—The great Spanish pilgrimage to Rome during the past two weeks contributed to the pope about $228,000.
—The Italian Government is about as near bankrupt as a government can be and live, yet it supports 23,255 monks and nuns.
—It is said that the closing of a Protestant church in Madrid recently was brought about by "the continued energetic protests of aristocratic ladies."
—Representative Johnson, of North Dakota, has re-introduced what is practically at least the famous Blair Sunday Rest Bill in the lower house of Congress, and Senator Kyle, of South Dakota, has introduced a like measure in the Senate.
—In a recent speech in the U. S. Senate Mr. Peffer stated that "our Sunday schools are beginning to teach their pupils to be soldiers. They are employing military men to teach the Sunday school scholars military discipline." It is true the whole tendency of the times is toward education in physical combativeness. The true Christian will "put on the whole armor of God," and being drilled in its use he will want no other.
—People who advocate political religion feel the necessity of continually asserting that they do not want Church and State union. They well know the antagonism of American principles to such a union, hence they are compelled to garnish their Church and State principles with assertions that they do not mean Church and State union. A paper read before the Parliament of Religions in San Francisco last week, after disavowing such a union, argued that corrupt politicians "should be made afraid of the churches." It is evident that unless the churches have some means of exercising authority in political matters, they will be powerless to incite any fear of their opposition.
—An effort is being made in the South African Republic to enact stringent amendments to the Sunday law. The Standard, of Johannesburg, stoutly combats the amendments, showing up the absurdity of such provisions as make certain acts sinful in a village that are allowed in the country. But while the arguments of the journal are good on some lines, it gives its argument all away by admitting that such a law may be right, if somewhat modified. If we admit the propriety of any Sunday law, we stultify all argument against inconsistent provisions, because it is impossible for such laws to be consistent. However, the "mark of the beast" is being pushed the world around, and the warning against its reception is the message to be proclaimed by the servants of God in all lands.
—Some Protestant journals and orators seem to be doing valiant service against the encroachments of Roman Catholicism upon our governmental structure. They apparently see the approaching evil, and are earnest in their efforts to avert it. But they are standing on the quicksands of Catholic dogma—Sunday and other church festivals, consciousness in death, religious legislation, etc., etc.—and are unwittingly being engulfed in the very element against which they are frantically contending.
—The Catholic Mirror, referring to the passage of the bill by the Reichstag permitting the return of the Jesuits to Germany, makes the significant comment that "although they have been turned out of many places, it is their boast that they have always come back—and by invitation." Yes, the "deadly wound" of the papal beast is fast being "healed," as saith the prophet (Rev. 13:3, 12), and it is just as certain that after her restoration her power will be of short duration—"one hour" (chap. 18:10, 17, 19).
—The attention of the San Francisco Methodist Preachers' Meeting on the 23d inst. was largely given to the action of the Board of Education eliminating those portions of Myers' History which are offensive to the Catholics. Resolutions were passed demanding the restoration of the rejected portions of this textbook; declaring that "the action of the School Board was not even a compromise, but a yielding to the arrogant demands of the archbishop;" and appointing the second Sunday in May as a day upon which the ministers of the denomination in the city would preach upon this topic.
—One of the great features of the revival services conducted by Rev. B. Fay Mills is the midweek sabbath. He urges it everywhere, and asks business men to close business and come to meeting. But in giving an account of such an occasion in Norwich, Conn., the Bulletin of that city says that a large assemblage gathered in the Universalist Church to unite with the evangelists in sanctifying the important day. Usually Mr. Mills observes Wednesday as the midweek sabbath, but at Norwich it was Tuesday on which the sanctifying service was held, and the report does not say which day was sanctified.
—The Christian Statesman urges the Christian people of Pennsylvania to say to the party that nominates a certain aspirant for office, "If you nominate a man for lieutenant governor who is the enemy of the Pennsylvania sabbath law you will have our combined opposition in the election." But the Reformed Presbyterian Church, which is the foster mother of the National Reform Association, of which the Statesman is the organ, forbids its members to vote so long as the Constitution does not formally recognize the Deity. Now if it is wrong for Christians to vote, how are they going to legitimately oppose a candidate for office?
—Pittsburg and Allegheny, Pa., together form a real hotbed of Sunday lawism. The Occident, referring to the fact that the new postmasters of those twin cities took possession of their offices on Sunday, draws this comparison: "You will notice that the above places are back East; but away up in the mining region of Redding, California, the postmaster is dead over his office on Saturday night, in order that he might be in the Lord's house on Sunday." The Occident is a Sunday paper, and its defense of the manner of Sunday observance in a State where there is no general compulsory law, against that in a State with a very stringent law, is good testimony as to the imbecility of such legislation.
—Before the defeat of the proposed Christian amendment to the Constitution, the organ of the National Reformers was very sanguine of the support of the great majority of the people of the country. But it now enumerates such a "formidable force" as having been arrayed against the measure that the great majority were defeated. This curious position is hard to explain, when we remember that the friends of the measure did all the petitioning, and only their advocates had any hearing before the Congressional Committee. Another curious feature of the argument is that Catholics are all counted as against the measure, while at the same time they are all being reckoned as in favor of the pending Sunday Rest Bill.
SECULAR.
—In consequence of the miners' strike, there are 10,000 idle men at Clearfield, Pa.
—On the 27th inst. the third consignment of California cherries for the season sold in Chicago for $1.00 per pound.
—The miners' strike in Russian Poland continues to spread, and several collisions have occurred between troops and strikers.
—Hon. A. Van R. Paterson has resigned his position as Justice of the Supreme Court of California. His reason is that the salary affords him "but a bare living," and he has an opportunity of becoming partner in an established practice promising a larger income.
—It is stated in press dispatches that the Canadian Knights of Labor propose to march an industrial army to Ottawa, to demand the abolition of the protective tariff.
—Within the past week welcome showers of rain have fallen in nearly every section of California, which has somewhat enlivened the hitherto gloomy crop prospect.
—The St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 28th inst., entailing a loss of four human lives and over $300,000 worth of property.
—In Kansas City, Mo., on the 18th inst., the District Court granted twenty divorces inside of two hours. In neither case did the defendant in the case appear in court.
—A Terre Haute, Ind., dispatch says that "the block coal miners at Coal Bluff have been induced to quit work, and it is believed the entire Indiana field will yet be induced to quit."
—A resolution introduced in the U. S. Senate, providing for the appointment of a special committee to hear the grievances and wishes to be presented by the industrial armies now en route to Washington, received but six votes.
—On the 23d inst. fifty women attacked some officers who had arrested a miner near Uniontown, Pa., and a number of the assailants were knocked down with the butts of rifles, while others were stabbed with bayonets.
—The gold product of the United States for 1893 was about $40,000,000, an increase of $7,000,000 over the product of 1894. On the other hand, the silver product of 1893 was $80,000,000 against $75,000,000 in 1892, a decrease of $15,000,000.
—On Sunday, the 22d inst., 400 workmen of Hold-Mezo Vasarhely, Hungary, attempted to recover Socialist documents seized by the authorities. The police fired into the mob, severely wounding six men, and slightly wounding several others.
—There are so many "industrial armies" rising in various sections of the country that they have become too numerous to mention. Of themselves they do not amount to much, but they presage a revolution that ridicule and contempt will not put down.
—The California Department of the Grand Army of the Republic held its annual encampment in this city last week. A prominent feature of the occasion was a grand procession; in this the "industrial army" now being formed in the city, several hundred strong, desired to participate, but were refused the privilege.
—The law against processions or gatherings in the Capitol grounds at Washington has not been very rigidly enforced for some time in the past. But, now that Coxey's "army" is on hand, even the Odd Fellows are stopped at the gate of the forbidden grounds, thus establishing a precedent for denying the privilege to the "Commonweal."
—The French Government has promulgated a decree forbidding diplomatic and consular officers to marry without permission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on pain of dismissal from office. The design is to prevent diplomatic entanglements through the influence of foreign wives. It has been explained, however, that the decree does not apply to French representatives in the United States.
—Most pathetic accounts are published of the recent earthquakes in Greece. The port of Atalanta was laid in ruins, as well as several villages in that vicinity. The death roll in the district south of Atalanta is reported at 238, with a large number of injured. Thousands of people are camping out, and there is great destitution and much suffering. The government is doing all it can to afford relief.
—A correspondent in the celebrated Topolobampo Colony, Mexico, presents the scheme in the light of a gigantic fraud. He says that about 1,200 people have been deceived into going down there to suffer and go hungry just to put money into the pocket of a confidence man who has taken about $200,000 of their means for stock in the so-called "Credit Foncier," which company never had a real existence. If men would follow the advice of their Lord, and lay up their treasure in heaven by doing good with it on earth, they would not be caught in such traps.
—The State superintendent of public instruction of Indiana has rendered a decision to the effect that devotional exercises cannot be enforced in the public schools of the State. According to the provisions of the Constitution, the superintendent says the only thing the Legislature intended to authorize school authorities to do was to place the Bible in the schools, and leave the use of it to the judgment of the teachers. A rule requiring the devotional exercises might interfere with the consciences of the teachers, some of the children, or some of their parents, and is not wanted. The law authorizes religious exercises in the school, but does not enforce them.
THE ATONEMENT. Part I, "An Atonement Consistent with Reason." Part II, "An Atonement as Revealed in the Bible." Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. Cloth, $1.00.
The Contents of This Number
By Editor
READ "A Successful Life," on page 420, and ask yourselves whether you are making life a success or not.
We give in this number the third article on "Perfection of the Law." May we again ask for them a careful reading?
In our Mission Fields department will be found that which will give, in some respects, a fair view of that wonderful land Alaska.
In Our Work and Workers department will be found a list of our important camp meetings, as sent us by the secretary of the General Conference.
We have received just too late for this issue "Jottings from Turkey," by our correspondent, Pasteur H. P. Holser. The article will appear next week.
Let our California friends especially note the instruction relative to California camp meeting, as given last week. This will be a most important meeting; let all attend who possibly can.
This number of the SIGNS is an uncommonly good number for children, but the good must be through the parents. Parents, see that you appropriate to yourselves the good instruction found in this paper, that it may flow out to your children. See articles on pages 419, 425.
Following the articles on the Church of England Brother Magan will consider "Church of England Persecutions," "The Scotch Presbyterians," "The New England Puritans," and the conclusion of his "Review on Sunday Legislation." We feel as we pen this that much valuable testimony presented in these articles has been passed over by many of our readers. We hope that they may be more widely read.
"CHRIS T came to seek and save the lost. The strong must help the weak. If there are men who have not strength of character enough to resist drink and other evils, it is our duty to place the evil out of their reach. They do it in Toronto, Canada, by closing every saloon at six o'clock on Saturday evening, before the men go home from work, and not a door is opened until Monday morning." — The Occident.
In no instance did Christ ever place evil out of the reach of any man. To those who want it, he gives the strength of his Spirit to overcome the evil, but he does not arbitrarily remove the evil. Had that been his principle, he would have removed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil out of the reach of Adam and Eve. But suppose it duty to remove the drink evil out of the reach of men inclined to partake of it, is it accomplished by closing saloons on Sunday? or are saloons evil only from Saturday night till Monday morning?
What a strange position that is which claims that the law of the ten commandments condemns the sinner, and that faith so justifies him from the sin that the law is forever dead to him; that is, that he has no more to do with it, is not expected to obey it, etc. All this is done to get rid of the fourth commandment. The claim is made that faith justifies from condemnation of the law, and now that faith has justified we are under no obligation to keep the Sabbath. On the same line of argument, the man who is justified can kill, steal, and commit adultery; and who shall say that the above theory, taught in so many religious circles, is not responsible for much of the sin of this present time? Would that the church, like Christ, and in Christ, would "magnify the law and make it honorable."
"The Warning Voice of a Prophet." — That is what a writer in the Examiner called a Fourth of July poem by Ambrose Bierce, written in 1888. It was prophetic of the evils now upon us. In speaking of the boon of liberty granted in this land, it thus invokes the Deity: —
Oh, give us more or less, as we
Shall serve the right, or serve the wrong;
Confirm our freedom but so long
As we are worthy to be free!
But when the distant be the time,
Majorities in passion draw
Insurgent swords to murder Law,
And all the land is red with crime;
Or—nearer menace—when the hand
Of feeble spirits cinge and plead
To the gigantic strength of Greed,
And fawn upon his iron hand:
Nay, when the steps to state are worn
In hollows by the feet of thieves,
And Mammon sits among the sheaves,
And chuckles while the reapers mourn—
Then stay Thy miracle—replace
The broken throne, repair the chain,
Restore the interrupted reign,
And veil again Thy patient face.
And are not these predictions present facts? Do we not see the "nearer menace" in our "industrial armies," in the mad mobs of the Pennsylvania coke regions, the coal regions of Illinois and Indiana, and the silver regions of Colorado? Do we not see it in the frequent strikes, increasing the ever-growing hatred between the "masses" and the "classes"? Do we not see it in the mutiny of State troops, showing utter disregard of authority, as indicated in South Carolina? Do we not see it in the forcible seizure of railway trains by the so-called "army of peace," and the sympathy expressed for them by a great many people, not only in word, but practically? And how long will it be ere
"Majorities in passion draw
Insurgent swords to murder Law,
And all the land is red with crime"?
Men may theorize, and dream, and talk; and laugh; but the wounds are not healed. The body politic is sick. Religious factions are attempting a cure, but they hasten the dissolution of the patient. The only hope of this world is Christ Jesus, the One who is left out of all these human schemes altogether, or relegated to the position of a menial, to grind as did Samson at the will and beck of the Philistines. But he works not in that way. His glory he divides not with the selfish schemes of men, albeit he would use it—in his own way, as it only can be used—for the good of all. "Come unto me," is his invitation, "and I will give you rest." His coming is near; all signs declare it. The wreck of sin and all that is identified with sin is just before us, but he who is of Christ will triumph gloriously over all its disasters.
"BIBLE STUDENTS' LIBRARY."
By Editor
(Continued.)
READ the following and see if there is not some publication in the following list which you wish to read yourself, or which may be of eternal benefit to some friend. The numbers omitted are not now published.
No. 69. "Jewish." Christians Are Israelites Indeed. A tract of 8 pages, by W. N. Glenn, showing that the bitter prejudice toward anything which came through the Jews, is most unreasonable, and that a rejection of a doctrine or institution on that ground would logically demand the rejection of salvation through Christ. A good tract for those who call the Sabbath "Jewish." Price, 1 cent.
No. 70. The Immortality of the Soul; Is It a Scriptural Doctrine? A tract of 32 pages, by Elder A. T. Jones. It considers the doctrine of the inherent immortality of the soul from a purely Biblical standpoint under the following heads: The Resurrection, The Second Coming of Christ, The Judgment, A Clean Universe, The Mission of Christ, Christ Our Life, and Which Will We Believe? It is an important tract and a strong argument. Price, 4 cents.
No. 71. Righteousness. How May It Be Obtained? The title sufficiently presents the subject matter. It is a brief essay on righteousness by faith, by William Covert; 8 pages. Price, 1 cent.
No. 72. Christ and His Righteousness. A pamphlet of 96 pages, by E. J. Waggoner, more fully setting forth the righteousness of God through Christ than is done by No. 71. It shows the wonderful love and condescension of a God of love. Price, 15 cents.
No. 73. Can We Keep the Sabbath? A tract of 16 pages, by E. J. Waggoner, considering in the light of the Bible some of the objections which are brought against the observance of the Sabbath. Price, 2 cents.
No. 74. The Counterfeit and the Genuine. A 16-page tract, by M. C. Wilcox, showing the only true test by which we may distinguish the false from the true. Price, 2 cents.
No. 75. Living by Faith. A tract of 16 pages, by E. J. Waggoner, showing how we may live the life of faith and grow in the grace of Christ. Price, 2 cents.
No. 76. Bible Questions and Answers Concerning Man. A 16-page tract, by A. T. Jones, answering by the Bible certain questions asked therein on man's nature. Price, 2 cents.
The above will be sent post free on receipt of price. Address Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.