-stand will contain a full line of our publications, Bibles, and other good reading matter. Above all, we hope for and expect the crowning blessing, the presence of the good Spirit of God. Important steps in relation to our work will be considered.
We would most cordially invite the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to attend this meeting. We invite our friends to use their influence to induce others to come. People of other denominations will be welcomed kindly. The youth and unconverted should be urged to come. Great care and expense are undertaken to make this meeting successful. We ask all to unite with us in seeking God's blessing, which alone can enable us to secure our object.
Baraboo is located on the C. and N. W. Railroad, forty miles north of Madison. Those coming by rail will pay full fare one way, and return at one-fifth fare. The meeting will open Wednesday evening, June 18, and close the following Tuesday. COMMITTEE.

What a Little Book Did.

Mr. S. A. Blackwood relates the following remarkable incident:—
He was traveling on the top of a coach from London to Croydon, and after discussing the topics of the day with one who sat beside him, he turned the conversation to the things of Heaven, to the disgust of another passenger sitting near, who talked of "canting hypocrites," etc., and when the coach stopped left his seat. In descending, the pocket of his coat opened, and Mr. Blackwood dropped in the little book entitled "Eternal Life." When the gentleman reached home and emptied his pockets he found, amongst other things, a small book that he knew nothing of, and, reading its title, he at once guessed who had put it there, and in his rage he tore it to pieces, and threw it inside the fender. When he returned from town the next day his ire was increased by finding the pieces on his toilet table. He immediately rung the bell, and asked the servant why they had not been destroyed. And when she replied that in gathering them up she had seen the word "eternity," and did not like to burn them, she in anger was ordered from his presence. When the servant had gone he began to look for the word that had so arrested her attention, and then he sought to connect sentences by strips of paper that one buys around stamps, and managed in this way to fasten the book together, and became converted by reading it.
One day when Mr. Blackwood was walking in Cheapside he was startled by the exclamation, "You are the man!" and a ragged book was held up to his astonished gaze. He disclaimed all knowledge of that particular book, and was then informed of the circumstances related above.—British Evangelist.

The Lord Our God Is Mighty to Save

The Lord our God is mighty to save.

Time Is Precious.

By Raymond F. Cottrell

WE are hastening to the Judgment. Each has an individual case to be decided. The decision will be eternal. When once made it never can be reversed. It will be life or death, saved or lost, eternal life or everlasting destruction. And this momentous and everlastingly irreversible decision depends upon the manner in which we spend a brief period of time—the little while that lies between us and the decisive moment. Eternal destinies hang upon this little span of time. How important then that it is spent aright! How prodigal to squander the precious moments, the hours, the days, of which it is composed!
Precious time! the price of eternity put into our hands! Who of us values it as we ought? I fear I do not. Yet it is my earnest desire and prayer to God that I may value it and improve it as I ought. It is only by the help of divine grace that this can be done. Who is sufficient for this? The answer is, and the only answer, Our sufficiency is of God. He condescends to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask—ask in faith, nothing wavering—and are ready to do the will of God in all things. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John 3:22. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7.
Prayer and faith and labor must be combined. And he who labors unselfishly for others' good, labors best for himself; and such labor persevered in will not lose its great reward. There must be a constant and enduring effort; but through the help of God we may finally triumph. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. F. COTTRELL.

My Brother's Keeper.

THE cars on the 11 A. M. train, from New York, were crowded. Every seat was occupied. As the whistle sounded, a tall, fine-looking gentleman walked with a quick, nervous step and gloomy face through the cars.
There was only one vacant place. He paused before that. The occupant was also a gentleman, short and stout, sitting close by the window, his head bowed upon his clasped hands, that rested on the top of a gold-headed cane. He did not look up as the new-comer dropped into his seat, and he, in turn, soon became oblivious of his companion.
They both were absorbed in great sorrow, and the burden pressed so heavily on their hearts that they could not speak, as hour after hour slipped away, as mile after mile was passed over, and took no note of anything out of the car or in.
It was dark before they reached their destination, but neither seemed to heed the fact that they both alighted at the same small station. One carriage was in waiting, and when both found themselves in that, rapidly wheeling along over a hard road in the cloudy, moonless evening, each shrunk back into his own corner without a word.
After an hour's drive they both alighted at the door of a large educational institution. Two servants met them. They presented their cards, and both received the greeting:—
“You were expected.”
After following the servants up a long flight of marble stairs, they separated, one being taken into a reception room at the right of the main corridor, the other into a parlor at the left. Here each was met by a teacher who had been praying for strength and wisdom to guide her through the interview.
The tall gentleman's grief was beyond expression. His only child, as beautiful as a work of art, as good as she was beautiful, had been suddenly stricken down while engaged in her studies, and death took her before it was possible to summon her friends. Her shrouded form now lay in its casket, in her room, awaiting her father's coming to bear her to Greenwood.
The short man's grief was no less bitter, but it had more of resentment and less of pathos. His beautiful, only child was in her room, under lock and key, protestingly awaiting her father's coming to bear her away forever from the institution that she had disgraced, back to the world that would not receive her, to the home whose happiness she had blasted, to the mother whose heart she had broken.
Each father was inconsolable, and at last each was told of the sorrow of the other.
Their meeting now, after the long, silent, absorbed day that they had passed side by side, was pathetic in the extreme. Their grief had now found vent in words, as they paced up and down the long corridor, arm in arm.
“Oh, that my daughter had died!” cried the short gentleman in agony of spirit. “Then I could take her home to her mother and lay her away in the family cemetery, under the pines, in all her maidenly purity. Could I do that, I would consider myself the happiest of men, even though all a father's love, and pride, and hope, and joy were buried in her grave. I could then have mourned for her openly; I could have received the sympathy of my friends. Now, there is no place for her in the world. She will be dead and not buried. I must tear her image from my heart. I must ignore her name. I cannot bear it.”
They walked the whole length of the long corridor, before the tall man said:—
“There is weight in your words. I find a sort of comfort in them. I would rather have my daughter taken to her lonely grave in her purity, with only the memory of her sweet Christian graces to carry with me through life, than your burden of sorrow. I can see that the Lord has been good to me, inasmuch as he has made my grief less hopeless than yours. My daughter was fit to die. She was almost an angel here on earth. The Lord might have taken your daughter also, but he has mercifully spared her that she may find the way to better life and walk in it to the end.”
“It is possible!” groaned the disconsolate father, “there are no home influences to guide her in that way, and she has profited nothing here. I cannot bring myself to speak to her. I would not see her, were it possible for me to evade it. Her life is blasted; I know not what to do with her.”
There was another long silence, broken at length by the tall gentleman, who paused in his walk and spoke with great earnestness.
“Wife and I are going to Europe,” he said. “We shall sail in less than a week. We have lived for our daughter ever since she was given to us, trying to fit her to be useful in the world. The Lord has taken her. Will you not let us have your daughter to cross the ocean with? My wife is a judicious, motherly, Christian woman. You need not fear to trust her with us.”
“I cannot afford it,” was the reply. “I was straining the last nerve to keep her here, hoping to fit her to help herself. Now she will be an increased expense to me.”
“I will assume everything of that kind, the same as if she were my own daughter,” said the kind-hearted gentleman, “and consider that I am paid if I may be permitted to save your daughter, with her reputation unsullied before the cruel world, that yet knows nothing of her indiscretion. Let us talk it over with the preceptress.”
An hour later, when that excellent woman went to the unhappy young girl's room, and told her the plan that had been fixed upon that she should go away with her father, and her father's friend, to accompany the body of her classmate to its burial, and within the week should sail for Europe, she threw herself at the preceptress' feet, completely broken-hearted, and cried:—
“Why is this gentleman so good to me, to poor, obstinate, willful, rebellious me?”
“Because he is a Christian,” said the lady, “and because his wife is a Christian, and he knows that she will be glad to guide your wayward steps, and try to lead you to the Saviour.”
“I will try to do right!” cried the girl, who before had been so hard and rebellious, only speaking when she had something to say to grieve her friends. “The dear girl who lies dead in No 40 was a Christian, and that helped her to die as peacefully as if she were but going to sleep. You are a Christian, and it has helped you to bear with me and to keep my many indiscretions from publicity. Now this gentleman and his wife are Christians and they are determined to try to save me from myself. O madam, will you pray with me and for me, that they may succeed?”
As the preceptress agonized in prayer with the young, high-spirited, reckless girl, the two stricken fathers were on their knees in the parlor, seeking for strength and wisdom, and the comfort in sorrow that cometh only from God.
When the father who had declared that he could not see his daughter, and the daughter who had maintained that she would not see her father, met, it was with pity on one hand, and with contrition on the other, softened by the new-found hope both had that night expressed.
The going back was less bitter than the coming. The two men sat side by side like brothers now. The young girl in the seat in front of them felt that she had a heart in her bosom in the place of the cold stone she had carried so long.
To-day that young woman is a cultivated, useful, Christian woman, as beautiful in spirit as in person. The sad episode in her girl-life was saved from publicity by her going abroad. As she cheers, comforts, and brightens the declining footsteps of her parents and her foster-parents, she blesses the kind Father who, in the time of her sore need, sent, to care for her, children of the Heavenly King, and not children of the world.—Advance.

The Home Circle.

By Mrs. L. H. Sigourney

"WHAT THEY SAY."

WOULDST thou know what troubles many, What annoys them night and day? Not a frightful myth or robber, But the specter, "What they say."
"What they say!" It haunts the maiden When the hat or dress she buys, Goads the matron till she maketh Husband's purse a sacrifice.
To the orator it clingeth, Daunts the statesman in his dream, With the pulpit-teacher stealeth 'Tween him and his highest theme.
"What they say!" Well, let them say it, Airy echo, fleet as dew, When they've breathed it, 'tis forgotten, They who hear forget it too.
Wouldst thou know what rules the million? Themis, with her ancient sway? Pomp and tramp of banner'd legions? No; the bubble, "What they say!" —Mrs. L. H. Sigourney.

Paper Flooring

The first paper floor ever laid will be laid in Indianapolis within the next sixty days. This flooring is made by pasting and pressing straw boards together under a powerful hydraulic press, in the same way as the discs of the paper car-wheels are made. When these blocks are perfectly seasoned and dried, they are sawed into flooring boards and laid with the edge of the paper forming the surface of the floor. This surface is sandpapered perfectly smooth.

Good Enough for Home.

"Why do you put on that forlorn old dress?" asked Emily Manners of her cousin Lydia, one morning after she had spent the night at Lydia's house.
The dress in question was a spotted, faded, old summer silk, which only looked the more forlorn for its once fashionable trimmings, now crumpled and frayed.
"Oh, anything is good enough for home!" said Lydia, hastily pinning on a soiled collar; and twisting up her hair in a ragged knot, she went down to breakfast.
"Your hair is coming down," said Emily.
"Oh, never mind. It's good enough for home," said Lydia, carelessly. Lydia had been visiting at Emily's home, and had always appeared in the prettiest of morning dresses, and with neat hair, and dainty collars and cuffs; but now that she was back again among her brothers and sisters, and with her parents, she seemed to think anything would answer, and went about, untidy and rough, in soiled finery. At her uncle's she had been pleasant and polite, and had won golden opinions from all; but with her own family her manners were as careless as her dress; she seemed to think that courtesy and kindness were too expensive for home wear, and that anything was good enough for home.
There are too many people who, like Lydia, seem to think that anything will do for home. Young men who are polite and pleasant in outside society are rude to their mothers, and snarl at their sisters; and girls who, among strangers, are all gayety and animation, never make an exertion to please their own family.
It is a wretched way to turn always the smoothest side to the world, and the roughest and coarsest to one's nearest and dearest friends.—Child's World.

Praying Mothers.

BLESSED is the man who, like Samuel of old, has a praying mother. It is the mother who shapes our life more than any one else. From her we inherit our strongest tendencies. Her early care and instruction give tone and direction to our character and life. In nine cases out of ten, as is the mother so will be the child. Blessed then the man whose mother's heart is the home of prayer. Who can begin to estimate the power and influence of her pleading with God? Who can tell how deeply her prayers affect the future, and turn towards her child the loving care of the heavenly Father? Indeed, we may believe that a mother's prayers are never lost, but cling to us for our weal through time and eternity. Priceless is this best of treasures. Would that all mothers were praying mothers. Were there more Hannahs there would be more Samuels; and the world would be a great deal richer and better than it now is.—Sel.

Funeral of a Gypsy Queen.

Gannie Jeffers, queen of the gypsies of the United States, died at Greenfield, Tenn., on March 10, and was buried at Dayton, Ohio, April 27. The gypsies were encamped all about the city to the number of about 1,500, traveling by wagon from all parts of the country. The queen was embalmed and laid out in Nashville, Tenn., immediately upon her death, and when brought to this city, where her tribe own considerable property and a large lot in Woodland Cemetery, where lies buried a former queen and king of the gypsy tribes in this nation, she looked beautiful indeed. She was in a handsome casket made of the finest wood, lined with the finest silks and satins, and decorated with gold and jewels. In the cemetery, where she was buried to-day amid the most touching and imposing ceremonies, the lot belonging to the gypsies is marked by an exquisite monument of granite, shipped here from Greece.
The funeral procession, which was composed entirely of gypsies, formed in the northern section of the city and marched to the southern extremity of the city, where the cemetery is located. The crowd of people was immense. At the grave a rope was stretched around it, leaving an inclosure large enough for the mourners to stand. The crowd surged up against this rope, bending it almost to breaking. The mounds in the vicinity were trodden on; boys and men sat on tombstones and filled the trees and every place that would afford an opportunity of seeing what was going on. The funeral services were Christian, being conducted by one of the leading pastors of this city with the choir of his church. The wife of the reverend gentleman accompanied the mourning husband. The grave was sunk in the ground about ten feet. It was a square pit about ten by eight feet in dimensions. At the bottom was a box made of stone slabs and in this box the coffin was laid by the side of another, that of a daughter of the deceased. She was only ten years old and died in 1866, but the body had been exhumed to be placed beside the mother.
There were stifled cries and sobs as the mourners gathered about the grave, and several broke out in loud cries as the coffin was lowered. The preacher referred to the deceased, whom he had known personally in life. She had been a Christian, he said, and the Bible she had worn with reading was placed at her feet now that she was dead. At the conclusion of his remarks the choir sang "The Sweet By-and-By," and the services closed. But the most affecting scene was when the great stone was about to be lifted by means of a derrick close at hand and the stone box containing the coffin closed. The sons and daughters climbed down to the coffin to take their last farewell, the latter being lifted into the grave. Their sobs and cries filled the air and were echoed by the mourners that stood on the brink of the grave. They threw themselves prostrate on the coffin, kissing the wood, and it was only with great difficulty they were prevailed on to come out of the grave, and they were assisted out finally after much entreaty. By means of the derrick the stone lid was then put into position and the dirt thrown upon it. A huge monument will be erected over the grave—a life-size statue of white marble of the dead gypsy queen.

The Sin of Fretting.

THERE is one sin which it seems to me is everywhere and by everybody underestimated, and quite too much overlooked in valuations of character. It is the sin of fretting. It is as common as air, as speech—so common that unless it rises above its usual monotone, we do not even observe it. Watch any ordinary coming together of people, and see how many minutes it will be before somebody frets—that is, makes more or less complaining statements of something or other, which most probably every one in the room, or the car, or the street-corner, as it may be, knew before, and which most probably nobody can help. Why say anything about it? It is cold, it is hot, it is wet, it is dry; somebody has broken an appointment; ill-cooked meal; stupidity or bad faith somewhere has resulted in discomfort. There are always plenty of things to fret about. It is simply astonishing how much annoyance and discomfort may be found in the course of every day's living, even at the simplest, if one only keeps a sharp eye out on that side of things. Even Holy Writ says we are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. But even to the sparks flying upward, in the blackest smoke, there is a blue sky above; and the less time they waste on the road, the sooner they will reach it. Fretting is all time wasted on the road.—Sel.

BOOKS FOR BIBLE STUDENTS, SABBATH-SCHOOLS, AND THE HOME CIRCLE.

By Editor

THE following books have been selected with great care, and are highly recommended for general use. They ought to be in every Sabbath-school and family, and no library is complete without them. The commentaries and books of reference are the standard ones of our time. We have divided the list into four classes as follows:—

COMMENTARIES AND REFERENCES.

Clark's Commentary (6 vols., sheep) $24 00
Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (11 vols.) 16 50
“ “ “ “ Psalms (3 vols.) 4 50
“ “ “ “ Isaiah (2 vols.) 3 00
“ “ “ “ Daniel (1 vol.) 1 50
“ “ “ “ Job (2 vols.) 3 00
Young's Analytical Concordance 3 25
Cruden's Complete 1 75
The Comprehensive Bible Dictionary (sheep) 6 00
“ “ “ “ (cloth) 5 00
Dictionary of the Bible (American Tract Society ed.) 1 25
Bible Atlas and Gazetteer 2 00
Hand-book of Bible Geography 2 50
Hand-book of Bible Manners and Customs 2 50
Horne's Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures 5 00
Prideaux's Connexion (2 vols.) 4 00
Blunt's Coincidences and Paley's Evidences 1 50
The Temple and Its Services 1 25
Jewish Social Life 1 25
Old Testament Ethics Vindicated 1 50

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

Geikie's Life of Christ (large print) 1 75
“ “ “ “ (small print) 75
Hanna's Life of Christ 2 00
Andrews' Life of Our Lord 3 00
Life of the Apostle Paul (C. & H.) 1 00
Sketches from the Life of Paul 80
Palestine for the Young 1 00
From Exile to Overthrow, a History of the Jews 1 25
Story of the Bible, for children, Illustrated 1 00
Giant Cities of Bashan 1 00
A Ride through Palestine 2 00
Mt. Sinai, Petra, and the Desert 80
Jordan and its Valley and the Dead Sea 80
Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, Illustrated 3 00
Dowling's History of Romanism (half morocco) 4 75
“ “ “ “ (cloth) 4 00
D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation (5 vols. in one) 1 50
Gibbon's History of Rome (6 vols.) 5 00
History of the Waldenses 90
Wharey's Church History 60
Sanctuary and Its Cleansing 1 00

FOR THE FAMILY.

Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Illustrated 1 00
Home Making 1 00
Week Day Religion 1 00
Every-day Duties 1 00
The Old Red House 1 25
Records of S. V. S. Wilder 1 25
Muller's Life of Trust 1 50
David Livingstone 1 25
Fables of Infidelity 1 75
Nelson on Infidelity 90
Companion to the Bible 1 75

FOR S. S. OFFICERS AND TEACHERS.

The Church School and Its Officers 75
The Teacher's Hand-book 75
History of Sunday-schools 75
Sunday-school Hand-book 1 00
Teachers' Guide 1 00
Model Superintendent 1 00
The Art of Questioning 15
The Art of Securing Attention 15
The Use of Illustrations 15

SABBATH-SCHOOL MAPS.

(Cloth, without rollers.)
Eight-sheet Map of Palestine, 81x116 in $12 50
Eight-sheet Map Illustrating the Travels of St. Paul, 81x116 in 12 50
Peninsula of Mt. Sinai, 52x72 in 5 00
Old Testament Map of Palestine, 41x58 3 00
“ “ “ “ 28x41 1 50
New “ “ “ “ 41x58 3 00
“ “ “ “ “ 28x41 1 50
Any of the above books or maps sent post-paid on receipt of price. Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.

MATTER AND SPIRIT;

By Dudley Marvin Canright

OR,

THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN THOUGHT.

By Eld. D. M. Canright.
A PHILOSOPHICAL argument on an important theme, indicated by its title. 66 pp. Price, 10 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Sunshine in the Home

MANY a child goes astray, not because there is a want of prayer or virtue at home, but simply because home lacks sunshine. A child needs smiles as much as flowers need sunbeams. Children look little beyond the present moment. If a thing pleases they are apt to seek it; if it displeases they are prone to avoid it. If home is the place where faces are sour, and words harsh, and fault-finding is ever in the ascendant, they will spend as many hours as possible elsewhere.

Overwork.

By Pacific Rural Press

A LARGE amount of sentimental stuff gets into print about men killing themselves by overwork. In nine out of ten cases of this kind, the true cause of death will be found to be something besides overwork. We all know professional and business men who work harder than they ought, and yet, by taking good care of themselves in the way of diet, exercise, etc., manage to enjoy good health and wear a cheerful, hearty look. Those who die from "overwork" generally use liquors and tobacco without moderation, keep late hours, and indulge in hazardous speculations outside of their legitimate business. Late hours, liquor, and tobacco engender weak nerves and upset the functions of the body, while anxiety over speculative schemes acts on the brain. With these evil agencies working against a man, some slight exposure brings on an attack of illness and the whole body being weakened, gives way in a very short time. The sudden illness and speedy demise baffle medical skill; the stricken family and shocked friends are told that overwork was the cause of death, and the press deplores the tendency of our civilization to kill people by overwork, when the real cause of nine-tenths of these deaths is as outlined above.—Pacific Rural Press.

SECULAR.

—A fire in Portland, Or., May 29, destroyed property to the amount of $50,000.
—The salary of the sub-treasurer at San Francisco has been fixed at $4,500.
—Immigrants have been arriving at Quebec, Canada, lately, at the rate of 3,000 a week.
—Two hundred colored laborers left Chattanooga, recently, to work on farms in California.
—Decoration Day was quite generally observed by the principal cities and towns of this State.
—The French Government is proposing to try the experiment of taxing imported cattle and cereals.
—Oregon and Washington Territory have been visited by generous rains, and good crops are considered certain.
—The Massachusetts Legislature is investigating grave charges of bribery of some of its members by the gas companies.
—A cloud-burst near the Nebraska and Colorado line, May 31, destroyed a large cattle camp, and drowned eleven men.
—Advices from Brazos, Texas, state that the floods are destroying crops, and carrying off farm improvements at an alarming rate.
—A large warehouse, known as the Cooper Building, in Baltimore, suddenly fell on the 30th ult., and eight men were crushed to death.
—A university will be opened in Iceland next year. Heretofore Icelandic students have received college instruction in Copenhagen.
—Silk operators from China will be allowed to land at New Orleans to attend the Exposition. There will probably be a large representation.
—Enormous quantities of goods are said to be smuggled from this country into Mexico. A correspondent of the Boston Herald says that some New York firms make a specialty of this contraband business.
—The Court House of Wilson County, Texas, was burned by incendiaries on the night of May 28. All the court records, together with all the records of deeds, mortgages, etc., were consumed. There was a large number of criminal cases pending.
—In licensing a saloon at Watseka, Ill., recently, the authorities provided that there should be no screens or curtains to obstruct the view from the street.
—The National Greenback Convention, held at Indianapolis last week, nominated General Butler for president, and Gen. A. M. West, of Mississippi, for vice-president.
—The fellow arrested for burning the Clarendon Hotel, Portland, Or., is said to be willing to confess the crime and tell who hired him to do it, for a money consideration.
—Hanly, one of the parties in a prize fight in Nebraska, a short time ago, has been sentenced to three years in the penitentiary, after a trial at Omaha. His case will be appealed.
—The river Nile is rising rapidly, and it is now hoped that General Gordon will be able to escape from Khartoum in armed boats, and open communication with Berber and Cairo.
—The Judiciary Committee of the Senate has reported a proposed Constitutional amendment increasing the presidential term to six years, and limiting the incumbency to one term.
—Another victory for Satan is assured in the legal decision against the Government and in favor of the Louisiana Lottery Co. The Norristown Herald says that members of churches addicted to periodical fairs will be pleased to learn the fact.
—The corner of the London detective office at Scotland Yard was blown off to a height of thirty feet, May 30, and several policemen were injured. Sixteen pockets of dynamite, with fuse attached, were also found under the Nelson monument in Trafalgar square.
—The New York State Board of Health report a revolting state of affairs in the cow stables at Blissville, near New York City. Pleuro-pneumonia exists to an alarming extent; the diseased cattle are milked, until nearly dying, when they are killed and the carcasses smuggled into the New York market and sold for food.
—Chas. A. Dana, being asked his opinion as to the leading issue in the coming presidential campaign, gives his opinion thus: “The form of the leading issue remains to be determined, but the real question will be an effort on the part of the Democrats to turn out the Republicans, and an effort on the part of the Republicans to keep the power they have possessed for a quarter of a century.”
—Renewed activity on the part of Russian Nihilists is reported from Moscow. A new manifesto has been issued, threatening the life of the Czar. He is reminded that in 1881 he was warned that a constitutional form of Government must be formed, and a parliament of representatives of the people. But the revolutionists have waited in vain until this time for action toward that end; consequently he may expect to be dealt with as his father was. Many arrests have been made of both men and women.
—Regarding the improved accommodations for third-class passengers on the Union Pacific Railroad, the San Francisco Chronicle says: “The company has just discarded those old rattle-traps for a new style of emigrant sleeping-car, neat in appearance, and although not finished in the elegant style of first-class sleepers, have upper and lower berths constructed upon the same principle. The lower berths afford two seats, facing each other, which at night are pushed together to form beds. In the upper berths their surplus bedding can be stowed during the day-time. Passengers are expected to furnish their own mattresses, and, as a general thing, include a few cents’ worth of cloth curtains, which are hung around the berths to complete their privacy. Each passenger on presenting his emigrant ticket at Ogden or Omaha is handed a berth check, showing the location of his berth, and this establishes his title, as is the case on the Central Pacific emigrant cars. In distributing checks, those who are similar in appearance are given berths in the same car and others who would prefer to do with their own class or nationality are also placed in cars by themselves. All berths are free. Emigrant passengers are carried to and from Kansas City or Omaha on the regular express trains instead of on the slow freight as heretofore, thus saving over two days’ travel. There is but one change of cars from Chicago to Ogden, and third-class passengers from this city for Chicago leave Ogden at 9:30 A. M., and arrive at Chicago at 7 A. M. on the third day. A Union Pacific ticket agent told a Chronicle reporter that, under the new system, third-class travel had greatly increased, and would doubtless assume unwonted proportions during the next few months.”
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