THE UNITED STATES HAVE ARISEN IN THE EXACT MANNER IN WHICH JOHN SAW THE TWO-HORNED BEAST COMING UP.
THE manner in which the two-horned beast was seen coming up shows, equally with its location and its chronology, that it is a symbol of these United States. John says he saw the beast coming up "out of the earth." And this expression must have been designedly used to point out the contrast between the rise of this beast, and that of other national prophetic symbols. The four beasts of Daniel 7 and the leopard beast of Rev. 13 all arose out of the sea. Says Daniel, The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea, and four beasts came up from the sea. The sea denotes peoples, nations, and tongues, Rev. 17:15; and the winds denote political strife and commotion. Jer. 25:32, 33. There was, then, in this scene, the dire commotion of nature's mightiest elements, the wind above, the waters beneath, the fury of the gale, the roaring and dashing of the waves, and the tumult of the raging storm; and in the midst of this war of elements, as if aroused from the depths of the sea by the fearful commotion, these beasts one after another appeared. In other words, the governments of which these beasts were symbols owed their origin to movements among the people which would be well represented by the sea lashed into foam by the sweeping gale; they arose by the upheavals of revolutions, and through the strife of war.
But when the prophet beholds the rising of the two-horned beast, how different the scene! No political tempest sweeps the horizon, no armies clash together like the waves of the sea. He does not behold the troubled and restless surface of the waters, but a calm and immovable expanse of earth. And out of this earth, like a plant growing up in a quiet and sheltered spot, he sees this beast, bearing on his head the horns of a lamb, those eloquent symbols of youth and innocence, daily augmenting in bodily proportions, and daily increasing in physical strength.
Some may here point to the war of the Revolution as an event which destroys the force of this application; but this furnishes no objection; for, 1. That war was at least fifteen years in the past when the two-horned beast was introduced into the field of this vision; and, 2. The war of the Revolution was not a war of conquest. It was not waged to overthrow any other kingdom, and build this government on its ruins, but only to defend the just rights of the American people. An act of resistance against continual attempts of injustice and tyranny cannot certainly be placed in the same catalogue with wars of aggression and conquest. The same may be said of the war of 1812. Hence, these conflicts do not even partake of the nature of objections to the application here set forth.
The word which John uses to describe the manner in which this beast comes up is very expressive. It is anabainon, one of the prominent definitions of which is, "to grow or spring up as a plant." And it is a remarkable fact that this very figure has been chosen by political writers as the one which best illustrates the rise of our government. Mr. G. A. Townsend, in his work entitled, "The New World Compared with the Old," p. 462, says:—
"Since America was discovered, she has been a subject of revolutionary thought in Europe. The mystery of her coming forth from vacancy, the marvel of her wealth in gold and silver, the spectacle of her captives led through European capitals, filled the minds of men with unrest; and unrest is the first stage of revolution."
On p. 635, he further says:—
"In this web of islands, the West Indies, began the life of both [North and South] Americas. There Columbus saw land, there Spain began her baneful and brilliant Western Empire; thence Cortez departed for Mexico, De Soto for the Mississippi, Balboa for the Pacific, and Pizarro for Peru. The history of the United States was separated by a beneficent Providence far from this wild and cruel history of the rest of the continent, and like a silent seed we grew into empire, while empire itself, beginning in the South, was swept by so interminable a hurricane that what of its history we can ascertain is read by the very lightnings that devastated it. The growth of English America may be likened to a series of lyrics sang by separate singers, which, coalescing, at last make a vigorous chorus, and this, attracting many from afar, swells and is prolonged, until presently it assumes the dignity and proportions of epic song."
A writer in the Dublin Nation, about the year 1850, spoke of the United States as a wonderful empire which was "emerging," and amid the silence of the earth daily adding to its power and pride.
In Martyn's "History of the Great Reformation," vol. iv. p. 238, is an extract from an oration delivered by Edward Everett, on the English exiles who founded this government, in which he says:—
"Did they look for a retired spot, inoffensive from its obscurity, safe in its remoteness from the haunts of despots, where the little church of Leyden might enjoy freedom of conscience? Behold the mighty regions over which in peaceful conquest,—victoria sine clade—they have borne the banners of the cross."
We now ask the reader to look at these expressions side by side: "Coming up out of the earth," "coming forth from vacancy," "emerging amid the silence of the earth," "like a silent seed we grew into empire," "mighty regions" secured by "peaceful conquest." The first is from the prophet, stating what would be when the two-horned beast should arise; the others are from political writers, telling what has been in the history of our own government. Can any one fail to see that the last four are exactly synonymous with the first, and that they record a complete accomplishment of the prediction? And what is not a little remarkable, those who have thus recorded the fulfillment have, without any reference to prophecy, used the very figure which the prophet employed. These men, therefore, being judges—men of large and cultivated minds, and whose powers of discernment all will acknowledge to be sufficiently clear—it is certain that the particular manner in which the United States have arisen answers most strikingly to the development of the symbol under consideration.
We now extend the inquiry a step further: Have the United States "come up" in a manner to fulfill the prophecy in respect to the achievements they have accomplished? Has their progress been sufficiently great and sufficiently rapid to correspond to that visible and perceptible growth which John saw in the two-horned beast?
Every person whose reading is ordinarily extensive has something of an idea of what the United States are to-day; he likewise has an idea, so far as words can convey it to his mind, of what they were at the commencement of their history. The only object, then, in presenting statistics and testimony on this point, is to show that our rapid growth has struck mankind with the wonder of a constant miracle.
Said Emile de Girardin, in La Liberte (1868):—
"The population of America, not thinned by any conscription, multiplies with prodigious rapidity, and the day may before [long be] seen, when they will number sixty or eighty millions of souls. This parvenu [one recently risen to notice] is aware of his importance and destiny. Hear him proudly exclaim, 'America for Americans!' See him promising his alliance to Russia; and we see that power, which well knows what force is, grasp the hand of this giant of yesterday."
"In view of his uncontrolled progress and combination, what are the little toys with which we vex ourselves in Europe? What is this needle gun we are anxious to get from Prussia, that we may beat her next year with it? Had we not better take from America the principle of liberty she embodies, out of which have come her citizen pride, her gigantic industry, and her formidable loyalty to the destinies of her republican land?"
The Dublin (Ireland) Nation, already quoted, says:—
"In the East, there is arising a colossal centaur called the Russian Empire. With a civilized head and front, it has the sinews of a huge barbaric body. There one man's brain moves 70,000,000. There all the traditions of the people are of aggression and conquest in the West. There but two ranks are distinguishable—serfs and soldiers. There the map of the future includes Constantinople and Vienna as outposts of St. Petersburg.
"In the West, an opposing and still more wonderful American empire is emerging. We islanders have no conception of the extraordinary events which amid the silence of the earth are daily adding to the power and pride of this gigantic nation. Within three years, territories more extensive than these three kingdoms [Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland] France and Italy put together, have been quietly, and in almost 'matter of course' fashion, annexed to the Union.
"Within seventy years, seventeen new sovereignties, the smallest of them larger than Great Britain, have peaceably united themselves to the Federation. No standing army was raised, no national debt sunk, no great exertion was made, but there they are. And the last mail brings news of three more great States about to be joined to the thirty: Minnesota in the north-west, Deseret in the south-west, and California on the shores of the Pacific. These three States will cover an area equal to one-half the European continent."
Mitchel, in his School Geography (4th revised edition), p. 101, speaking of the United States, says:—
"When it is considered that one hundred years ago the inhabitants numbered but 1,000,000, it presents the most striking instance of national growth to be found in the history of mankind."
Let us reduce these general statements to the more tangible form of facts and figures. A short time before the great Reformation in the days of Martin Luther, not four hundred years ago, this Western Continent was discovered. The Reformation brought out a large class of persons who were determined to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Being fettered and oppressed by the religious intolerance of the Old World, they sought, in the wilds of America, that measure of civil and religious freedom which they so much desired. A little more than two hundred years ago, Dec. 22, 1620, the May-flower landed one hundred of these voluntary exiles on the coast of New England. Here, says Martyn, "New England was born," and this was "its first baby cry, a prayer and a thanksgiving to the Lord."
U. S.
(To be Continued.)
Chico, Cal.
By J. D. Rice; R. A. Morton
WE pitched the tent in a quiet, yet nearly central portion of town, a little away from the main business part, and began meetings two weeks ago to-day. Have held seventeen services up to date. The audience has not been large but comparatively regular, an average attendance of about one hundred and twenty-five. Close attention is paid to the word spoken, and considerable inquiry is being made, and the people are searching their bibles as never before, some for contention, but most of them we hope, to know if these things are so. Excellent order has been preserved thus far. We have all the visiting we can do, at the tent and at the people's houses. Our temporal wants are mostly supplied by the people.
Bro. L. H. Church is with us and renders valuable service. We are all of good courage, and have good reasons to believe that some souls will be gathered out here who will make preparations to meet our soon returning Lord. We ask to be remembered in your prayers.
J. D. RICE,
R. A. MORTON.
Oct. 18.
The North-west Passage Found.
Professor Nordenskjold of Sweden has made the voyage so long dreamed of through the North-east passage. Voyaging along the shores of Europe and Asia, and passing from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean, and through Behring Strait into the North Pacific, he reached Yokohama in safety Sept. 2—having sailed from Gothenburg on his expedition July 4, 1878. He says:—
“I fully accomplished the object for which the expedition was sent out by Dr. Dickson, namely, a practical proof of the existence of a northeast passage. Then the Asiatic coast was followed, and St. Lawrence Bay was crossed to Port Clarence, Alaska. Thence we crossed the Koniyan, dredging carefully in order to determine the formation of the bottom of the sea, many specimens of the fauna and flora being obtained. The location, breadth, velocity and approximate volume of the currents of the Arctic and Pacific Polar currents were charted and calculated.”
Principles and Prejudices
MANY persons claim to be firm in their principles, when they are only obstinate in their prejudices.
The Boy Emigrant in the Quaker City.
"It was a dismal winter evening," said the governess, "neither snow nor rain, but such a sleet! Sleet that sent, that very day, some of our Philadelphians with broken bones to the hospital. The circle, however, in the doctor's pleasant parlor took little notice of the storm. We were so comfortable, the ample grate glowing with coal, and the gas lighted up everything. The doctor was resting in his large arm chair, after the fatigues of the day, and dividing his attention between his newspaper and the pursuits of his family. A five years' old girl was laughing merrily at a cat running after a string cut from the selvage of flannel we were making up for the poor. An older daughter was busy with slippers she was embroidering for her father, and the only son was poring with delight over his Virgil—the book so distasteful to most boys, and we were all settled for the evening.
The servant-girl suddenly threw open the door and said in a slightly impatient tone, "An Irish beggar boy at the basement door."
She dared not neglect the doctor's strict orders, "Never send away beggars till I see them, if I am in the house." And he went immediately to the basement. There stood a boy of about fourteen years—one of the most ill-clad, uncared-for fellows that beg or steal in the street, and looking half-starved, too.
Provisions were ordered and quickly devoured, while the boy passed through close scrutiny. Underneath the torn garments, wild, uncombed hair, and unwashed face, was a clear eye, and a good humored, intelligent expression. He said he had heard of the doctor, and wanted to get work. Only yesterday he had landed from an emigrant ship, and had been robbed of all his money. He had stopped for the night at a hotel on Market street. He had been put in the room with another boy whose friendly ways greatly cheered him. But in the morning his companion was not to be found. Going to his purse he found it empty, and his bundle was gone.
"I felt very sore," he went on to say. "I ran to the landlord and told him how it was. He looked hard at me, and told me I lied. But he was afterwards kind, and gave me a good breakfast. He had changed his mind. I have had nothing to eat all day, and got no work. Nobody knows me, and I have no character; but I'll work anywhere, if I can earn a living."
"What kind of work do you want?"
"Any kind, sir."
The doctor looked about, and was quite at a loss. At last a thought struck him. There was a barrel of ashes mixed with a few bits of coal waiting to be carried out. And he turned to the boy.
"If you want to sift this coal from the cinders, I will pay you."
He set about it in good earnest, so that it was soon done. Putting some money in his hand the doctor told him to call the next evening.
"Where are you going, dear papa, this dark night?" asked his little girl anxiously—for he had taken down his coat and his umbrella, and was putting on his heavy boots.
"Never mind, my dear;" and this always meant that there was to be no further questioning. He sallied forth on the slippery pavement from Walnut Street, across Chestnut, till he found the little hotel on Market street. He inquired about the emigrant boy, and the landlord gave the same account he had already heard.
"That boy tells the truth," said he. "At first I had no doubt he was lying—the old story, sir—scallawags are always crying robbed, robbed, to impose on you. But I understand their ways. This lad is straight-forward. I was sorry for him, but in too much hurry to mind much. I let him have his breakfast and go."
All the way home the doctor was trying to think of some way to help the poor little stranger, and next day he went round among his business friends seeking employment for him. The answers he received were curious.
"Anything on earth," said one, "but being bothered with a raw hand—above all, a fresh Irish boy."
"Just what I was wanting," said another; "only too late. I just engaged a boy yesterday."
"You ask me to take a strange boy," said a third; "why, my last boy had to go to the penitentiary for stealing. I want a boy but must know all about him beforehand."
Still the doctor did not lose heart. He was too familiar with the work of this sort, and finally he secured a situation. The boy was to have $6 a month with board. He proved faithful and honest, and was full of energy. After seven months, he found a place for himself with better wages, spending part of his evenings in study. Meantime the doctor gave him advice in many ways.
Years rolled on. One cold evening we again gathered at the delightful home in Walnut street. The furniture and surroundings were not greatly changed. A small grandchild from the West and the mother were on a visit. The child's glee and a passage read aloud from the "daily" imparted unusual life. The son had received the highest honors of his class at a New England college, and the youngest of the household was eager for the arrival of her father, that she might hear of it. His "click" sounded at the front door, and he entered heartily into the common topic. But at the same time, and while caressing the baby who had rushed to him with open arms, it was plain that he, too, had pleasant news. There was a happy smile on his benevolent face, his whole countenance fairly lighted.
"Father has found somebody to help," whispered the little girl, "and he is in fine spirits."
Coming up the street an unknown person accosted him by name, heartily shaking his hand. He stopped, looking at him, and told him there was a mistake in the person.
"Don't you remember, sir, the little Irish boy that sifted your cinders one dark night to whom you gave a supper?" The doctor started. Before him was a handsome young gentleman. He told his own history something like this: "What a desperate night to me! without home, friends, or money! Refused employment or food all day! You, sir, took me up and made a man of me. I have been highly prospered ever since. My second situation I gave up. The master had a brain disease, and his exactions became unbearable. I was soon, however, in another situation still better, having received recommendations from both employers. I put money all the time in the bank, and now I have capital enough to go into business myself, and have settled in a neighboring city. But I want to thank you for your kindness. Without you, I never could have succeeded. To you alone under Providence I owe it all." He was obliged to hurry away for the night boat. But his looks and his manner, even more than his words, showed the depth of his gratitude.
"It paid me a thousand times over," said the doctor, while a little mist gathered over his eyes. "They say I am sometimes duped. It may be true; and yet all the impositions of a lifetime are nothing to me—compared to one day like this."—Christian Intelligencer.
The Home Circle.
THESE HEARTS OF OURS.
THESE hearts of ours are sad concerns,
Made up of many troubles;
Yet, after all, one-half our woes
Are only fancy bubbles;
Are only little crinks that form,
As knitting yarn untwisted.
That soon will yield and straighten out,
Where patience is enlisted.
We are too quick to take offence—
Too proud to be forgiving;
And prone to think the hardest task
Is justice to the living.
For do we not the dead forgive,
When tears with smiles are blended,
And hearts at last forgive the wronged—
The silent ones offended?
Each quick retort, or idle word,
In angry moment spoken,
A memory leaves that grieves at last,
Some tender heart half broken.
Or, when too late to make amends,
Some one has left us, saddened,
We then may think by kindly words,
True hearts we may have gladdened.
God sends the sun to cheer our lives,
And night consoles the weary,
And though we look on both unmoved,
Their ways are never dreary.
So should our hearts be kind, and love
Control our simplest actions,
And "to forgive" our motives be,
In every day's transactions.
For life is full of little things,
The soul with sadness filling;
Yet Summer comes 'mid Winter scenes,
If but the heart be willing.
So stretch the hand of love to all;
There's pleasure in forgetting
Each little wrong our pride repels—
Our hearts at last regretting.
— William D. Pollock.
He went home, and it was the first time his hand had been held that evening. "Well," he said that night to himself, as he sat where he had been reading and writing—and what he had thought:
"Nothing," and that meant a whole lifetime's questioning, and he heard the paved street, and he felt the nut, the pavement of the street, and he felt the lamp and the cold, and he had a hard, lonely time.
"The first thing that night," he said, as the story went on, "went to my bed, my mind had a stand-off in this way. I hurried, and I ate my breakfast."
All of a sudden, I think of the little strange, and I had his book, and he saw him.
"And then, I was bothered, and the old Irish woman—"
"Just so," he said, "only for that one day."
"You might call it a thing of some penitence, and one must be there."
Still, I was too far off, and finally I had to have more faith in it. After all, I had self-pride, and even then, I...
Remembering the Sins of Others
We are so apt to remember people’s faults even after they have become God’s children; to keep their former sins still charged up against them, and to think of them all blemished and stained. No human life on earth has been spotless and complete. There has been but One in whom was no sin. Humanity is only a bruised reed.
Children's Manners.
I HAVE a decided liking for well-behaved children, a liking positive and avowed, and should I confess here to a dislike for rude, ill-mannered ones, I would not stand alone in the feeling, though I may in the confession; for I notice the ill-bred, uncivil child is never a favorite with either his play-mates or elders, though he may stand at the head of his class, may be good-hearted, full of fun and frolic, may possess many of the requisites to make him an agreeable companion and friend, yet if he is not courteous, if he has not learned good manners, people will not like him. When I see a child making himself disagreeable to all about him, just from thoughtlessness or want of training, I say, with a half groan, "Why dos'ent his mother or sister teach him manners? It is a world of pity that he should spoil everything by his rude, uncouth, awkward ways."
Politeness has been defined as the outward expression of inner good will; but I have known people full of good will who did not know how to express it so as to please. Desiring to please and knowing how to please is two different things. It is training that changes the good will into the style of expression called politeness.
Assuming, my dear young friends, that you are unselfish and kind-hearted, which must be the foundation of all true politeness, we will throw out some hints that may serve as helps to you in the ordinary happenings of life, where, perhaps, rules may not apply.
There is a right and a wrong way of doing things; that is, the same thing may be done in such a bungling manner as to offend, or in such a nice way as to highly please. I am sure you do not wish to be offensive, when by a little thoughtfulness you may get in the habit of doing things in a pleasing way, and then, you will do them naturally without thinking about them at all.
There are certain rules in the formation of good manners that at first sight seem arbitrary, but, when looked into more closely, we find they are founded upon a basis of common sense. Many of you have heard them again and again from your careful mother, eldest sister, or family teacher, and if you remember and practice them I beg your indulgence while I talk for the benefit of those who have such busy mothers that they do not take the time to teach their children politeness, or those who have no mother to tell them the correct way of saying and doing things, or still those who have such indulgent mothers that they are blind to the clumsy, disagreeable manners of their children, and cannot see why others are annoyed by them. This sounds a little strangely, but I have an instance in my mind (and have known many such) of a little boy, who having been delicate when a child, had been unduly indulged and was simply let to grow up without training. When he came to go away to school, to make things easy and homelike, a family of cousins living near the school took him in their home. Now the children of this household had been properly trained in the courtesies of life, and this little alien had such bad manners without knowing it that he was simply laughed at. The thoughtful mother of this well-ordered home took him aside and gave him private lessons on behavior. He remembered what she told him, but wondered aloud why his own mother had not taught him these things. So, many another child has been led to wonder, on first going out from home, from the same cause. - Christian Weekly.
Be Kind to the Aged.
By Christian Standard
Age, when whitening for the tomb, is a worthy object of reverence. The passions have ceased—hopes of self have ceased. They linger with the young, and pray for the young—and Oh, how careful should the young be to reward them with tender affection and with the warmest of love, to diminish the chill of ebbing life! The Spartans looked on reverential respect for old age as a beautiful trait of character. Be kind to those who are in the autumn of life, for you know not what sufferings they may have endured, nor how much of it may still be their portion. Do they seem unreasonable, to find fault or murmur? Allow not your anger to kindle against them; rebuke them not, for doubtless many have been the crosses and trials of earlier years, and perhaps their dispositions were less flexible than your own. Do they require aid? Then render it cheerfully. Forget not that the time may come when you may desire the same assistance from others that you render to them. Do all that is needful for the old, and do it with alacrity, and think it not hard if much is required at your hands, lest when age sets its seal on your brow, and fills your limbs with trembling, others may wait unwillingly, and feel relieved when the coffin has covered you forever.—Christian Standard.
Reports from the Field.
By R. A. Underwood, J. C. Bartlett
Solon, Ohio.
ELD. VOGEL came on the 20th, and spoke twice on the Sabbath question. We announced a review for the two following evenings. The Disciples kindly offered us their house, and Eld. Vogel remained to reply, which he did at the close of each discourse.
Eld. V. stated that he had learned some things by his discussion with Eld. Waggoner, and that some of the positions taken by himself in that debate were not correct. He made a labored effort to uproot the Sabbath in Eden, by trying to show that the days of creation were periods of thousands of years. He stated that the second and fourth commandments were not binding, because not found in the New Testament,—thus giving us the liberty to make and worship idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. Rom. 4:15; 5:13.
He said that “God cut off all ten of the commandments and did not re-instate one of them; for he had no use for them whatever.” If this be true, the flood-gates of crime are opened to a fallen, sinful race, and God will have no means of bringing man to judgment. Rom. 5:13; James 2:12; Eccl. 12:13, 14.
This was a stronger dose than is generally administered by D. D.’s, so it must be sugar coated by saying that “this is a dispensation of grace, not bondage; of principles, not law.” But the Elder failed to give us chapter and verse where God has said that he will judge men by principles, and leave them to decide what those principles shall be. His effort only served to strengthen the cause.
The interest at North Solon remains good. One family have decided to obey, and others are on the point of decision. Pray for us.
R. A. UNDERWOOD,
J. C. BARTLETT.
Sept. 30.
Denver, Colorado.
By A. O. Burrill
We closed our effort with the tent to-day, and we can number about thirty who observe the Sabbath.
The temperance people are beginning a crusade, and we sold them our tent for enough, lacking twenty dollars, to buy a new one.
Brother Corliss has labored under great discouragements, but God has blessed his faithful labors, and he now begins to see good results. He remains here to close up the work, and I go to-morrow to Longmont, to help the young company there. This will be my address until further notice. Brethren and sisters, pray for the cause in Colorado.
Sept. 23. A. O. Burrill.
Keeneyville, Penn.
By Milton C. Wilcox, J. E. Robinson
WE partially presented the Sabbath question before attending the camp-meeting at Hornellsville. We left our tent standing, the people assuring us that it would be perfectly safe in our absence. We found their word verified on our return. Commenced meetings again the 26th, and found the people anxiously waiting to learn more of the "present truth." Three or four were keeping the Sabbath, which number has now increased to nine or ten. The people here, as a class, are kind, orderly, and intelligent. Those who have taken a stand on the commandments are among the best in the place, and are all heads of families. Others have expressed themselves as "almost persuaded."
Milton C. Wilcox,
J. E. Robinson.
Clarksfield, Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
OUR meetings still continue in the Congregationalist church, just across the street from where our tent was pitched. We expect to continue in this house until after our district quarterly meeting. Since the weather is better our average attendance is about one hundred and fifty. Occasionally we hear of a new one deciding to obey the truth. People here move very cautiously. Four members were added to the Wakeman church last Sabbath.
Our brethren in this vicinity are taking active measures to erect a meeting-house this fall, on the site where our tent was first pitched this summer. H. A. St. John.
Arapahoe, Neb.
By Geo. B. Starr, A. J. Cudney
Our meetings closed here Sept. 14. We had several good Sabbath meetings. Fifteen signed the covenant. A vote of thanks was tendered us for our efforts in the children's temperance work. Received a cash donation of $5.00, and disposed of about $45.00 worth of books and periodicals. We praise God for the constant interest and attendance throughout over five weeks of meetings.
Geo. B. Starr,
A. J. Cudney.
Very Singular Incident.
MRS. REBECCA FARRINGTON is the wife of William Farrington, and a daughter of William Burch, who lives about six miles from Farber, in Audrain County. A few weeks ago a very distressing fever succeeded Mrs. F.'s confinement, her physician (Dr. Vandeventer) reporting her pulse at one time at the almost unprecedented height of 160. During her illness she was at her father's, under the care of her mother. About an eighth of a mile from the house is an artificial pond for watering stock, to reach which a high fence must be crossed or a gate unfastened and opened. Mrs. F.'s illness, which finally assumed the form of erysipelas, was regarded as very dangerous, and her mother and kind women of the neighborhood kept constant watch over her, fearing a fatal termination of the disease at an early period. One night during their watching, and before the family had retired, all the nurses for a moment happened to leave the room. On their return they found, to their amazement and consternation, that Mrs. F. had left her bed and the room itself, and after immediate search, could nowhere be found. Her father and others then penetrated the darkness of the yard, searching for her and calling her aloud by name. Going to the part of the yard nearest the pond and calling her, she answered from that direction. Hastening to the pond, her father found her in it, completely submerged except her head and neck. He and others speedily took her out of the water and to the room she had left, where she disclaimed all knowledge of what she had done, assuring her father that the sound of his voice restored her to consciousness while she was in the water.
From that very hour, as we are reliably informed, Mrs. Farrington commenced to recover, and is now completely restored to health.
And not so very singular, to those who are accustomed to treat fevers with water.
Bloomington, Ill.
By R. F. Andrews
As THE result of our efforts here, twenty have signed the covenant. Regular Sabbath meetings and Tuesday evening prayer-meetings are established. A Sabbath-school is organized with over thirty members. The tithing system is accepted, and the brethren have determined to carry it out practically. There is much opposition, and a bitter sectarian feeling against us. Four of the most prominent ministers have preached against us, and have been reviewed. In the minds of the unprejudiced, and those really hungering for the truth, the effort of the opposition has tended to strengthen rather than weaken them in the truth. We are of good courage.
R. F. ANDREWS.
Mason, Mich.
By T. M. Steward, E. P. Daniels
WE have made some progress here the past week. Some have united with us who never made a profession before. The Lord met with us on the Sabbath, and moved upon the hearts of the unconverted. Three who had never before made a start, took their stand with us. At the close of the meeting we took an expression to see how many would keep the commandments, and some twenty arose. Then eighteen united with us in covenant. Yesterday a large company of us went eight miles west to Grand River, where six were baptized. We had a very pleasant and solemn scene at the water. The weather being more favorable, we shall keep our tent up another week, hoping that others will accept the truth. Pray for us. T. M. STEWARD, E. P. DANIELS. Sept 29.
Oronoco, Minn.
By N. Battin, L. H. Ells
The interest has continued good here. Eight have taken a firm stand. Others are in "the valley of decision." Brethren, pray for us.
N. BATTIN,
L. H. ELLS.
Interesting to Medical Men.
By Editor
DR. LEWIS H. STEINER, a Maryland medical man of some distinction, is not favorably impressed with the manner in which medical education is acquired in this country, nor satisfied with the liberal manner in which diplomas are scattered around. He delivered a lecture recently in Frederick county before the American Academy of Medicine, which has created some excitement on the other side of the continent. Dr. Steiner says: "Medical students are admitted to college without the least preparation in the way of preliminary studies. They are matriculated, in fact upon payment of their fees, and without any examination. And," continues the doctor, "young men who cannot even write or speak the English language correctly are received as matriculates in our medical schools, and rushed through the course with railroad speed, to claim the right, at the expiration of two short years of training, of ranking with the most learned members of a learned profession."
Had any one outside of the profession said this, some medical gentleman would have taken offense. As it is, what Dr. Steiner says ought to set them to studying. The Doctor next gave some interesting statistics: "There is one physician to every six hundred persons in the United States, one doctor to each hundred families, and on the basis of the supposition that a majority of them are ignorant, incompetent, and unfit for their business, the outlook is nothing to boast of." The statement of the doctor is well known to be true to some extent; so much so as to render the "M. D." of a "regular" institution far from an infallible assurance of reliability. In medical matters, as well as theological, the "people perish for lack of knowledge."
The Work of Opium.
OPIOPHAGY, otherwise called opium eating, has grown to formidable proportions in the United States. In 1867, when our population was 37,000,000, the amount of opium imported was 136,000 pounds; in 1876, with an increase of but 7,000,000 in the population, the importation had arisen to 340,000 pounds. Thus, during these ten years, while the population had increased only about 20 per cent, the importation of opium had considerably more than doubled. Much of it is used for medical purposes, but investigation has shown that the larger proportion of it is consumed by opium eaters. It is hardly credible, though it is given on doctors' authority, that in the city of Indianapolis there are nearly 500 of these, who made away with 900 pounds of the drug last year. In the State of Michigan statistics on the subject have been furnished by ninety physicians. They reported 1313 habitual users of opium, or an average of 13 cases within the observation of each of these physicians.
--Chicago Times.
Effects of Eating Tea.
The Veterinary Journal reports the case of the poisoning of Lord William Beresford's horse by tea, which it pronounces "unparalleled in the annals of veterinary or even human toxicology." A staff cook having left some pounds of tea in a sack, a Kaffir groom filled it with corn, and serving out the contents to a troop of horses, gave Lord William Beresford's charger the bulk of the tea, which was eaten greedily, and produced the most startling results. The animal plunged and kicked, and ran backward, at intervals galloping madly around, finally falling into a donga, where it lay dashing its head on the rocks, and was dispatched by an assegia thrust through the heart. The post-mortem appearances indicated extreme cerebral congestion.
Only Intoxicated.
The Sacramento Record Union reports a case of some interest in Washington, across the river. A lady found her chickens falling over and dying without any apparent disease. She accidently discovered that brandy peaches had been thrown in the yard and the chickens had eaten them. They were dead drunk.
After a time they would get up and go about their business, suffering, no doubt, severe headache. Better not throw out any more brandy fruit. Keep it and let the children eat it? Parents who use such peaches make drunkards of their sons and daughters! Liquor used in preparing dishes for the table depraves the appetite!—California Christian Advocate.