—Cholera has appeared in several ports along the coast of China.
—There is more trouble on the Texas border, caused by raiding Mexicans.
—About 500 Chinamen have taken passage on the City of New York for Honolulu.
—Turkish iron-clads have sunk a Greek vessel, cruising off the Island of Cirigo.
—General Grant laid the first stone of an American church at Geneva, Switzerland, July 27.
—Great destitution is said to prevail among the white and colored workingmen of the District of Columbia.
—Fearful floods are reported from Buenos Ayres, destroying millions of sheep and cattle, and rendering hundreds of families homeless.
—The London Financier says, according to private advices from Lyons, several failures have occurred in the silk trade, including one for $1,000,000.
—Mr. Vanderbilt has ordered $100,000 to be distributed among the employees of the New York Central, in recognition of their firmness during the strike, and promises an increase of pay when business justifies it. The disbursement will be made at the end of the month when the pay-rolls are made out.
—The Prohibition State Convention at Utica, N. Y., has nominated a State ticket and resolved that it is the duty of all to extirpate the crime of selling intoxicating drinks.
—It is estimated that there are at present about 2,000,000 able-bodied men in this country out of employment. If the price of a day's labor is worth $1.50, we have an actual loss to the country of $3,000,000 per day.
—The cotton report of the Department of Agriculture for August shows no material decline from July. The general average for August is ninety-three. No State averages higher than 1876 except Louisiana and Florida. The States of the greatest production, especially those west of the Mississippi, are those reporting the highest condition.
—It is stated that the present population of Kansas is over half a million. The total grain crop of this year is expected to amount to 120,000,000 bushels, of which 80,000,000 will be corn, nearly 20,000,000 wheat and the remainder oats, barley, rye, and other small grains. The value of the agricultural product in 1875 was over $60,000,000.
—A recapitulation of the freight forwarded overland by the Central Pacific Railroad Company during the month of July shows the following figures: From San Francisco, 10,461,318 lbs.; from Sacramento, 1,364,140; from San Jose, 94,960; from Marysville, 21,920; from Stockton, 5,360; from Oakland, 550. Total, July, 1877, 11,948,248 lbs.; total, July, 1876, 8,431,157 lbs.
—The Chinese custom of feeding the dead at the cemetery resulted in the burning up of all the wooden railings, fences, etc., in the city cemetery at Yreka, Aug. 16, damaging tombstones and monuments, as the trees and shrubbery were very dry and burned fiercely. The firemen went to the cemetery, but no water being near, could only stop the fire by pulling down fences to prevent the Odd Fellows' and Masonic cemeteries from catching. The citizens were much incensed against the Chinamen, and insist on their having a burying ground of their own, this being the second time the Chinese have burned up the city cemetery.
—Aug. 14, the Directors and stockholders of the Texas Pacific Railroad met. The annual report showed that 480 miles of track have been completed. Receipts, $2,381,976; profits, $318,985. Under the adjustment of indebtedness of the California and Texas Railway Construction Company, $8,474,911 had been satisfied by July 2, 1877, and on June 1, the liabilities of the road were but $18,556,578, with 444 miles in operation, 50 locomotives and 1050 cars of all kinds. The balance of floating indebtedness was but $705,264, against $935,257 in June, 1875, and the company has on hand to pay their debts $394,000 of its first and consolidated mortgage bonds.
—An official report made to the Bureau of Statistics shows that during the month ending July 31, 1877, there arrived at the port of New York, 9,559 passengers, of whom 6,713 were immigrants, 2,242 citizens of the United States and 604 sojourners. Of the total number of immigrants 3,925 were males and 2,788 females. There were from England, 1,238; Scotland, 237; Wales, 17; Ireland, 946; Germany, 1,522; Austria, 412; Sweden, 530; Norway, 302; Denmark, 324; France, 190; Switzerland, 159; Spain, 22; Italy, 242; Holland, 40; Belgium, 9; Russia, 370; Poland, 48; Hungary, 18; Cuba, 24; Bermuda, 9; Mexico, 7; Turkey and Nova Scotia, 5 each; Finland, Ontario, Island of St. Vincent, and born at sea, 4 each; St. Croix and Ceylon, 3 each; Jamaica, 2; Greece, China, Guatemala, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, British Guiana, Porto Rico, Hayti, Guadalupe, Martinique, Gibraltar, and Australia, 1 each.
Tea and Coffee.
WHY THEIR USE IS UNHEALTHFUL.
(Continued.)
PHYSICAL EFFECTS.
When a person drinks a cup of tea or coffee, he takes into his system from one-half of a grain to three or four grains of theine, the poison to which we have already frequently referred. Now what does this poison do? Does it nourish the body? No respectable authority makes any such claim. On the contrary, there is the best of reasons for believing that it does nothing at all. There is something done, however; but the vital organism is the actor, not the poison.
How does the system behave toward the active element of the tea or the coffee? Instead of attempting to assimilate it, or utilize it in any manner, it recognizes its true character as a dangerous poison, an article unfit to remain within its domain, and immediately sets its servants, the various depurating organs, at work to get it out of the body as soon as possible. If the resulting commotion is only slight, there is merely a gentle increase of the activity of all the various organs of the body consequent upon the accelerated motion of the blood. In this case, the individual feels exhilarated. He is stimulated, and feels cheerful and contented; and although he may have been, previously, quite weary, he now feels refreshed and strengthened.
If the dose taken had been a little larger, the person would have been more excited, and would probably have been very loquacious. Increase the dose somewhat, and a state of complete insensibility results. The last result is not often seen; but the first and second are very common.
In addition to these effects of the theine, the tannic acid irritates the membranes of the stomach and intestines, inducing constipation, and the long train of ills which are attributable to this morbid condition.
These are the immediate effects; now what do we see as the more remote results? The various organs which have been at work in eliminating the poison have been excited to unnatural, unusual exertion in view of impending danger from the presence of something abnormal and unusable. After the work of expulsion is accomplished, they are no longer goaded on by the foreign substance, and so they quickly relapse into a condition as much below their normal standard of healthful activity as they have been stimulated above it by the tea or coffee. Then the feeling of comfort and exhilaration gives place to one of exhaustion, faintness, and restlessness. This is the reason why every tea-drinker becomes so dependent upon his cup for the maintenance of his ordinary good feelings.
But let us look a little deeper into the condition of the system after the use of tea or coffee. The organs which have been engaged in the work of casting out of the body the poison sipped from the steaming cup, are the liver, lungs, kidneys, perspiratory glands of the skin, and mucous membrane of the intestines. In doing this work, they have been obliged to perform an extra amount of labor, while they have been not only unfurnished with a commensurate amount of additional nutriment, but have been, by overwork, deprived of the opportunity of obtaining even their ordinary supply. Under these circumstances, it is very evident that a greater or lesser amount of injury must be done the vital organs, the amount of actual damage being proportionate to the amount of poison received. If this injury were wrought only in a single instance, nature would soon repair the damage, and restore the organs to their wonted health and tone; but, when it is inflicted every day, and perhaps several times a day, the vital powers are unable to restore the wasted, overworked organs, and gradually, but surely, they are weakened and deteriorated until they become wholly diseased and unfitted for the performance of their proper functions. Then every tissue in the body becomes affected.
(To be continued.)
Ten Follies.
1. To think the more a man eats, the fatter and stronger he will become.
2. To believe the more hours children study at school the faster they learn.
3. To conclude that if exercise is good for the health, the more violent or exhausting it is, the more good is done.
4. To imagine that every hour taken from sleep is an hour gained.
5. To act upon the presumption that the smallest room in the house is large enough to sleep in.
6. To argue that whatever remedy causes one to feel immediately better, is “good for” the system, without regard to ulterior effects.
7. To eat without any appetite, or to continue to eat after it has been satisfied, merely to gratify the taste.
8. To eat a hearty supper for the pleasure experienced during the brief time it is passing down the throat, at the expense of a whole night of disturbed sleep, and a weary waking in the morning.
9. To remove a portion of the covering immediately after exercise, when the most stupid drayman in New York knows that if he does not put a cover on his horse the moment he ceases work in the winter, he will lose him in a few days by pneumonia.
10. To contend that because the dirtiest children in the street, or highway, are hearty and healthy, therefore it is healthy to be dirty; forgetting that continuous daily exposure to out door air in joyous unrestrained activities is such a powerful agency for health that those who live thus are well, in spite of rags and filth.
He who fails to control his appetite, yields to the greatest servitude.
OBITUARY
By John Norton Loughborough
DIED, in San Francisco, August 13, after an illness of nine days, Sister Martha Brorsen, a sister of Brethren Knud and Andrew Brorsen, aged twenty-one years. Sister Brorsen, with one of her sisters, arrived in San Francisco about six weeks before her death. For a year she had suffered from the effects of a severe cold taken in Denmark, and the great change of climate was too much for her constitution. From her childhood, she had made a profession of religion; having lost her mother at the age of seven years and her father at the age of fourteen, it made a deep impression on her mind. Since her arrival here she had kept the Lord's Sabbath and embraced the Advent doctrine, so far as she understood it. She died in bright hope of the resurrection, and of soon meeting those who are left to mourn. She was buried August 15, and a funeral discourse was given by the writer, August 18, from 1 Thess. 4: 13–18. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. James Dickie 4-7, Jessie Taylor 4-33, Mrs L Sweet 4-33, J P Farnsworth 4-33, Rozina Schoonover 4-34, C C Cragar 4-16, Selma Rodgers 5-1, Mrs J E Pond 4-1, Harriet Poulson 4-25, Lillie Pond 4-33, S J Anthony 4-24.
$1.50 EACH. Caleb Railsback 4-33, Mrs E M Slocum 4-33, Wm Thomas Esq 4-33, Mrs Carrie Sund 4-33, Geo S Grubb 4-33, H P Childs 4-33, Wallace Carpenter 4-21, W Evans 4-33, M H Fox 4-33, Mrs Betsey A Rowell 4-33, J F Sloan 4-33, Walter Ballenger 4-33, Miss Alice Struble 4-33, Martin Sattler 4-33, J W Bunce 4-33, Richard W Bolton 4-33, Mrs Lizzie Kahley 4-33.
$1.00 EACH. A O Bourdeau 4-5, J B Sweet (8 copies) 3-27, Chas Coleman (8 copies) 3-34, C O Stanley 3-28.
75 CTS EACH. Samuel Males 4-9, Hammond House 4-7, M A B Smith 4-9, Levi Thompson 4-9, Fred Van Auken 4-9, Wm M Davis 4-9, Miss Emma Swalin 4-9, Wm H Leedy 4-1, Levi Karn 4-1, Jane Daggy 4-1, Mrs E A Bush 4-9.
50 CTS EACH. Henry Morse 4-1, C M Peterson 4-1, Mrs Fayette Fisher 4-1, Rhoda Gordon 4-1, Charles Wordell 4-1, Mrs Susan M Hoffman 4-1, Mrs E N Fisher 4-1, Mrs F M Denny 4-1.
MISCELLANEOUS. S E Pierce (19 copies) $19.00 4-13, Mrs J Stathoupe (18 copies) 10.00 4-15, E J Potter (20 copies) 8.50 3-42, Lucinda P Wood 6.33 4-5, Mrs H O Mitchell (7 copies) 4.37 4-5, Jacob Neil 3.25 4-1, John Izett $3.00 4-1.
California Conference Fund.
Green Valley church $32.85, Mrs J Condon 2.00, St Helena church 9.75, Middletown church 30.00, Napa church 24.50.
California Tent Fund.
Green Valley church $1.48, St Helena church 1.30, Napa church 5.85.
California Publishing Fund
Lucie Bush $40.00.
Received on Account.
Mich T and M Society $6.10, Cal T and M Society 57.62.
Donations to the Signs.
Wm H Hicks $10.00.
Danvers, Mass.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
In the good providence of God we have come to the right place for our tent-meeting this time. I believe we have the largest interest I have seen in all my labors. We thought we had a great interest at Rome (N. Y.) last year, and so we had; but thus far the interest is much better here, much more extensive.
Danvers is nineteen miles from Boston and four miles from Salem. It has a population of about five thousand. No Adventists have ever preached here. We have held six meetings, and not a single time have we been able to seat our audience. Last night we packed every seat, put in all our available chairs, seated them on the stand and on boxes, and yet hundreds had to stand up. A long time before the hour appointed our tent was packed full, and we commenced our meeting, though scores were still coming. Nor is the interest just local. We find they are coming from the villages and cities around, two, four, six, eight, and even ten miles, from every direction. This is remarkable, when we consider that we are right in the midst of a densely settled country. There are villages and cities every few miles. Looking all over the country, it appears like one continuous city. If we were in the West, on the borders, it would not be strange to see people come ten miles with teams, but here it is wholly unexpected.
All the leading Boston dailies, and other papers, in all this section, publish excellent reports of our meetings. The reporters come to us for facts and our arguments, and give them just as we state them. Everybody seems to be friendly.
When we came to inquire for a place for the tent, we told everybody just what we were—Seventh-day Adventists; and from the start we published in all the papers, and from the stand, what we believed, and what we expected to prove. Instead of hurting our interest, this is the very thing that draws the crowd. In the past, some have thought it good policy on going into a new place to keep all these things back, and never let people know who we are. I have fallen into that error myself, and have tried the same thing; but I have done it for the last time. Circumstances are changing. The position of our people is coming to be better known. People are anxious to learn more about us.
All our neighbors, instead of being afraid of us, welcome us most heartily, and urge upon us every accommodation their houses afford. Already, without any invitation, the people bring in food, and invite us to their homes. Last night we took up a collection, and received over $12.00.
One of the selectmen of the place, a gentleman of the highest reputation, one who has the control of all the police force, furnishes us two or three policemen every night, and takes as much interest in the meetings as ourselves. He helps seat the audience, looks after every little disturbance, etc. Books go off rapidly. We have distributed twelve hundred copies of our little tent tracts, “Can we Know?” and “Is the End Near?” They take copies of our small prophetic chart, at five cents apiece, faster than we can count them out.
Yesterday afternoon, Brother Stone spoke on Matt. 24, to a crowded tent. Scarcely a person moved for an hour and a quarter, though many stood up, and it was very warm.
Well, we thank God, and take courage. This looks as though something might be done in New England. We re-seat our tent to-day, so as to secure its utmost capacity.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Grangeville, Tent No. 2.
By J. L. WOOD
The interest is as good as ever in our meeting here, although some who love excitement have been drawn away by other things so that our congregation is not quite as large as at first. Last Sabbath we had our first Sabbath meeting. About twenty-five attended whose hearts seem to be affected by the truth, some have commenced to obey. I think I shall take down the tent soon and hold meetings in the school-house, and labor from house to house, and thus follow up the work. I have sold $10 worth of books here, and obtained four subscribers for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. J. L. WOOD.
Progress of the Cause.
By James White
GOD is graciously at work among his people. Success is attending all our efforts. We are cheered with the good news that comes over from the Pacific coast by private letters and by the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. There are seven men in the State of California alone giving their whole time to the ministry. Three tent companies are active in California, and one in Oregon.
And on the Atlantic, only nineteen miles from old Boston, Elder Canright has the largest interest he has ever witnessed. The number of conversions given in the Progress Department of this week are one hundred and thirty-six. We congratulate the Empire State on her cheering prosperity since Elder Canright pitched his tent at Rome thirteen months since. And most of the other Conferences are showing a like prosperity. How unspeakably good to feel, and to know, that the God of our fathers is with us.
Calls for ministerial help come in from all quarters. Where we have two hundred men in the field, we need a thousand. Where we have fifty young men at our College who have the ministry in view, we should have three hundred. There is no time to be lost. Those who think of coming next year, should by all means come this year. Those who think of coming at the winter term, should come immediately at the fall term.
Again, Biblical Institutes should be held in all our Conferences. The one held in Oakland, Cal., last spring doubled the ministerial labor of the State the present year. In God we must stand, and labor, and battle till the work shall be finished.—J. W., in Review and Herald.
Texas Tent.
By R. M. Kilgore
The meetings at Cleburne are still progressing, and the interest is increasing. Numbers are coming regularly five and six miles, and a few have come twelve miles. Elder Philips (Disciple) from Cado, has spoken in the tent. According to his view, the ten commandments are abolished.
Dr. Johnson (Cumberland Presbyterian) from Paris, Texas, indorsed him. I shall review their position.
Several are keeping the Sabbath. We are not able to tell the number, as we are hearing of new ones every day. We had our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. About two hundred and fifty were present. We are receiving calls constantly from those who are inquiring the way, and we are visiting from house to house. Brother S. H. King is now with me, and will help in this branch of the work. We are of good courage in the Lord.
R. M. KILGORE.
Napa and Lake Counties.
By John Norton Loughborough
My meetings at Napa, St. Helena, and Middletown, as per appointment in the SIGNS, were seasons of interest. Not only did these meetings have an encouraging influence on the church, but we were favored with a good outside attendance at each place. The sentiments of the supplement article, “Our Work,” met with favor. The debt of the district was apportioned out to the different churches of the district, and arrangements made to have it all clear by camp-meeting time. Several gave their names on the $1,000 Missionary Fund. One for $50, one for $25, and some for $10 each.
We found all actively preparing for camp-meeting, and looking forward in faith to this meeting as a season when the Lord by his spirit shall meet with and guide us, and fit us for greater usefulness in his cause.
In Lake county they have had no preaching since Brother Waggoner was there over a year ago. I was gratified to find matters so favorable there. It is a striking evidence of the power of the truth, and of the great efficiency of our weekly papers, the SIGNS and Review, to see what a mighty influence they exert on the scattered ones. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Dixon, Cal.
By W. M. HEALEY
Last Sabbath and First-day morning I spent with the church here, holding three meetings with a fair attendance and interest.
I was much pleased at this meeting to meet with Dr. S. M. Meeker, who heard us preach at Elmira last winter, but went to his home in Kern county before our meetings closed. The doctor reports himself keeping the law; also his wife, who has never heard a sermon on the subject, but has read the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, with other of our publications. The doctor and family expect to attend our southern camp-meeting, and will probably unite with us there.
Two have signed the covenant at Dixon during this meeting.
We have in Sacramento twenty-six names on the covenant, with others keeping the Sabbath, and interest in the meeting is still good. Pray for us. W. M. HEALEY.
Aug. 19, 1877.
Martinez, Tent No. 3.
BRETHREN Rice and Brorsen still continue their meetings in Martinez. This is an irreligious town, given to pleasure-seeking, still there are a few interested hearers, some of whom will probably take their stand on the truth.
Camping Tent.
By John Norton Loughborough
The 50 ft. tent No. 3, will be pitched on the Yountville camp-ground as a free lodging tent. In this tent there will be abundance of lodging room for all the men who furnish their own blankets. J. N. L.
Camp-Meeting Mail.
By John Norton Loughborough
We shall have a post-office on the Yountville camp-ground. All letters to those camping on the grounds should be addressed, Yountville, Napa Co., Cal. (camp-ground). J. N. L.
Record Books.
By John Norton Loughborough
All S. B. treasurers, and all Tract and Missionary officers are requested to bring their business and account books to the Conference. Church clerks will also please bring their church record books. J. N. L.
To S. B. Treasurers.
By John Norton Loughborough
As there will be no quarterly meeting in California till after the camp-meetings, the S. B. treasurers are requested to collect all S. B. dues up to Oct. 1, before camp-meeting. If possible, have your books all squared up before submitting them to the Conference Committee.
J. N. L.
Tent Fund.
By John Norton Loughborough
WHILE the S. B. treasurers are collecting their S. B. dues, will they please complete the collection of the ten per cent extra which was to be raised for the purchase of the two 50 ft. tents. Some of the churches have paid all their portion, others have not. Of the $500 paid for the tents about $270 have already been paid in. We have no doubt but our brethren will raise and pay the balance by camp-meeting time.
J. N. L.
Cheap and Valuable.
By Editor
Although our tracts are given to the public at a rate which makes them the cheapest religious reading matter published by any denomination (eight large pages for one cent), we are prepared to offer still greater inducements. We have made up packages of our best pioneer tracts, sixteen in number, containing two hundred and eighty pages, which we offer at twenty-five cents. Any one purchasing a package will secure the matter at the reduced rate of eleven pages for one cent. Brethren desiring to send a variety of tracts to friends, and persons wishing to know of our doctrines, cannot do better than purchase our packages.
Address. SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
Oakland, Cal.
Camp-Meetings for 1877.
CAMP-MEETINGS are located and appointed as follows:—
MAINE, Richmond, Aug. 29 to Sept. 4
VERMONT, Morrisville, September 6—11
NEW YORK, “ 11—17
MICHIGAN, Lansing, “ 18—
CALIFORNIA, Yountville, “ 13—19
“ Tulare county, Sept. 26 to Oct. 1
California Conference.
By John Norton Loughborough; John Morrison; W. C. White
The annual session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the Yountville camp-meeting, September 13-19. First session at 5 P. M. of the 13th. Each company of Sabbath-keepers should elect delegates immediately, and fill out the blank credentials which will be sent by the State secretary. Each church of twenty members or less is entitled to one delegate, and one delegate for every additional fifteen members over the first twenty.
J. N. Loughborough,
John Morrison,
W. C. White,
Conf. Com.
California Yearly Missionary Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough; A. M. Loughborough
THE annual meeting of the California State Tract and Missionary Society will be held in connection with the Yountville camp-meeting, September 13–19. First session at 5 P. M. of the 14th. There will be an election of officers and directors, and the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Secretary.
Northern California Camp-Meeting.
By CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE
The camp-meeting for northern California will be held near Yountville, Napa county, on the Christian camp-ground, commencing September 13 and closing September 19. All tents should be pitched and the camp fully in readiness by the evening of the 12th. Labor upon the grounds will commence Sunday, September 9, and tents can be pitched any time between that and the evening of the 12th. We wish all our brethren and sisters to come in season to commence with the meeting and remain till the close.
Come to the meeting in the name of the Lord, come praying. Bring your families and friends along. CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE.
Southern California Camp-Meeting.
By M. J. Church; W. R. Smith; R. F. Eagle
The camp-meeting for southern California will be held two and one-half miles north of Lemoore, Tulare county, September 26 to October 1. Lemoore is a town situated on a branch of the Central Pacific railroad, diverging from Goshen station, between Fresno and Tulare city. The distance from Goshen to Lemoore is twenty miles. Persons going by railroad, will change cars at Goshen.
We hope to see a full attendance of all our people, within reach of the meeting, with their friends. All tents should be up in readiness to commence with an early morning meeting on the 26th, and all our people should remain until the closing morning meeting, October 1. Pray the Lord to make this camp-meeting a source of great good to southern California.
M. J. CHURCH, California
W. R. SMITH, Camp-meeting
R. F. EAGLE, Committee.
APPOINTMENTS
By John Norton Loughborough
Oakland—Services at the new church, on corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 10:30 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:30. Sabbath-school at 9 o’clock Sabbath morning.
San Francisco—Services at the house of worship, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and first-day evening at 7:45. Prayer-meetings every Tuesday evening at 7:45. The Hayes Valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central R. R. cross Laguna street near the church.
Providence permitting I will hold meetings as follows:—
Healdsburg, Aug. 24, at 1 P. M.
Santa Rosa, Aug. 25, at 11 A. M., and a business meeting at the close of the Sabbath.
Green Valley, Aug. 26. Business meeting at 1 P. M. Preaching in the evening.
Bloomfield, Aug. 27. Business meeting at 1 P. M. Preaching in the evening.