Earlier text: Our Lord's Doctrine Concerning the SoulReligious News and Notes.
By Editor
-The cornet is steadily superceding the organ in making church music. -Arrangements are being made to hold another Prophetic or Advent Conference, in London, about the first week in March. -There are 1,503 Baptists in the Cherokee nation, almost one-tenth of the entire tribe, fifty-two of whom are ministers, including their chief. -The Catholics strongly profess opposition to secret societies, but the "Society of Jesus," known as the Jesuits, is a secret society of the worst order. -From fifty to one hundred persons assemble weekly in the parlors of the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church, Brooklyn, for the study of Church History. -Amnesty will be granted only to those Catholic priests in Germany who specially apply for it and make submission to the May laws. Such is the fiat of Bismarck. -A man seldom finds out that the Bible is not true until he discovers that his course of life is condemned by it. After that the Bible becomes a book that will not bear the tests of the scientific method. -"I have known of instances where a whole family voluntarily did without any gifts that they might send coal and flour to some who were suffering. And I have not doubted that they were repaid by Him who said that good done to His children was done as to Himself." -The Chief of Police, of New York, says that three-fourths of the abandoned girls of that city were ruined by dancing. Young ladies allow gentlemen privileges in dancing which, if taken under any other circumstances these gentlemen would be reported as improper persons. -The German clergy resolutely oppose any concession being made by the Pope to Germany. They await, says the Rome correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, an explanation of the German Government's ecclesiastical policy before pledging themselves to accord the slightest concession. -The Lord Bishop of Tuam, Ireland, in a recent address to his clergy, declared that Ritualism in that diocese was known only to them by report. The clergy of the Province being in constant conflict with the genuine article, are not likely to be caught by the attractions of a counterfeit Popery. -Dissenters in Russia number over 15,000. The Stundists, who have the same relation to the Greek Church that the Methodists do to the Church of England, are increasing so rapidly that the Minister of Public Worship has dispatched a commission to Odessa to inquire into the circumstances attending the growth of that and other heterodox sects. -The St. Louis Times-Journal says, Two young ladies who had been intimate for seven years made a remarkable discovery the other day. A word dropped in conversation by one caused the other to remark in a surprised way, "Why, you don't mean to say you are a church member! Why, so am I!" and they shook hands warmly. -The Tablet says, under the head of "Catholic Missions in China," that, "in the prefecture of Pondicherry alone there were, in 1866, 69 priests, whose flocks numbered 112,000, and 67 schools with 1,800 pupils; while in 1877 the numbers had increased to 85 priests, 141,250 persons professing the Catholic faith, and 90 schools with 4,000 pupils." -Some years ago a church in Illinois so ran down that the Presbytery sent a messenger to formally disband it. He could find no officers, no male members, and only one female member. To his surprise she answered, "I will not be disbanded!" and demanded a minister. A minister was sent, and a church speedily built up. Let small churches with few members, make a note of this. -The New York Tablet, of December 14th, publishes "the Whitehall Review's fifth list of converts to Romanism," in England. It contains 327 names, of persons gathered from the church, army, navy, and from civil life, most of them being either titled or related to honorable families. Rome will take peaceable possession of the English church soon at the rate they are now going to her communion. -Instead of an increase, there seems to be a steady decline of Presbyterianism in connection with the Southern Assembly. In 1876, ten churches reported a membership of over 400; now there are only eight. Then there were 54 upward; now there are 51. There are 1,439 churches with less than 100 members each, and 87 with from two to ten members each. -Ko-San-Lone, a converted Chinese, when in America on a visit, was deeply impressed with the little difference he saw between the style of living of many professing Christians and the people of the world. Adverting to the matter on one occasion, he said, making at the same time a large sweep with his arm, "When the disciples in my country come out from the world, they come clear out." -The Afghans, the dominant race in the kingdom of Shere-Ali, now menaced by England, call themselves Jews, and claim to be descended from King Saul. In defence of these claims it is asserted that they are unquestionably of the Jewish type; are divided into tribes, clans, and families; that they practice the ceremony of the scapegoat, and celebrate their religious rites on the hills. There is, however, no trace of Hebrew dialect in their language. In other respects their religion is that of the Mohammedan Sunnites. -The Catholic Sentinel denies that the free circulation and general reading of the Bible tends to drive out superstition, as is often claimed by Protestant Christians, and says that, "while the American people have an extensive knowledge of the Bible, yet they are more steeped in sinful superstition than any other nation on the earth." In proof of its statements the Sentinel points to "the vast army of clairvoyants, trance mediums, test mediums, business mediums, and fortune-tellers which fatten and flourish upon the thousands and thousands of foolish people who consult them upon future events in love, matrimony, business speculation, etc., about which they know nothing." However, they who consult mediums are generally as ignorant of the Bible as an Italian priest. The Poetry and the Prose.
LAMARTINE once wrote an invitation in verse to Victor Hugo to visit him at his house. The poetical epistle contained a minute account of the mansion in which Lamartine was the master. Victor Hugo consented; undertook the long journey, and reached the dwelling of his brother poet. He looked about, but in vain, for the “embattled summits,” the “bushy ivy,” and the “stones tinted by the hand of time,” of which he had read. What he saw was an ordinary house roofed with flat tiles, unmantled of ivy, and painted a dirty yellow. At first he thought the coachman had blundered. But Lamartine appeared to welcome him, so that there could be no mistake. On asking where was the house which had been so beautifully described in the invitation, Lamartine replied: “You see it before you; I have but rendered it habitable. The bushy ivy made the walls damp and gave me rheumatism, so I had it removed. I had the battlements pulled down, and the house modernized; its gray stones made me feel melancholy. Ruins are nice things to write about, but not to inhabit.” - Bids have been received and work is to be revived on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
- L. O. Emerson's piano manufactory in Boston has been burned.
- Hard times and great destitution are reported in England.
- December 17 greenbacks were at par in New York city. This practically antedated resumption.
- Bayard Taylor, United States minister at Berlin, celebrated as a traveler and writer, died December 19 in the 54th year of his age.
- The steamer Byzantine, from Marseilles for Constantinople, was recently lost in a collision. One hundred and fifty lives were lost.
- Chief Moses of the Umatillas, and some of his tribe, have arrested two Indians, murderers, and are assisting the whites to find others.
- Very heavy failures continue to be reported from Europe; from Wales, Sweden, etc., as well as England.
- A report dated December 19 states that an unprecedented gale had prostrated a large number of houses in Constantinople.
- Dr. Reed of Stockton has a tree of ripe oranges which are some two months earlier than the Los Angeles variety.
- Cold is said to be extremely severe in the North of England, with an unusual amount of snow. The same report comes from Switzerland.
- The steamer Emily B. Souder, an unseaworthy vessel, foundered on her way from New York to the West Indies. Passengers and crew reported lost, except two persons.
- The women were allowed to vote on the lager-beer-option question at Plymouth, N. H., the other day, and the sale of the liquor was prohibited by a vote of three to one.
- A terrible storm at Aspinwall greatly damaged the Pacific Mail Company's wharf, and four vessels were lost. The water stood ten feet deep on the railroad track.
- The directors of a suspended Savings Bank of Jersey City have been threatened with death, by anonymous letters, if they do not refund to the poor depositors.
- We have seen the electric light—beautiful and bounteous. The Palace Hotel in San Francisco has it introduced at a cost of $3,500; much stronger than gas, at about one-tenth the cost per night.
- The Southern Pacific Railroad is now completed to Gila City. The first station east of Yuma will be established at a point distant twenty-six miles, and called Oroville, where side tracks, switches, and a temporary depot will be established.
- L. O. Hall, note clerk of the London and San Francisco Bank, recently stole $13,000 and decamped. Examination shows a loss of about $50,000. The old story: young man with moderate salary—spent money freely—attended theatres and other amusements—bought stocks—gone to Honolulu.
- The cold weather of the last eight or ten days, in southern California, is wholly unprecedented. None of the oldest inhabitants remember anything like it in their twenty-five or thirty-five years experience. In Sacramento, as at other places, hydrants have been frozen up, and in some places water pipes have been burst by freezing.
- Charles F. Markely, the boy who was caught robbing a store in Jersey City, said that he obtained a knowledge of the "duties" of a burglar by reading the weekly boys' papers. He was sent to the State Reform School. There ought certainly to be some way to reach the writers for and the publishers of these detestable sheets.
- A singular disaster befell the British bark Bel Stuart, off New Foundland. November 14 she was struck with a "white squall" on a quiet sea on a clear day which swept her decks. The same day, without any indications of foul weather, either by sight or barometer, a waterspout rose immediately before her, and swept across her bows, leaving her nearly a wreck.
- A woman in Springfield, Ohio, died from some mysterious disease located in the head. The symptoms had long been manifested, but no treatment had permanent effect. After her death there was an examination made, resulting in the unanimous decision that death was caused by the use, for a long period, of chemical compounds for dyeing the hair. A coating was formed over the brain, causing something like paralysis of that organ.
The Long Primer type (pages 2, 3, and 6) in this number of the SIGNS is new, and was cast in our own building. It is a proof of the progress already made in the establishment of the Pacific Press. We hoped to reach other improvements in the appearance of the paper by the commencement of this volume, which we expect to make soon. EVERY reader of the SIGNS will be pleased with the programme laid out by Brother White for the volume upon which we have now entered, for 1879. And what is pleasing to contemplate, we know of no reason why this cannot be carried out to the letter. We confidently expect it will. And if it is, the SIGNS will carry rich instruction to its thousands of readers which cannot fail to do good. We appreciate the interest of the tract societies and others in behalf of the SIGNS, and shall put forth every effort to furnish a paper worthy of their confidence and their labor. Southern Repository
By Editor
As early as January 1, 1879, there will be a complete repository of all the books, pamphlets, tracts, and charts, now offered at Battle Creek, Mich., and Oakland, Cal., located at Denison, Texas. These can be sent from Denison as freight, by express, or mail, at the same prices and on the same terms as from Battle Creek or Oakland. Address— MRS. M. J. BAHLER, BOX P, DENISON, TEXAS. THE BAPTIST BANNER says: "If there is anything in the world we despise in Sabbath-school, church, or elsewhere, it is 'toadying.' Some brethren seem to think if some members are about to lend their influence and presence to another denomination or Sabbath-school, that we ought to give them some post of honor to win them back again. If truth and duty will not win them, let them stay. If there are places of trust and honor to be filled, let them always be given to those who walk worthily. We don't believe in unnecessarily 'snubbing' anybody; but if anybody has to be 'snubbed' let it be the wayward and undutiful." The welfare of the school or the church should be the first object held in view, and this is best served by putting in office those who are faithful; who prove themselves true in any position. It is by being faithful in the least which, in the Saviour's estimation, entitles one to rule over greater things. Prompt Response.
By Editor
WE have this day received a response from Brother James Hackett to our appeal in behalf of the houses of worship at Oakland, California, and Battle Creek, Michigan, in the form of a ten dollar greenback, five dollars for each house. Now what is wanted is that one thousand and six hundred persons follow the example set for them by Brother Hackett, and the sum of $16,000 will be raised, $8,000 for each church and the debts will be lifted from both churches. We do not expect that all will be able to give ten dollars each; but while many will give less, from ten cents upward, not a few will give much more, even up to one hundred dollars for both houses. The money will be raised, and the sooner the better. Let all our people respond promptly. Brother Hackett says:— “BROTHER AND SISTER WHITE: I have seen your appeal in Review Supplement, and I feel it my privilege to contribute from my scanty earnings, five dollars each to the house of worship in Oakland and the Tabernacle in Battle Creek, or otherwise, as in your judgment it will best serve the cause. “Yours truly, In hope of life. “Galena, Kansas, Dec. 23, 1878.” The Testimonies.
By Editor
THE following is from a private letter, but we think the writer will not object to the publication of this extract. It is from a friend whom we have not seen for nearly two years, but with whom we had conversation in days past on this subject. The reading of them must have the same effect on the mind of every candid person which it produced on his :— "I have been reading the 'Testimonies' of late, and find their tendency is to dissipate all the objections I ever entertained as to the role the author assumes to act. They strike at nothing but selfishness and evil dispositions, and are in harmony with the Scriptures. I think their perusal should be urged upon all our people, as the best means of curing the evils likely to exist in most churches." The weather record of this State since the coming of the Argonauts shows nothing like the continued cold snap of the last fortnight. When the mercury falls at Sacramento to 15° and 17° below freezing point, as it did on the nights of the 26th and 27th instant, it is almost as startling a phenomenon as a settled rain in the month of August would be. Our driest winters are always the coldest, because they are accompanied by northerly winds, while the rain winds all blow from the south, generally at a temperature ranging from 48° to 62° Fahrenheit. The ordinary winter north winds come with a perfectly clear sky, and produce a range of temperature in the great inland valleys from about freezing point (32 degrees) in the night to 52 degrees in the afternoon. This year the range both at Sacramento and Stockton has been much lower, both day and night; and, though the cold would not incommode an unacclimated person from Illinois, Massachusetts, or Pennsylvania, it is keenly felt by all old residents, who require as heavy woolen clothing and as hot fires at ten degrees to fifteen degrees below freezing point as the inhabitants of the Northwestern States at ten degrees below zero. . . . This year they tell of ice two and a half inches thick at Sacramento, formed in two nights.—San Francisco Chronicle. THE question of the Chinese has occupied much of the time of the Constitutional Convention now in session in Sacramento. As this subject is just now eliciting such general interest we give below in full the article as adopted by the convention:— SECTION 1. The legislature shall prescribe necessary regulations for the protection of the State, and the counties, cities, and towns thereof, from the burdens and evils arising from the presence of aliens, who are or who may become vagrants, paupers, mendicants, criminals, or invalids afflicted with contagious or infectious diseases, and aliens otherwise dangerous or detrimental to the well-being or peace of the State, and to impose conditions upon which such persons may reside in the State, and to provide the means and mode of their removal from the State upon failure or refusal to comply with such conditions; provided, that nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to impair or limit the power of the legislature to pass such other police laws or regulations as it may deem necessary. SEC. 2. No corporation now existing or hereafter formed under the laws of this State shall, after the adoption of this constitution, employ, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, any Chinese or Mongolian. The legislature shall pass such laws as may be necessary to enforce this provision. SEC. 3. No Chinese shall be employed on any State, county, municipal, or other public work, except in punishment for crimes. SEC. 4. No person who is not eligible to become a citizen of the United States shall be permitted to settle in this State after the adoption of this constitution. SEC. 5. No alien ineligible to become a citizen of the United States shall be permitted to catch fish in any waters under the jurisdiction of this State; nor to purchase, lease, own, or hold any real property in this State, and all contracts of conveyance or lease of real property to any such alien shall be void. THEIR PRESENCE DECLARED TO BE DANGEROUS.
SEC. 6. The presence of foreigners ineligible to become citizens of the United States is declared herein to be dangerous to the well-being of the State, and the legislature shall discourage their immigration by all the means within its power. Asiatic coolieism being a form of human slavery, is forever prohibited in this State, and all contracts for coolie labor are null and void. All companies or corporations, whether formed in this country or any foreign country, for the importation of such labor, shall be subject to such penalties as the legislature may prescribe. The legislature shall delegate all necessary power to the incorporated cities and towns of this State, for the removal of Chinese without the limits of such cities and towns, or their location within prescribed portions of those limits, and it shall also provide the necessary legislation to prohibit the introduction into this State of Chinese after the adoption of this constitution. This section shall be enforced by appropriate legislation. Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, etc.
Cruden's Concordance; complete—library $3.50, cloth $2.75; condensed—library $2.00, cloth $1.75; post paid. Dictionary of the Bible. $1.75, post paid. Hymn and Tune Book; 537 hymns, 147 tunes. $1. Song Anchor, for Sabbath-schools and Praise service. 160 pp. 50c. Progressive Bible Lessons for Youth. 50c.
" " " " " " Little Ones. 15c. The Way of Life; a beautiful engraving 19x24 inches, with key of explanation. $1.00. The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In board, 50c. The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1.00. Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian of noble birth. By Francesco Urgos. $1.25. Thoughts on Daniel, U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35c. Thoughts on Revelation. U. Smith. $1.00 Life of William Miller, with likeness. $1.00. The Biblical Institute. U. Smith. $1.00. The Sanctuary and its Cleansing. U. Smith. 362 pp. $1.00. Condensed edition in paper, 30c. Life of Joseph Bates, with likeness. Revised. Edited by James White. Tint, $1.00; plain, 85c. The Nature and Destiny of Man. U. Smith. 362 pp. $1.00. Bible from Heaven. D. M. Canright. 300 pp. 80c. The Constitutional Amendment. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the editor of the "Christian Statesman." Bound, $1.00. Paper 40c. First part 10c. Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1. Mrs. E. G. White. 416 pp. $1.00. Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00. Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. III. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00. Life of Christ, in six pamphlets, by Mrs. E. G. White:—
No. 1. His First Advent and Ministry - - 10 cts
No. 2. His Temptation in the Wilderness - - 10 cts
No. 3. His Teachings and Parables - - 15 cts
No. 4. His Mighty Miracles - - 15 cts
No. 5. His Sufferings and Crucifixion - - 10 cts
No. 6. His Resurrection and Ascension - - 10 cts The Apostles of Christ, in two pamphlets. Mrs. E. G. White:—
No. 1. The Ministry of Peter - - 10 cts
No. 2. The Teachings of Paul - - 10 cts Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. In two volumes. 60 cts. each. The State of the Dead and Destiny of the Wicked. U. Smith. 40c. The United States in Prophecy. U. Smith. Bound, 40c. Paper, 20c. A Word for the Sabbath, or False Theories Exposed. (Poem.) U. Smith. Muslin, 30c; paper, 15c. Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25c. Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular history of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. J. N. A. 25c. Facts for the Times. 25c. The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. J. H. Waggoner. 20c. Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary, and Saving Faith. 20c. The Ministration of Angels, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. D. M. C. 20c. The Atonement. J. H. Waggoner. 20c. The Spirit of God. J. H. W. 15c. The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. J. N. Andrews. 15c. The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two Horned Beast. J. N. Andrews. 10c. The Morality of the Sabbath. D. M. C. 15c. The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. J. H. Waggoner. 15c. The Two Laws. D. M. Canright. 15c. Redeemer and Redeemed. James White. 10c. Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. James White. 10c. The Truth Found. J. H. W. 10c. The Two Covenants. J. N. Andrews. 10c. The Hope of the Gospel; what it is, and when it will be consummated. J. N. L. 10c. Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10c. Vindication of the Sabbath. Morton. 10c. The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. J. N. Andrews. 10c. Matthew Twenty-four. James White. 10c. Review of Baird's two Sermons on the Sabbath and Law. J. H. W. 10c. The Ancient Sabbath. Forty Objections Considered. 10c. Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—Present Truth—The Sufferings of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Redemption—Systematic Benevolence—The Two Covenants—Origin and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists—Milton on the State of the Dead—The Rejected Ordinance. Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost Time Question—Argument on Sabbath—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture References—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The Second Message of Rev. 14. Two-cent Tracts: Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Old Moral Code of Ten Commandments not Revised—Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday Keeping Examined—Elihu on the Sabbath—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—Spirit of Prophecy—One Hundred Bible Facts—The Law and the Gospel—God's Memorial—The Sabbath, the Day—First Message of Rev. 14. One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Nahum's Chariots—The Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day Do You Keep, and Why?—Geology and the Bible—The Sleep of the Dead—The Sinner's Fate—Can We Know?—Is the End Near?—A Dialogue—Brief Thoughts on Immortality—The Christian Sabbath—Why Not Found Out Before?—100 Bible Facts upon the Sabbath. Address—THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND CAL. California Publishing Fund.
ABOUT twelve thousand dollars were pledged to this fund at the two camp-meetings last fall, one half payable Jan. 1, 1879, and the other half payable April 1, 1879. We would call attention to the fact that the first payment is already due. Further than this we state that money has been promised on the strength of these pledges and we are sure we shall not be disappointed. Will Brother Wood attend to collections in the southern part of the state? THE system of sending the list of delinquents of each state to the tract and missionary State secretary has not been received with much favor of late. We therefore have decided to write from this office to the subscribers four weeks before their subscription expires, thus leaving them ample time to renew before their names will be cut off, which will be done promptly on the expiration of their time. District Quarterly Meetings.
By Editor
The district quarterly meetings of the eight districts of California will be held simultaneously January 11 and 12, as follows:—
No. 1, at Santa Rosa.
No. 2, at Fairview.
No. 3, at St. Helena.
No. 4, at San Pasqual.
No. 5, at Woodland.
No. 6, at Red Bluff.
No. 7, at Oakland.
No. 8, at San Francisco. At these district meetings there should be a full report from every church in each district.