MANY people speak disparagingly of that which they cannot put down by fair means, and seem to feel justified in the course which they pursue, though they must know that the effect of a sneer or an insinuation is sometimes as fatal as a stab, and far more difficult to ward off. All have probably heard of the Quaker who wished to get rid of his dog. "I will not kill thee," said he, "but I will give thee a bad name." And so, turning him out he cried, "Mad dog," and the poor slandered animal was slain before he had passed three blocks.
355The Examiner and Chronicle gives an example of the display of this spirit in the following paragraph:—
"One of the ways a certain class of men have, to show their dislike to a thing, is to try to fasten upon it some nick-name which they think will help to make it unpopular. Hence we have the 'Canterbury Revision.' But the name given to it by the Revisers, the men who made it what it is through so many years' work, is the 'Revised New Testament.' This is its authorized and true appellation."
We would like to ask the Examiner and Chronicle and a host of its religious associates, if it ever inquired into the motive which leads so many Christian people to call the seventh day "the Jewish Sabbath?" The Bible gives it the title of "the Sabbath of Jehovah thy God." The Lord says it is "My holy day;" "the holy of the Lord, honorable." For what reason do people "show their dislike" to that which the Lord so highly esteems, and "fasten upon it a nick-name," when the Lord invariably honored it with a most exalted title? Is it not prejudice—groundless and unreasoning prejudice?
There is quite a show of reason for calling the new version the "Canterbury Revision." The movement originated in Canterbury; and that which might be called the Canterbury Committee was largely in the majority among the revisers. They decided how far the recommendations of the American Committee should be adopted, and how far they should be rejected. And yet, for good reasons, we claim that it is not just to "nick-name" it the "Canterbury Revision." Though it originated there, the work was so largely shared by others—it so unmistakably shows the impress of other hands and minds, that that is proved to be a "nick-name," and as such should never be given to it.
But how is it with the seventh-day Sabbath? Does it bear the impress of Jewish origin? Not at all. Jehovah rested on it from all his work,—it was the rest day or Sabbath of the Lord alone. God only sanctified it; he alone put the divine benediction upon it. Why then, do people call it "the Sabbath of the Jews?" and rob God of the honor of his chosen memorial of his own work? "An enemy hath done this." It is his design to make the inhabitants of the earth forget the Creator, and deny to him the glory of his works.
O, ye Christian people; understand that nick-names are unworthy means of showing your dislike to the institutions of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Cease this folly, and turn to keeping "his commandments; for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
SHALL WE STICK TO OUR TEXT?
By Uriah Smith
THE N. Y. Independent of June 2, 1881, prints a sermon preached by Washington Gladden, at Springfield, Mass., a little while previous to that date, on "The Failing Hill Towns," in which he dwells upon the decadence of religious interest and growth in the country towns of New England. He thinks that many of the smaller and weaker congregations should, instead of keeping up their independent organizations, unite and form one large and vigorous society. And he argues that they might properly do this, because their denominational differences have mainly disappeared. He says:—
"If the doctrinal differences between the sects were as deep and wide as once they were, there would be more justification for this state of things; but these intellectual barriers are pretty nearly broken down. Especially true is it of all the evangelical churches, that there is scarcely any difference among them in their methods of preaching the gospel. The same statements, substantially, are heard in Methodist, and Baptist, and Congregationalist churches; the only noticeable differences are about some small matters of form and order."
It is to the fact stated in this extract that we wish to call attention: "The same statements, substantially, are heard in Methodist, and Baptist, and Congregationalist churches." This is true. Who, by listening to the preaching, merely, in any particular church, for almost any length of time, could tell to what denomination it belonged? That must be learned from other sources. Now should S. D. Adventist ministers preach in the same way, dealing only in the generalities, and dropping specific doctrines, in what respect would our case differ from theirs? If we have any excuse for a denominational existence, it is because a special truth is committed to us, and an advance movement is to be made, and a specific message and warning is to be given to the people, which others are not giving, and will not give. The third angel's message, according to the position of this people, is the light and truth for this time; and the burden of this message is a warning against the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark in hand or forehead. This involves an exposition of prophecy, and a presentation of various doctrines, line upon line and precept upon precept. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus cover the ground of Christian duty; and the appearing of One like the Son of man coming upon the great white cloud to reap the harvest of the earth, is the scene which must be held up constantly before the eyes of men. If we prove recreant to this duty, God will raise up others to do this specific work. Would it not be better for us to stick to our text?
U. S.
TRINE IMMERSION.
WE are permitted to copy the following from a private letter from one of our preaching brethren to another. The writer is one of our most highly esteemed ministers, always careful and judicious in his statements:—
"I do not know how it will strike others, but I do not see how we can send men out to preach who are not sound on the baptism question. For my own part I think trine immersion as much of a corruption of the ordinance as pouring, when we take into view the design of baptism, and the event of which it is a memorial. Of course it does not seem so to our Dunker friends; they are sincere as many advocates of sprinkling are."
These words we most heartily indorse. We have tried to examine the claims of trine immersion in a historical view, with care, and to treat it with candor. And it is certainly not to the credit of trine immersionists that they turn off our evidences with the remark that "it does not touch the point," as some have done, without making any effort to refute the facts or to meet the argument. We commenced the investigation of the subject with the conviction that they had a strong historical argument; but on reading we were surprised that they have really no foundation for some of their most important statements which are put forth in the most confident manner. If we are in error it could be shown; but we have the strongest assurance that it cannot be shown.
If they had the strength of argument with them on history, that would not convince us that they had the truth, because church history proves no obligation in the absence of Scriptural evidence. As the writer above says, their view is clearly shown to be erroneous, "when we take into view the design of baptism." No individual can consistently hold that view as a Seventh-day Adventist.
Sowing in Tears, Reaping in Joy
THEY that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
SACRIFICE AND PROGRESS.
By George I. Butler
BY ELD. GEO. I. BUTLER.
THERE is a very close connection between sacrifice and progress—more than we discern by human senses. We are ready to agree that, if a sacrificing spirit is seen among those who labor for any object, they will of course make greater efforts to accomplish their purpose than they would if they had not such a spirit; and we of course should expect greater results in a corresponding degree, as their efforts would be more earnest. But this would be an increase growing out of merely human efforts. This is not what I mean to speak about. I refer to an increase of progress because of sacrifice on our part brought about directly by the spirit of God, and in no way traceable to human effort only as God witnesses to it that he is pleased with the same.
In our efforts to advance the cause of present truth, we can do very little unless God adds his blessing. But the Lord can and does affect hearts in communities by his Spirit, and prepares the way for his truth. Paul on one occasion undertook to preach the word in Asia; but the Spirit forbade him. Then he tried to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered him not. After this he had a vision, and a man stood before him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." He went, and God greatly blessed his labors. Why was he thus directed. Because there were those whom the Lord's Spirit had prepared for the truth. Honest souls were there, but the Spirit of the Lord knew they were there; and as Paul lived near him, his light was communicated to him so that his labor could accomplish most. In our efforts we shall find that 'it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' This we must ever realize.
The progress of God's work is always by the union of human with divine effort. He has chosen not to have angels preach to men or write his words on the heavens, but to work through human agencies. But he will not work through such, unless those agents appreciate the sacredness or importance of his work. When they do this, they will feel glad to sacrifice for it. Sacrifices and offerings to God are but evidences on our part that we appreciate his claims upon us and are ready to respond by returning a portion to him. If we do realize that all we have is from God and belongs to him, and if we feel a sense of our obligations to him, we shall stand ready to sacrifice. God delights to work with those who appreciate his blessings and who will show this by works. And he will not work very largely with those who do not. If we all could realize this, it would stir us up to greater exertions.
OUR WORK.
By John Nevins Andrews
GOD has committed to the Seventh-day Adventists a work of immense magnitude and of vast importance. It is to give warning to the world of the near advent of Christ, and to teach the true preparation for that great event. Never was a greater responsibility committed to a body of men than that which God has given to this people. The time for this work is short. It can only be accomplished by the direct help of the Spirit of God.
We have the clearest evidence from the prophetic portion of the Scriptures that the Son of God will shortly return to our earth. There can be no doubt that we are responsible before God for this great light, to make it known to our fellow-men. The world has the utmost need to understand that the advent of the Saviour is swiftly approaching, and that it will very soon be witnessed. When God caused this great truth to be brought to our knowledge, he made us debtors to our fellow-men, to make known to them what he had given to us. This vast indebtedness is upon us, and can only be discharged by faithful, self-sacrificing efforts. And unless we make these efforts without growing weary in our work, we shall find that the blood of souls is upon us in the final reckoning. Those who attempt to teach others must understand the reasons and the facts on which the doctrine rests. And it is their duty to study to show themselves approved of God as workmen that need not to be ashamed. We should labor to prepare our minds for this sacred work by as thorough an understanding of the subject as we can possibly gain; and we should seek the help of the Spirit of God as that without which we can do absolutely nothing. God requires our earnest efforts, and he will bless them if we put them forth in humble dependence on his help.
Others besides ourselves are teaching the near advent of Christ. But they do not teach the commandments of God, nor do they show the true nature of that preparation which we must make in order to stand in the Judgment. They do not understand the three messages of Rev. 14. They do not understand the work of Christ in the sanctuary, nor the relation between the law and the gospel. They have no just idea of the work of the investigative Judgment, nor of the strict examination of our lives in the light of God's holy law when he shall bring into the Judgment every work and every secret thing.
We are called of God to teach these great truths in connection with the doctrine of the near advent of the Saviour. We shall not find it an easy work to perform; for it does not please the natural heart to understand how God regards sin, nor to know that our lives must be in every respect fashioned after the pure principles of God's holy law. Men love the religion of convenience, and do not love that which insists upon self-denial, faithful obedience, and the crucifixion of ourselves to the world.
Our time to work is short. The day of God is hastening. Ruin is coming upon a world lying in sin. Upon us rests the responsibility of setting forth the truth of God in its purity, and of giving to our fellow-men the message of warning which God has committed to us. We cannot hope to find it a work in which our circumstances will be congenial to our natural hearts. We must set ourselves to this work as those who labor to save the perishing, and who think not of their own ease, or convenience, or comfort. God calls us to labor and not to faint. Let us respond to this call.
J. N. A.
SHIP MISSION OF SAN FRANCISCO.
By M. C. Israel
A BRIEF summary of the missionary work done on ships by Bro. H. C. Palmer of San Francisco, was included in the quarterly report of the State T. and M. Society given in the SIGNS last week, but knowing that more of the particulars in regard to the work during the quarter will be interesting we will give them as follows:—
No. Ships visited during the quarter, ............79
No. copies of SIGNS given away ..................4,258
No. copies of Good Health,..........................86
No. copies of Tidende, ................................324
No. copies of Harold, ...................................335
No. copies of Les Signes, ..............................24
No. copies of College Record, ......................20
No. copies of Instructors, ............................37
Total.....................................................5,154
Pages of reading matter distributed,...37,508
Through the favor of the officers of the American Bible Society at San Francisco, we are able to supply Bibles in different languages to seamen who need them. During the quarter have furnished in English 1, German 1, Italian 1, Norwegian 1.
Packages of selected reading matter have also been sent to persons residing at Onalaska, and St. Pauls, St. Georges, and St. Nicholas Islands for distribution, through the kindness of Dr. McIntyre, President of the Alaska fur company per steamer, St. Paul. Through the kindness of ship owners and officers we can send packages of books and papers to any part of the world without expense.
There has been a greater interest manifested on the part of seamen to read our publications and periodicals than during any previous quarter. Many have given the names of their friends that the V. M. Societies might send the SIGNS to them, and some have paid for subscriptions themselves and ordered the SIGNS sent. On first visiting ships a few papers, Good Health, and sometimes a few tracts are distributed in the cabin and forecastle, and then after a time they are revisited to see if any have become interested; if so it is followed up with conversation and reading matter. Before sailing, they are supplied with such books, papers, and tracts, including a variety on health and temperance reading, as they seem to need. Frequently some become interested enough to purchase such books as "History of the Sabbath," "Thoughts on Daniel" and "Revelation," etc. We might name twelve ships that have sailed from this port lately, each having on board quite a number of interested readers, and many of these will interest others by conversing with them and giving them papers and tracts to read.
The lines of steamers plying between this port and Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Panama, Oregon, and other places, are supplied every trip with a portfolio containing the SIGNS issued since their last departure, also Good Health and some others in foreign languages. A club of thirty copies of the SIGNS, thirty of Good Health, besides quite a number of the Stimme, Tidende, Harold, Les Signes, Review, and Instructor is taken for this work. The mission has recently secured half a ton of papers, tracts, and pamphlets from the East from Elder S. N. Haskell the President of our T. and M. Society. One of the stewards on the steamer Oceanic, Mr. Rickey, has for several years, attended to the distribution of our publications and periodicals during the voyage and at Yokahama, Japan. A barber in Yokahama is interested, and Mr. Rickey keeps him supplied with a bound volume of the SIGNS, also the latest numbers, with tracts and pamphlets for his English speaking customers to read as they visit his shop. A school-teacher there is an interested reader, also a Baptist Missionary who says we are right on the Sabbath question. Another clergyman was on board the steamer there and read the SIGNS and some tracts and is reported by Mr. Rickey to be much interested.
We might mention many encouraging items of interest connected with this mission but have not time and space at present. To systematize and facilitate the distribution of reading, four neat packages are put up at the SIGNS office, each having as good a selection as can be had for the price. No. 1, costing $2,50, contains a bound volume of the SIGNS and True Missionary, Six "Life of Christ" and two "Apostles of Christ" pamphlets, "Bible from Heaven," "Modern Spiritualism," "Ministration of Angels," "Matthew Twenty-four," "Morton's Vindication," and "The Three Messages," also seven packages of tracts neatly bound containing about seventy-five pages each. In all two thousand one hundred and fifty-seven pages not including the SIGNS and True Missionary. No. 2, cost $1.00, contains five "Life of Christ," pamphlets, "Vindication of the true Sabbath," "Three Messages," and seven bound packages of tracts, one thousand and eighty four pages in all. No. 3, a 50 cent package contains seven hundred pages. No. 4, a 25 cent package, contains three hundred and fifty pages. Package No. 1 is used to supply whalers, and sometimes merchant ships on long voyages, or to send by captains to some place where they can be distributed to good account. The other packages are used according to the best judgment of the missionary, who keeps a record of every ship supplied and the number of pages of tracts or the periodicals left on board, the number of visits made, and also notes any items of special interest connected with his visits. In this way the work can be successfully followed up.
A good work is being done. The words of our Lord, that "the field is the world" are truly applicable to those interested in this mission. But we have arrived at a point where we need substantial aid to carry on the work successfully. The Mission is now in debt about $850. At the camp-meetings last year the sum of $5,200 was pledged to the Ship and Reserve Fund. One-third of this was for the Ship Fund. On the strength of this we have gone on with the work; but only one-third of the amount pledged has been paid. We ask all those who have not paid their pledges to do so at their earliest possible convenience, and others who wish to have a part in this good work to forward donations to the Ship Mission, in care of Pacific Press, Oakland.
M. C. ISRAEL.
FROM THE FIELD.
By Editor
REPORTS of labor are generally encouraging. Not only is the interest to hear the truth good, but many are being converted to it.
NEW YORK, Yorkshire Center.—F. Peabody and E. Russell report: "Five have taken a firm stand for the truth. These, with those already in the truth, will make a company of ten."
KANSAS, Richland.—Brn. Cook and Enoch report of this church: "Fears had been entertained that it might be necessary to disband the church; but to the praise of God we can say that the church was never in a better condition than at the present. The sum of $75 was pledged on the T. and M. debt, and ten new members were added to the tract society. Thirteen united with the church,—three by letter, two by experience, and eight by baptism. As our meeting progressed, the children caught the spirit of it, and retired in groups to hold children’s prayer-meetings. We hope many older ones will follow the example of these praying children."
TEXAS, Granbury, Hood Co.—Eld. R. M. Kilgore says, "Several are keeping the Sabbath, and many are fully satisfied that we have the truth."
MICHIGAN, Charlevoix Co.—Bro. John Sisley reports from this section; and though not much success is yet reported, his remarks contain such a valuable lesson that we copy it for the benefit of all concerned:—
"We see some omens of good for the cause of the truth in this part of the State. Several have lately embraced the truth through missionary labor, and some seed that we sowed in weakness three years ago has germinated. We thank God and take courage.
"Our tent is pitched in the village of Charlevoix, a place of about six hundred inhabitants, besides hundreds of tourists. A terrible indifference to religious things reigns here. The novelty of tent-meetings failed to attract attention, and no one attended our first appointment. But the neat, plain dress of those who labor with us attracted the notice of a Christain lady, who thought that those who had the moral courage to dress plainly must have some truth she would like to hear. She attended our second meeting and has since labored hard to induce others to come. Without her influence, our meetings would have been a failure.
"Why, oh why, will not all our sisters who profess to be looking for the coming of the Lord, heed the light Heaven has sent us, discard fashionable dress, and wear modest apparel? Why should there be such a departure from primitive simplicity, and such conformity to the pride of this world? My dear sisters, think of these things, and return to the good old paths before the Lord turn quite away from us."
VERMONT, Waitsfield.—Brn. R. S. Owen and M. E. Kellogg report as follows: "We closed our meetings in the tent yesterday, having given twenty-nine discourses there, besides preaching several times in a school-house in Fayston. The attendance and interest has been good most of the time. Cold nights kept many away during the second week. Six persons have taken their stand upon the truth. As the interest was largely among those who came from Warren, and we received invitations to preach in the Union church in that village, which is five miles from here, we decided to take down our tent, and follow up the interest in that place."
NORTH CAROLINA, Watauga and Bethel.—Bro. P. L. Hodges reports from the churches in those places as follows: "The Watauga church held their quarterly meeting the first Sabbath and Sunday in this month, and it proved the best meeting we have ever enjoyed. The ordinances were celebrated on the Sabbath.
"The first quarterly meeting of the Bethel church was held a week later. This was an excellent meeting. Five united with the church, two of them by letter from the Watauga church. We trust others will join them soon. Two were baptized, and the ordinances were celebrated.
"On the 27th, Bro. Kime and I myself intend to start for Unicoi and Carter counties, Tenn., and Mitchell Co., N. C. It will take us two weeks to fill the appointments we have out in these three counties. The interest is good in eastern Tennessee; we need laborers here."
MISSOURI, Ash Grove, Greene Co.—Elders J. G. Wood and H. Woodruff report that, although strong opposition was offered some good was done. Eight signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, one of whom is a leading physician in that vicinity. His wife and daughter were also among the number. The family is noted for piety. Several others are keeping the Sabbath. A few more are reading, earnestly seeking for truth. "July 9 and 10, we held meetings at Lawrenceburg,357seven miles from Ash Grove, where Bro. Woodruff preached last winter. Some from each place were present. At the close of our last meeting, Sunday P. M., we went about four miles to Sac river, where six persons were buried with Christ by baptism, in the presence of a good assemblage of people."
Brn. G. M. Dimmick and D. C. Burch report from Warsaw, Rice Co., Minn:—
"Some are fully convinced of the obligation of the Sabbath, an interest having been awakened by papers and tracts which had been sent here by our V. M. societies previous to our arrival."
Those who have not had much experience of going into new and strange fields know not how to appreciate the service of the T. and M. societies in such work as this.
Bro. H. Nicola reports a good and increasing interest in Montezuma, Iowa. Also, Brn. Washburn and Hart the same in Fontanelle, Adair Co., Iowa. And Brn. Geo. B. Starr and C. P. Bollman report a good interest at Grand Island, Nebraska.
The Missionary.
By J. D. Rice, Isaac Morrison
LAKEPORT, CAL.
BEGUN meetings in this place July 18, and have held eight services a week. Congregations have not been large, but there has been some interest from the first. For the past week we have been canvassing the law and the Sabbath. Quite a number are about satisfied upon the question and are thinking seriously of obeying all God's commandments. The editor of the paper published here has kindly granted us a column every week, which opportunity we shall endeavor to improve to set the truth before its readers.
There is considerable stir and searching of Bibles among the people since we came. We are trying to do what we can both “publicly and from house to house.” We are of good courage and labor in hope.
The people kindly consider our temporal wants and keep us well supplied.
We ask a special interest in your prayers at this time.
J. D. RICE,
Aug. 5, 1881.
ISAAC MORRISON.
HEBRON, WISCONSIN
We have been here nearly four weeks. Hebron is a small village in a good farming country. Present truth has been before the community for more than twenty-five years. A company of about forty, as I am informed, was brought out upon the Sabbath by J. M. Stephenson. Many of these did not well represent the cause and by either giving up or doing worse, filled the minds of the people with prejudice.
Some have been faithful and by their lives have laid a foundation for a permanent work. At first we were received with suspicion, but by a careful effort, prejudice was made to give way, and we have had a candid hearing by the best of the community. We have presented some of the leading features of our faith and many are convinced, but it is to be feared will be slow to obey. The Methodist minister has preached once in support of the "Christian Sabbath" (?) and promised to do so again. Many not being satisfied with his effort, better talent has been sent for. The public mind is thoroughly aroused, and our prayers are for help from the Lord of the harvest.
G. C. TENNY,
GEO. STAGG.
July 29, 1881.
SHIP LABOR IN ENGLAND.
By William Ings
BY WM. INGS.
I WAS anticipating a greater showing of labor for this quarter than is herein appended, but circumstances have turned much of the trade from this port. Much of my work has been confined to the regular lines of steamers touching here. The North German Lloyd furnishes an excellent opportunity to send the truth to all parts of America. Each week their steamers are crowded with passengers. At times there are as many as fourteen hundred on board, but generally one thousand. They are made up principally of Germans, Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians, the Germans preponderating. Although many of this class regard not God, I find some who are susceptible to truth. Such are willing to purchase our publications, and what they pay for, they do not destroy. Thus our reading matter is carried to others of their own nationality, and if I am faithful, I expect to see fruit in the kingdom of God.
While I receive many jeers and scoffs from the emigrants, I always find some who make my heart glad. I often see groups of from ten to twenty huddled together, eagerly reading the precious truth; and some of them will grasp my hand, and point their finger up to Heaven. Others, who can speak a little English, will say, "The Lord sent you here to-day." And some, after reading our papers, buy others, and request me to post them to their friends.
We have ascertained the nationality of the people inhabiting the different islands visited by steamers leaving this port. During this quarter, we have sent out sixty-three packages of publications; and through the kindness of the officers of these boats, we have been enabled to send them free. Our mode has been to put up a few copies of the Signs and Review, a copy of Good Health, the Instructor, etc., with a few pages of tracts, and direct them to the agent of the company at the different stations, with a letter enclosed asking him to accept them, and, after selecting such as would be of interest to himself, pass the others to his friends.
This plan has worked well. As the result, a gentleman who is conducting a mission at Cape Haytien writes that a parcel was handed to him, and he himself was much interested in the Signs, and desired it sent to him regularly. He also wished other reading matter to circulate in his mission, and was willing to pay for it. A gentleman from Demerara writes, thanking us for the parcel. We expect to hear from many in due time. An officer who is on one of the West India boats has taken quite a supply of English, Danish, French, and Spanish publications to place in the hands of those who are journeying from one port to another.
Perhaps it would be an item of interest to learn where our publications have gone during the quarter. By taking a map, you can see that they have been sent to all quarters of the globe. The following are the ports that the sixty-three packages have gone to: Barbadoes, Jacmel, Kingston, Port Au Prince, Colon, Simon, Grey Town, Tobago, Trinidad, Demerara, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Porto Rico, St. Vincent, San Domingo, Grenada, Samana, Porto Plata, Havana, Port Cabello, Caril, Vigo, Lisbon, Maccio, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Monte Video, Beunos Ayres, Cape Verde, and Cape Haytien. The above are chiefly in the West Indies and South America. The following, are in the East Indies, etc.: Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Bombay, Galle, Madras, Calcutta, Penang, Singapore, Shanghai, Queensland, King George's Sound, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney. The following are ports of the Cape of Good Hope, etc.: Maderia, St. Helena, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred, East London, Durban, Mozambique, and Zanzibar.
We are contemplating sending the second lot to the places above referred to, and have them placed in the hands of those having charge of the missions. As the steamers leaving this port have more or less passengers, a packet is put up for their use. I am satisfied that our publications are accomplishing their work, as we learn from the following incident: I visited a ship named the "Salient," and placed a copy of the Signs in the hands of one of the men. To my astonishment I was informed that they had been reading that paper. On saying perhaps it was a paper with that name, printed in London, the men said, "No, it was a paper that had Mrs. White's articles in;" and they produced a copy that had been nearly worn out by reading. On further investigation, I learned that the papers were placed on the vessel at Alexandria, Egypt, by two men, one representing himself to be Dr. Ribton. The boatswain had been troubled about the Sabbath question, and although he had made many inquiries concerning it, he received no light until he read the Signs. The man bought Bro. Andrews' "Eleven Sermons," and was glad to take a supply of reading matter to distribute on the island of Sicily, and in other distant ports where they were going. On another ship I was informed that ten Armenians, one a preacher, had been passengers on their boat; and that they observed the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord. They were on their way to America.
I must not close this report without mentioning the kindness of those men who have charge of the ships while at this port. They have never lost their interest in assisting us in every way possible in the work of sending out our publications, and are just as much rejoiced on learning of any item of interest as we are ourselves. Surely the Lord has raised us up good, substantial friends; and I hope that they may receive a reward with the faithful, and be dwellers in the kingdom of God.
Southampton, England, July 4.
Temperance.
A TERRIBLE STATEMENT OF FACTS.
MEN are beginning to investigate the effects of the liquor traffic as never before. To a large extent what has passed as statistics of the crime have been heretofore too much in round numbers, and from conjecture more than from actual figures. The State of Massachusetts has set a grand example in this respect. Under instruction from her Legislature, the Bureau of Statistics devotes, in the Report just out, 240 pages of tabulated work to the general question of drunkenness and liquor-selling, and then 51 pages to the specific question of the influence of intemperance upon crime.
From the magnitude of the question, the inquiry under this head was necessarily confined to Suffolk county (Boston and vicinity). There it has had the most patient and thorough investigation ever made in America, with the following results. It covers only the one year, ending Sept. 1, 1880:—
Total number of convictions in the county, 16,897.
For the various grades of drunkenness, and for selling liquors unlawfully, 12,289.
For crimes, not included in the 12,289, there were in liquor at the time of committing, 2,097.
In liquor at the time of forming purpose to commit crime, 1,918.
Intemperance habits such as tend to induce crime, 1,804.
Of the entire 16,897 convictions, only 1,158 were total abstainers, and these were for such offenses as peddling without a licence, truancy from school, keeping unlicensed dogs, refusing to assist officers, selling tobacco without a license, forgery, and the like.
These figures are startling. They are not new to those who have given the subject some thought, but they must have some weight with those who cannot be moved by the moral aspect of the question. And yet some men are indifferent to all these things! The lives and morals of their own children do not move them. But a better day is coming.
—T. A. Goodwin, in National Liberator.
A SINGLE ITEM.
Those who pretend to think that the opposition to the liquor traffic is confined to weak-minded sentimentalists, or to bigoted fanatics, willfully blind themselves to the widespread and mischievous evils which this gigantic and overpowering monopoly inflicts upon the whole body politic. Unlike any other business, it benefits only those engaged in it. It piles up fortunes for them by despoiling their patrons. What revenue it adds to the treasury of the State is immensely counterbalanced by the enormous drains caused by the poverty and crime it creates. It wastes, and robs, and ruins its victims, and yet, strange to say, it keeps its place and power as if it were the greatest blessing instead of the deadliest bane of society. Aside from the moral aspects of the question, it is most hopeful that business men are coming to look at its material and financial relations. At a recent Temperance Convention in Boston, Judge Aldrich called attention to the fact which the census discloses, that our annual consumption of alcoholic and fermented liquors amounts to six hundred millions of dollars. When the full force of this single item gains possession of the minds of statesmen and political economists, it is to be hoped that they will see the need of reforming this evil, which is sapping the industry, wasting the resources, and ruining the prospects of the producers of our national wealth.
—Christian at Work.
Prohibition and the Brewers’ Contradiction
The brewers, lately in convention in Iowa, prohibition resolved that prohibition was a failure. They also resolved that if prohibition was adopted in Iowa, the four grain distilleries, and 150 breweries in that State would be stopped. Those brewers must have been fuddled on their own "temperance" beverage when they put those two resolves close together. If prohibition will accomplish just what it is intended to, it is not a failure, and they probably count too much on the stupidity of the public when they publish two such contradictory statements in such close connection.—Sel.
Coffins for Saloon Keepers’ Victims
To TAX saloon keepers for the coffins in which their victims are buried would relieve many a family, and often a county from an unjust expenditure. In fact, five coffins should go to every barrel of whisky. This would enable young men to stare at the awful fate of drunkards.—Prohibitionist.
WASTE OF THE LIQUOR CURSE.
At the late anniversary of the National Temperance Society in New York, Dr. O. H. Tiffany delivered an address in which he presented statistics showing the waste of the liquor curse in this country, as follows:—
The waste of material was shown in the fact that the 27,000,000 bushels of grain used in the manufacture of strong drink in America during one year would supply 5,500,000 barrels of flour. Were these loaded on wagons, ten barrels to a load, and started in procession to Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Omaha, westward, the procession of wagons would extend from New York to Salt Lake City, and 150 miles beyond. The money spent in one year for alcoholic drinks, say $596,000,000, would pay the taxes of all kinds throughout the land, care for all the paupers, give education to all who could neither read nor write, pay the entire wages in the building, iron moulding, clothing manufacturing, and agricultural implement industries, and then leave something over. Other figures and facts illustrated the waste of time, of muscular energy, and of animal vitality. On a visit to the penitentiary, the speaker learned, with surprise at first, that the higher grades of criminals were abstainers. Their work needed skill, and, as when wine is in wit is out, they let alcohol alone. The lower class of crimes were the fruits of strong drink. The ancients wisely crowned their wine-god, Bacchus, with ivy; for
“Ivy crowns the crumbling wall to decorate decay,And throws its dark, deceitful pall o’er that which wastesaway;”—
and the waste of drink brings want and woe in its train.—Sel.