Earlier text: A Dialogue Between a Predestinarian and His FriendSabbath-school Contributions.
By W. C. W.
It is a well-known fact that any Sabbath-school, to be interesting and of the greatest benefit to its members, must have a few suitable appliances. It must have lesson papers and books, record books, and song books, and ought to have a few maps of Bible lands, with a few text-books for Bible study. Some of these have to be bought only once, while the lesson papers and record books, must be renewed from year to year. Though the expense of these is very light if distributed among the members of the school, the entire lack of them makes a school almost useless. Let us figure for a school of fifteen members where there are ten children and five adults. What is the school worth to each member? One dollar a year? If not, it is not worth attending. But suppose the grown people give one dollar a year, and the children, half of that. We then have ten dollars. Half of this will obtain ten weekly INSTRUCTORS for a year, and these will furnish lessons for the whole school, as the supplements can be taken out and used by the Bible Class. One dollar will procure record books to last two years; one dollar can be given to the State Association to help in carrying on its work; and there will be three dollars left, for song books, or for Bible maps. "But," says some one, "one dollar apiece is too much to give, and, besides, the children have no money." We think that this will not be regarded as a high price for its benefits when the school is properly appreciated; and as to the children, they should have something, and be taught to sacrifice and give of their little treasure. They may be encouraged in habits of usefulness and obedience by small rewards which they will treasure up, and from which they can donate to the Sabbath-school treasury. HOW SHALL THIS MONEY BE GIVEN or collected? We would say, In the way that best suits the majority of the school, always being sure that some plan is adopted and thoroughly carried out. In a few cases, the Superintendent will prefer to take a subscription paper, and visit each member of the school, securing at once the amount needed. In other cases, the members will prefer to pay their donation to the S. S. Secretary monthly or quarterly. In this case, they should pledge what they will do, and should feel responsible for placing it in the Secretary's hands at the appointed time. A third, and we think a much better way, is to place a little box in the church or place of meeting, and let each member drop in an offering when he enters the school. This has been called the Penny Contribution, but we do not see why it may not include nickels, dimes, and quarters. The children will delight to bring their little offerings; and parents will not despise the plan when they come to realize that the Sabbath-school is one of God's best gifts, and that it is part of his great work. Some have objected to making this offering on the Sabbath, thinking that it was a violation of that holy day. When the plan was first proposed, we regarded it in the same light; but a few arguments from those well acquainted with the Scriptures, and a little careful study, have fully convinced us that the bringing of an offering to the Lord is a very appropriate part of our worship on his day. There are many acts connected with our Sabbath worship, which, if done with a careless, wordly spirit, become Sabbath violations; and yet, when done with a spirit of devotion, are an essential part of our worship. Some have said, "It's not bad of iself, but will lead to things worse. If we give for the Sabbath-school, why not pay s. B. on the Sabbath?" One is purely a donation, an offering at the option of the giver; the other is a business transaction. The s. B. is the payment of a debt. It requires an examination of the cash account, and brings to mind the principal business transactions of the week. One does not lead to the other any more than harnessing one's team to drive to meeting leads to putting on a load of wheat to be sold for money to donate to Foreign Missions. The children of Israel brought more offerings to the Tabernacle on the Sabbath than on any other day, and we are informed that the Jews from ages past to the present time have observed the solemn custom of bringing an offering and placing it in a box at the door before engaging in their Sabbath worship. Eld. Andrews tells us that this custom is almost universal with the Christian churches of Europe, and the feeling prevails that no one should appear before the Lord empty-handed. We recommend this kind of a Sabbath contribution, and we confidently believe that if its adoption is accompanied with the proper instruction, it will impress upon the youthful mind a solemn sense of our dependence upon God for all his blessings, and our duty to manifest our gratitude by frequent offerings to him. We like the plan of fastening a box on the wall near the door. Then all those whose consciences say, "Put in a coin," can do so without display; while those whose consciences say, "It is wrong," can pass right by. These latter consciences, if good ones, will say at the end of the quarter, "Attend the business meeting and put in thirteen or twenty." Whatever plan is adopted, let the officers see that it is promptly and cheerfully carried out.—w. c. w., in Weekly Instructor. Special.
By W. M. Healey; T. M. Chapman
AT the last general meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press, we were appointed to accompany the Board of Directors through the office and buildings to examine and report upon the operation and management of the same. We feel well pleased with both. We need not enter into the details of the work or finances of the institution, but refer the reader to the report made to the stockholders. As to the management, there is an earnest effort being put forth to raise the institution above all financial embarrassment. All that is needed for this purpose is a special effort on the part of our brethren just at this time. Let those who have pledged on stock pay as soon as possible. These pledges if paid would place the Pacific Press upon a sure foundation. Brethren, if you can not pay in full, send a part of the pledge. And those who can do so should send the institution means on deposit or in payment for new stock. The present indebtedness has been largely incurred by increasing the facilities of the Office which circumstances seemed to demand. We now have a fine establishment consisting of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES printing department, job office, electrotype, stereotype, and type foundry, and bindery. Much has been done by way of improvement in the past few months. We ask for the entire confidence of our brethren in the management of the Office. The Board of Directors are all good reliable men, and believing that "In a multitude of counsellors there is safety" they have not entrusted the management of the Office to any one person but have selected a council of three for that work, which at present is composed of Elder J. H. Waggoner, Mrs. L. M. Hall, and J. E. White. The experience which these persons have had in the printing business and their connection with this work in the past has eminently fitted them for the position they hold. Come, brethren, let us help as we have opportunity, and God will bless us.
W. M. HEALEY.
T. M. CHAPMAN. In addition to the above, the following was introduced by Bro. John I. Tay, and passed by a unanimous vote of the Oakland church :— Whereas, We have learned that there has been an earnest call from the east for Bro. J. E. White and Sister L. M. Hall to leave Oakland, and, believing that the interests of the Publishing House will greatly suffer if they leave, therefore, Resolved, That the church of Oakland hereby requests the General Conference to act in behalf of the work in California by approving of the above named persons remaining in connection with the work in Oakland. BISHOP WILLIAMS, in an article in the Churchman, speaking of Haeckel's "History of Creation," uses the following language :— "What are the proofs of man's descent from the ape? The facts of ontogenesis and phylogenesis and their correspondence. Where are these facts enunciated? In the chapter as before mentioned. What is the authority for those facts? Chiefly that they are necessitated by the exigencies of the theory. Is there any evidence, that is, any direct an demonstrable evidence, that creatures representing those twenty-two stages ever existed? Not absolutely so; but they 'must have existed,' otherwise the theory would be imperfect." "TAKE that home with you, my dear," said Mrs. Lewis, her manner half smiling, half serious. "Take what home, Caddy?" and Mr. Lewis turned toward his wife curiously. Now, Mrs. Lewis had spoken from the moment's impulse, and already partly regretted her remark. "Take what home?" repeated her husband; "I don't understand you." "That smiling face you turned upon Mr. Edwards, when you answered his question just now." Mr. Lewis slightly averted his head and walked on in silence. They had called in at the store of Mr. Edwards to purchase a few articles, and were now on their way home. There was no smile on the face of Mr. Lewis now, but a grave expression instead—grave almost to sternness. The words of his wife had taken him altogether by surprise; and though spoken lightly, jarred upon his ears. The truth was, Mr. Lewis, like a great many other men who have their own business cares and troubles, was in the habit of bringing home, and too often, a clouded face. It was in vain that his wife and children looked into that face for sunshine, or listened to his words for tones of cheerfulness. "Take that home with you, dear," Mrs. Lewis was already repeating the suggestion, made on the moment's impulse. Her husband was sensitive to a fault. He could not bear even an implied censure from his wife, and so she had learned to be very guarded in this particular. "Take that home with you, dear. Ah, me! I wish these words had not been said. There will be darker clouds now, and they were dark enough before! Why can't Mr. Lewis leave his cares and business behind him, and let us see the old, pleasant, smiling face again? I thought this morning he had forgotten how to smile! but I see that he can smile if he tries. And, why don't he try at home?" So Mrs. Lewis talked to herself, as she moved along by the side of her husband, who had not spoken a word since her reply to his query. "Take what home?" Block after block was passed, and street after street crossed, and still there was silence between them. "Of course," said Mrs. Lewis, speaking in her own thoughts, "of course he is offended. He won't bear a word from me. I might have known beforehand that talking cut this way would only make things worse. Oh, dear! I'm getting out of all heart!" Mrs. Lewis almost started at the sound of her husband's voice, breaking unexpectedly upon her ear in a softened tone. "What then?" he repeated, turning towards her, and looking down into her shyly upturned face. "It would send warmth and radiance through the whole house," said Mrs. Lewis, her tones all trembling with feeling. "I know so! Only try it, dear, for this one evening." "It isn't so easy a thing, to put on a smiling face, Caddy, when thought is oppressed with care." "It didn't seem to require much effort just now," said Mrs. Lewis, glancing up at her husband with something of an archness in her look. Again the shadow dropped down upon the face of Mr. Lewis, which was again partly turned away; and again they walked on in silence. "He is so sensitive!" Mrs. Lewis said to herself, the shadow on her husband's face darkened over her own. "I have to be as careful of my words as if talking to a spoiled child." No, it did not require much effort on the part of Mr. Lewis to smile, as he passed a few words lightly with Mr. Edwards. The remark of his wife had only set him to thinking. After remaining gravely silent, because he was undergoing a brief self-examination, Mr. Lewis said: "You thought the smile given to Mr. Edwards came easily enough?" "It didn't seem to require an effort," replied Mrs. Lewis. "No, not much effort was required," said Mr. Lewis. His tones were slightly depressed. "But this must be taken into the account; my mind was in a certain state of excitement, or activity, that repressed sober feelings and made smiling an easy thing. So we smile and are gay in company, at the cost of a little effort, because all are smiling and gay, and we feel the common sphere of excitement. How different it often is when we are alone, I need not say. You, Caddy, are guilty of a sober face at home as well as your husband." Mr. Lewis spoke with a tender reproof in his voice. "But the sober face is caught from yours oftener than you imagine, my husband," replied Mrs. Lewis. "Are you certain of that, Caddy?" "Very certain. You make the sunshine and shadow of your home. Smile upon us; give us cheerful words; enter into our feelings and interests, and there will be no brighter home in all the land. A shadow on your countenance is a veil for my heart; and the same is true as respects our children. Our pulses strike too nearly in union, not to be disturbed when yours has lost its even beat." Again Mr. Lewis walked on in silence, his face partly averted; and again his wife began to fear she had spoken too freely. But he soon dispelled this impression, for he said: "I am glad, Caddy, that you have spoken thus plainly. I only wish that you had done so before. I see how it is; my smiles have been for the outside world—the world that neither loved nor cared for me—and my clouded brow for the dear ones at home, for whom thought and care are ever-living activities." Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their own door, where they paused a moment, and went in. Instantly on passing his threshold, Mr. Lewis felt the pressure upon him of his usual state. The hue of his feelings began to change. The cheerful, interested exterior put on for those he met in business intercourse began rapidly to change, and a sober hue, to succeed. Like most business men, his desire for profitable results was even far in advance of the slow evolutions of trade; and his daily history was a history of disappointments, in some measure dependent upon his restless anticipations. He was not willing to work and to wait, as he should be; and, like many of his class, neglected the pearls that lay here and there along his life-paths, because the best were inferior in value to those he hoped to find just a little way in advance. The consequence was, that, when the day's business was over, his mind fell into a brooding state, and lingered over its disappointments, or looked forward with failing hope in the future—for hope in many things had long been deferred. And so he rarely had smiles for his home. "Take that home with you, dear," whispered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved along the passage, and before they had joined the family. She had an instinctive consciousness that her husband was in danger of relapsing into his usual state. The warning was just in time. "Thank you for the words," said he, "I will not forget them." And he did not; but at once rallied himself, and, to the glad surprise of Jennie, Will, and Mary, met them with a new face, covered with fatherly smiles, and with pleasant questions in pleasant tones of their day's employments. The feelings of children move in quick transitions. They had not expected a greeting like this; but the response was immediate. Little Jennie climbed into her father's arms. Will came and stood by his chair, answering in lively tones his questions, while Mary, older by a few years than either of the others, leaned against her father's shoulder and laid her white hand upon his head, smoothing back the dark hair, just showing a little frost, from his broad, manly temples. A pleasant group was this for the eyes of Mrs. Lewis as she came forth from her chamber to the sitting-room, where she had gone to lay off her bonnet and shawl and change her dress. Well did her husband understand the meaning look she gave him; and warmly did her heart respond to the smile he threw back upon her. "Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver," said Mr. Lewis, speaking to her as she came in. "What do you mean by that?" asked Mary, looking curiously into her father's face. "Mother understands," replied Mr. Lewis, smiling tenderly upon his wife. "Something pleasant must have happened," said Mary. "Something pleasant? Why do you say that?" asked Mr. Lewis. "You and mother look so happy," replied the child. "And we have cause to be happy," answered the father, as he drew his arm tightly around her, "In having three such good children." Mary laid her cheek to his and whispered: "If you are smiling and happy dear father, home will be like heaven." Mr. Lewis kissed her, but did not reply. He felt a rebuke in her words. But the rebuke did not throw a chill over his feeling; it only gave a new strength to his purpose. "Don't distribute all your smiles. Keep a few of the warmest and brightest for home," said Mrs. Lewis, as she parted with her husband on the next morning. He kissed her, but did not promise. The smiles were kept however, and evening saw them, though not for the outside world. Other and many evenings saw the same cheerful smiles, and the same happy home. And was not Mr. Lewis a better and happier man? Of course he was. And so would all men be if they would take home with them the smiling aspect with which they meet their fellow men in business intercourse, or exchange words in passing compliments. Take your smiles and cheerful words home with you, husbands, fathers and brothers. Your hearths are dark and cold without them. Conscience and Responsibility.
EVERY possession a man holds, he holds under obligations. Every power he exercises, he exercises under penalties. We recognize this, at least we say we do, in connection with property, place, influence, or even abilities. But it is just as true in certain other matters in which we do not often recognize it. Judgment, conscience, reason—all are possessed and exercised under penalties also. We often find men representing conscience, for instance, as their absolute master. They are, they seem to think, entirely irresponsible if they claim only to act under control of conscience. Whether they go right or wrong, they seem to hold themselves excused if only they go according to conscience. Now the truth is, a man possesses a conscience as he possesses any other gift—as a trust. He is responsible for his possession and its use. He is under penalties to preserve it rightly and use it rightly. If he abuse his conscience, or misuse it, so that it points no longer the right road, so he cannot trust it, he is in the same position with the man who has so abused his eyes that he cannot trust them. In either case, if a man is misled to his injury or ruin, it is small comfort to him to be able to say he followed either his own conscience or his own eyes, to the one or the other. It is time that this view of the relation of conscience were dwelt upon more plainly, and insisted upon more rigidly. We have so exaggerated in our discussions about conscience, that men have made it a tyrant, an absolute autocrat from which there can be no appeal, have even set it on the throne of God! The fact is that it does not make right. It only declares it. It does not make wrong. It only declares and forbids it. It does not create the law. It only judges about the law. And it may be poor, weak, ignorant, stupid, and miserable—a wretched, half-dead, besotted conscience! Let a man look to himself. His conscience is a solemn responsibility. It is given him to teach, and strengthen, and educate. He is bound under solemn bonds for its treatment and its use. To say of anything—"my conscience led me to think it right," is not to answer the last question. It remains still to demand, "How came you to have such a conscience? What business have you, with your advantages and your opportunities, to harbor a conscience so besotted and purblind that it cannot see the road, or cannot point it?"—Churchman. THE darkest clouds that shadow our paths are not the vapors that rise from the earth, but the thoughts and memories of an unhappy and sinful heart. It is a dreary sensation to find one's self wholly forgotten by mere acquaintances; but to find that we have no place in the thoughts of those we love, seems in a certain sense like being annihilated. THE meanest thing about sin, and we say it about all kinds of sin, is its selfishness. It stops at nothing and considers nothing. If the pain, the shame, and the remorse could fall only on the guilty, if a man could bear the penalty of his own wrong-doing alone, it might seem, while in a certain point of view it took nothing from his guilt, as if it left him, at least, some sense of self-respect in that he alone could shoulder all the results. But the truth is, there is hardly one man living so placed that his wrong-doing affects himself only, while the great mass are so surrounded that their sin brings greater punishment in this world, at least, to others than to themselves. It is a part of God's wise ordering of human life that one should be hedged in from ill-doing by all the relations that are best and dearest. God would restrain us from sin by our earthly loves, by the ties of family and kindred, by the fact that we are parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. He would restrain us by the respect we have for friends and neighbors, as well as love for kinsfolk. These are all-powerful restraints. How far and deep they work and bind is known when we consider how reckless men become where these ties are not. And when these restraints are broken as man and woman break them, there comes before us this horrible sight of the mean selfishness of the sinner. For he risks not only himself, his own happiness, honor, name, and fame, but those of every one near and dear to him. He inflicts on them a suffering, often which is beyond anything he can feel, no matter how he is punished in this world for his wrongs. He disgraces, shames, and tortures those to whom he is bound by every tie of love and gratitude. A man commits some sin of dishonesty. He is husband, father, brother, and son. We say nothing of what the feeling ought to be, we take it as it is—the feeling we mean of the world and the sufferers themselves. He has shamed and disgraced all who are connected with him. He has dishonored the gray hairs of his father, disgraced the mother that bore him, left a life-long shame on his children's name. His sin works its black disgrace upward and downward, on the old and the young, and high, honorable hearts will be tortured by it, as they are now, when he is dead and forgotten. The selfishness of sin comes out nowhere, perhaps, as it does in those sins which in their very nature, involve all other sins, and all shames—lying, perjury, dishonor of parents and friends, murder perhaps, and suicide. And these sins involve all these because they are the most selfish of all sins. A man may steal to share his theft with his family. He may rob to do the same. He may even murder for a purpose not wholly selfish. But he commits the sin of ruining another, soul and body, of breaking up family ties, and disgracing family relationships, and making a life-long misery and agony for innocent people for the selfish and momentary gratification of his own desire or even his own vanity. His whole wretched life cannot atone for the suffering he brings on any one out of a score of innocent people who never did him harm, perhaps always did him good. And he does this in nine cases out of ten where he is received as a friend, with friendship given him, and always under the name of "love"!—Churchman. This little sentence should be written on every heart—stamped on every memory. It should be the golden rule practiced, not only in every household, but throughout the world. By helping one another we not only remove the thorns from the pathway and anxiety from the mind, but feel a sense of pleasure in our hearts, knowing we are doing a duty to a fellow creature. A helping hand or an encouraging word is no less to us, yet an untold benefit to others. Who has not felt the power of a little sentence? Who has not needed the encouragement and aid of a kind friend? How soothing, when perplexed with something that is most difficult and burdensome, to feel a gentle hand on the shoulder, and to hear a kind voice whispering "Do not be discouraged; I see your troubles, let me help you." What strength is inspired, hope created; what sweet gratitude is felt; and the great difficulty dissolves as dew before the sunshine. Yes, let us help one another, by endeavoring to strengthen and encourage the weak, and lifting the burden of care from the weary and oppressed, that life may glide smoothly on, and the fount of bitterness yield sweet waters; and He whose willing hand is ever ready to aid us will reward our humble endeavors, and every good deed will be "bread upon the waters, to return after many days," if not to us, at least to those we love. SHE stood at the gate—father, mother beside her—
Warm lay the sunlight on vine and on tree;
With tasks, long and careful, her parents had plied her,
And laden with song-book and basket was she. “Now bring all the praise for the lessons best learned,
And the prize for the songs sung sweetest,” they said,
“So joys shall await you at even, well earned,
And blessings undreamt of be heaped on your head.” She passed down the street where the deep shadows lay,
And they turned to the garden behind the old grange;
Their hope gave new voice to the light wind all day,
And the fruit-cover'd walls had a glow that was strange. She came when late flowers were folding to slumber,
And she said, “Many triumphed, but I triumphed not;
I sang out of time—false notes without number—
And the tasks, that you taught me so fondly, forgot.” Then their arms they outstretched one who wept to enfold,
And they said, while she thought that the loss they bewailed,
“O, child! if you won, of reward rich we told,
But we said not a word of our love if you failed.”
—Christian at Work. Dassel, Minn.
By John W. Moore
MARCH 6 to 12, in company with Bro. E. F. Moore, I labored at Irving. In my report of the 10th, I stated that there were fifteen keeping the Sabbath there. I should have said twenty-three. They have an interesting Sabbath-school of fifty members. The company at Irving embraced the truth under the labors of Brn. Hill and Babcock a year ago last winter, and though they have had no ministerial labor since, they are growing strong in the truth, and have the best Sabbath-school I have ever attended. A T. and M. society was organized, and either Bro. Hill or myself will probably return in a few weeks to organize them into a church. —Peru and Bolivia have declared war against Chili. —Burmah is on the eve of war with England. —Gov. Tilden of New York is said to be feeble in health. —England is agitating "the silver question" in hope to revive trade. —The Arab slave dealers have suffered a severe defeat from the Egyptians. —A hard frost the night of April 3 damaged the crops around Charleston, S. C. —Trade prospects of Great Britain are represented still to be very gloomy. —The case of Gen. Fitz John Porter, so long pending, has been decided in his favor. —Vernet, a village of 100 houses, in France, was entirely destroyed by fire, March 18. —China is making demands on Russia in regard to some Eastern territory which the latter claims. —April 3, a severe tornado passed over Brown Summit, N. C. Houses were blown down. —Hard times are affecting the Suez canal. The number of ships passing through it has greatly decreased. —Miragoane, a town in Hayti was destroyed by fire, March 16; 5,000 or 6,000 persons were rendered homeless. Loss estimated at $1,000,000. —The Zulu king says he did not want war, but his messengers were fired upon and a battle was thus precipitated. He asks for negotiations. —In an attempt to arrest a man in Stephenville, Texas, March 30, six men were killed and three wounded, and the arrest was not made. —The Licking county Court House in Newark, Ohio, burned March 29. It was but just completed, and was one of the best in the State. —The N. Y. Herald says the Chinese government is favoring the establishing of woolen and cotton manufactures, and is determined to extinguish foreign trade. —The Columbus, Neb., Journal, says, in a recent prairie fire in Cloud and Republican counties, Kansas, a hundred houses, with property attached, were burned. —The negroes are on the eve of an "exodus" from the Southern States to Kansas. They have been incited by false representations. It is thought, however, they will find work and homes farther west. —By the malicious removal of a rail on the Grand Trunk railroad, the engine, baggage car, and first coach of the express train were thrown from the track, north of Detroit, Mich., the night of March 29. Two killed. —The discussions in Congress are very exciting. Mr. Barber, of Illinois, in the House, said, it seems probable, from the present condition of affairs, that this is the last session which the American Congress will ever hold. —Mr. Deane, ex-President of the San Francisco Mining Exchange, recently said that three new bonanzas had been discovered on the Comstock lode, of which the stockholders are kept ignorant, the managers sharing the profits. —Chief Joseph can talk as well as he can fight. The North American Review reports his words, among which are the following:—"When I think of our condition my heart is heavy. I see men of my race treated as outlaws and driven from country to country, or shot down like animals. I know that my race must change. We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. If the Indian breaks the law, punish him by the law. If the white man breaks the law, punish him also. Let me be a free man—free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teacher, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself—and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty." —A "strike" is in progress in San Francisco. The Chronicle of the 5th says,—"On Thursday night a dozen of men attacked a laborer named Norton, who was returning home from his work on the sea-wall, and beat him till he was insensible. A man named Murphy was also attacked and seriously injured. The strikers entered the house of one Welsh early yesterday morning, dragged him out of bed and beat him until his life was despaired of. Property of contractors and teamsters was considerably damaged, wagons taken apart, linchpins removed, traces cut, etc. During the day some of the drivers were beaten on Powell street on their way to the beach. The traces of one of the teams were cut; the horses valued at $700, were taken out and driven away, and have not been recovered. Most of the teamsters yesterday went armed, and if some of them had been stopped bloodshed would surely have followed." Section 2 of Article 19 of the New Constitution says,—"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." Why not make it a misdemeanor to transact any business except by the consent and under the direction of labor leagues? Religious News and Notes.
By Editor
—There is a denomination of "Congregational Methodists" in Georgia. —Mrs. Antoinette Brown Blackwell intends to enter the ministry again soon. —It has been remarked that, however hard the times, "the wages of sin" have never been cut down. —They are waging war on the Jesuits and their Colleges in France, in the Chamber of Deputies. —Rev. Edward Eggleston has dramatized the Pilgrim's Progress. And the critics say it is not a comic play. —In Calcutta there are 199 Hindu temples, 117 Mahometan mosques, 31 Christian churches, and 2 Jewish synagogues. —David J. Hill, recently elected President of Brown University, is the youngest College President in the country—about thirty. —An entire peninsula of 225 acres has been purchased for the Sunday-school Assembly to be held this year at Minnetonka Lake, Minn. —There are thirty-five colored students in the theological department of Harvard University, representing five denominations. —Bishop Lyman, in Utah, recently compelled with a drawn revolver, a clerk of an election to make a certificate for a Mormon. —The Evangelical Mennonites expel all members who insure their lives, and two ministers have been disciplined of late for this offense. —The third Sunday in April the ministers of St. Louis have appointed to preach upon "the Sabbath and its Observance." Now for a medley! —Pope Leo XIII., at a recent reception to Catholic journalists, invited them to sustain, with all their influence, the temporal power of the Pope. —Dr. Newman Hall declares that the churches of Great Britain have lost thirty thousand members within the last three years by intemperance. —The Bishop of Louisville, Ky., has prohibited religious services over the dead in his diocese in houses or in churches. They must be performed at the grave. —A Free Methodist church in Toledo, Ohio, to show its separation from the world, causes its members to wear wide red ribbons inscribed with crosses on their breasts. —The Richmond Religious Herald says: Here in the South are thousands of Baptist churches that promise their pastors but about $150 salary, and don't pay that. —A colporteur says in many parts of Nebraska Paine and Ingersoll are so strongly believed in that not a Christian or one willing to read religious works can be found. —James De Koven, D. D., of Racine, Wis., College, died suddenly of apoplexy, March 27. He was eminent in the Episcopal church, and lately refused a call to Trinity, N. Y., and also to St. Mark's, Philadelphia. —A Conference of prominent Baptists held in New York city recently advised the Baptist denomination to co-operate with the American Bible Society, the difficulties which formerly interposed having been removed. —Since 1840, new translations of the Bible have been made in 215 languages. In some cases a written language had to be formed for the purpose. In Madagascar a company of revisers has been sitting for over ten years. —Rev. P. P. Lawlor, of St. Mary's, New London, Conn., announced recently, that here-after the names of all Catholics who appear before the police court will be publicly made known in church, and their offenses described to the congregation. —The Conference of Baptist Ministers of San Francisco struck the name of Rev. H. W. Reed from the roll because he said the Christian people of California were not opposed to the Chinese. The Watchman, of Boston, says that does not effect his standing in the denomination. —A convention to arouse an interest in "the proper observance of Sunday," is to be held in Springfield, Mass., May 7 and 8. The best talent of the denominations is expected there. We are anxious to know how they will ascertain what is a "proper" observance of Sunday. —The ex-pastor of Frank street Methodist church, in Rochester, N. Y. sued the church for back pay, and the jury rendered a verdict in his favor. The Discipline expressly says no unpaid salary shall be considered a debt, but the jury regarded it as a civil contract and allowed the claim. —In all New England the Baptists have 23,908 churches, and 14,596 ministers; the Methodists 16,099 churches, and 11,267 ministers; Congregationalists 3,500 churches and 3,333 ministers; Presbyterians 5,153 churches, and 4,801 ministers; Episcopalians 2,700 churches, and 3,230 ministers. —Moses E. Lard, in a recent sermon, contends "that there is a literal hell; that the wicked will be cast into it; that there is no promise of escape from it; that aionios only means age upon age, and may not mean endless duration; and that it has not been revealed whether the punishment of the wicked will ever end." Mr Lard is considered one of the ablest of Disciple preachers and writers. On this subject his vision is not yet fully clear. Eldorado, Greeley Co., Neb.
By George B. Starr
AFTER spending a little more than a month at this place, I closed meetings Sunday evening, March 9. A company of fourteen signed the covenant, most of whom are heads of families. A leader was chosen, a young man who had some time in the past given himself to the work of the gospel, and will now study with a view to laboring in the message. May God bless and make an effectual workman of this young man. A Sabbath-school was organized. A club of twelve copies of the SIGNS, and two subscribers to the Review, were obtained. Books and tracts to the amount of $7.75 were sold. God's precious Spirit was present throughout, and I feel is still at work upon the hearts of many who have not yet obeyed. Fremont, Neb.
By John Johnson
I HAVE obtained thirteen subscribers for our periodicals since my last report, and have held four meetings at a place eight miles north of Fremont. The Spirit of the Lord was present in these meetings. On the 10th, five dear souls were buried with Christ in baptism. May they walk in newness of life. Those who love the truth in this place have signed $191.50 for the Scandinavian mission. Of this sum $63.50 had belonged to Bro. and Sister Anderson's five children, whose deaths occurred between Nov. 18 and Dec. 7, 1878. These children loved Jesus, and loved to do what they could for him, and so this sum was given as a memorial of them. I sold books to the value of $3.75. Maple Grove, Dakota.
By M. M. Olsen
I BEGAN labor here Feb. 5, and have held meetings in two places about six miles apart. The interest has been good. Ten or more have commenced keeping the commandments, and as many others are much interested. Have obtained eight subscribers for our periodicals, and sold publications for $2.41. Calls come in from the Scandinavians to have the truth preached in their neighborhood.