Earlier text: Cato's Ink BottleThe New York Camp-Meeting.
(Copied from the Review and Herald.) 1. The location. This meeting was held Sept. 9-14, 1875, about two miles north of the city of Rome, N. Y., according to appointment in Review. 2. The place. This was a beautiful beech and maple grove, level, and excellently shaded, skirted by a lively stream of pure running water, proceeding from a boiling spring a few rods distant, affording ample provision in this respect. 3. The arrangement. The tents were arranged in a perfect square. A well-executed plan of the grounds showing the location of each tent according to its number, the position of large tents, speakers' stand, &c., was posted at the entrance. The stand was constructed after a new model, and was a convenient, comfortable, elegant, and pleasing structure. 4. The attendance. There were thirty-four tents pitched, one sixty-foot and one forty-foot; and there were between three and four hundred brethren and sisters present. This was considered a good attendance under the circumstances. 5. Social meetings. These passed off with a good degree of activity and freedom; though here, as elsewhere, that depth of feeling was not manifested which would lead to such rending of heart, and humiliation before God, as would be appropriate to the church of Christ in these days of danger and peril. A portion of the time usually allotted to social meetings was taken up in appropriate and timely remarks from Bro. White relative to matters in the N. Y. Conference. 6. The speakers. Bro. and sister White were present according to the change of appointment made at the earnest solicitation of the brethren in New York. They, and others who spoke, enjoyed a good degree of freedom in the presentation of the truth, and the word was listened to with eagerness and was cordially received by the poeple. 7. The Sabbath. In the afternoon of this day a victorious season was enjoyed. A call was made for backsliders and sinners to come forward for prayers. About thirty responded. A season of prayer followed. Bro. White was led out in great freedom. It was thought best to continue the meeting. A spirit of exhortation came upon the ministers. And when Eld. Whitney said he felt like putting himself among those who had come forward, and invited as many as felt likewise to join him in the move, there was a break in the congregation. They came pressing forward till all distinction was lost between them and the rest of the assemblage. There was deep feeling; and the testimonies that followed were of the greatest interest. A woman recently rescued from Catholicism gave the story of the work of the Spirit of God upon her heart, to lead her from that delusion. She was powerfully convicted of sin, and the need of forgiveness. Instructed as she had been, the confessional was the only way of relief that came into her mind. She repaired on three successive Saturdays to the house of the priest, but did not find him at home. She turned to the Bible, and learned that she could go to God for herself, and joyfully accepted the privilege. Her husband became alarmed and sent for the priest. Listening to the story of her experience, he urged her to the confessional. She told him she had found a better way, and asked him to pray for her. He would not do it. This opened her eyes still more to the fraud and deception of that system of religion. In the midst of persecution she has followed on in the truth, till now she is rejoicing in the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 8. Sunday. On Sunday the attendance was large, estimated at about three thousand. The attention was good, and the impression made very favorable, judging from remarks which many were heard to make. The speaking was with freedom and power, and, taken as a whole, the day was one of very gratifying success. Some of the citizens assured our brethren that if the meeting should be held there another year the turnout would be double what it was at this meeting. On Monday, sister White spoke with great freedom, in a most impressive manner. Bro. W. spoke on the subject of baptism. After his discourse, Brn. B. L. Whitney and J. Wilbur were ordained to the work of the ministry. This was also throughout a good day. U. S. (Copied from the Review and Herald.) LEAVING the N. Y. Camp-ground Monday evening, Sept. 13, in company with Bro. and sister White, we reached Battle Creek, Tuesday, the 15th. As Bro. and sister W. designed to leave for California on the 16th, they had only 48 hours to spend there, but had about two weeks' business in connection with the institutions at Battle Creek to accomplish in that time. This did not promise them much rest preparatory to their long journey to California. But an interest soon arose overshadowing in importance all business considerations, and that was the spiritual condition of the church. Meetings were held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and the interest had then arisen to such a degree that Bro. and sister W. felt unwilling to leave it. They therefore concluded to remain over Sabbath and take the cars the evening following. For the benefit of the young, some of whom were falling into the snare of the devil, the effort was especially directed. Some of the church felt the importance of making the most of this timely visit of the servants of the Lord, having once more the benefit of their experience and labors before their long absence on the Pacific Coast, and took hold to second their efforts. The Spirit of God was present to help. The hearts of the young were powerfully wrought upon. Many who had never made a profession, and for some of whom but little hope could be entertained, so wayward were the tendencies they manifested, made a move. The servants of the Lord were led out in exhortations as powerful and labors as earnest as any we have ever heard or witnessed. It was a visitation of the Spirit such as any people are rarely blessed with. Meetings were held Thursday evening, Friday morning, the evening commencing the Sabbath, Sabbath morning, forenoon, and afternoon. At the conclusion of the afternoon service, twenty-three were baptized by Bro. W. in the Kalamazoo, which has witnessed so many scenes of this kind, yet none so remarkable as this. With but few exceptions, the ages of those baptized ranged from 12 to 17. This was an astonishing result to reach in so short a time. Yet we believe a genuine commencement of the work has been made, which may be cultivated to permanent and most happy results. A responsibility is thrown upon the church which we hope will be realized by them. These lambs of the flock are to be cared for and taught self-reliance and an individual experience in the Christian life. They are now in a position to be led forward to positions of stability and usefulness in this work. We pray that this duty may not be neglected. The experience of the past few months in B. C. can but have opened the blindest eyes to the fearful effects of the spirit of recklessness, insubordination, and complaint and murmuring against those who are bearing the responsibilities of the cause, which has prevailed with some. Such a spirit very easily affects and leavens the whole mass, and especially the young. Some are fully aroused to the evil of this thing, and fired with a determination that in the fort at Battle Creek it shall hereafter find no quarter. No further evidence could be needed that God is with his servants. Only with his help could they endure such intense and unremitting labors as those to which they willingly and cheerfully subject themselves in behalf of the cause of truth and perishing souls. Only with his help could they labor with such power and such marked success. Yes, God is with them; and this fact ought to shame the murmurer and caviler out of his nefarious work. Yet with all this evidence there are some who seem to think, or act as though they thought, that the cause would not be safe unless they watched these veterans in the message, to criticize, object, and steady them in their labors. And some will hold themselves aloof from the cause for fear that they will, contrary to both theory and experience, have too much power in their hands. We wait to see on the part of these some such work of the Lord as we see in the hands of Bro. and sister W. We want to see them laboring with such zeal for the good of souls, to rescue and build up the cause. And we want to see such marked operations of the Spirit of God in connection with their labors as we have just witnessed in Battle Creek. But significantly enough, these things do not appear on that side of the house. It will be well for us to look facts in the face, and take our stand as those who have some idea of what pertains to the spirit and work of true Christianity.
U. S. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccl. 11 : 6. California State Conference of S. D. Adventists.
IN compliance with the published call of the Executive Committee, the fourth annual meeting of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in connection with the annual camp-meeting in Fairfax, Marin County. The Conference was called to order by the President, Elder J. N. Loughborough, at 5 P. M., Sept. 23, and was opened with prayer by Elder J. H. Waggoner. The delegates presented their credentials to the Secretary. Elder J. H. Waggoner, of the Michigan Conference, was by vote invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference; and, on motion, all brethren in good standing were also invited to take part. On motion, the churches of Oakland and San Jose (Santa Clara and San Jose having been consolidated) were received into the Conference. By vote of the Conference Bro. R. D. Hicks was authorized to represent the unorganized company of Sabbath-keepers at Lower Lake, and Bro. Wm. Healey the company at Middletown, Lake County. On motion, the Conference adjourned to meet again at the call of the President. Friday, Sept. 24, at 5 P. M.
Conference opened with singing and prayer.
The reading of the names of delegates being called for, the following were named as those entitled to act as delegates to the Conference :— San Francisco,—Wesley Diggins, Knud Brossen, Charles Chittenden.
San Jose,—Wm. Dumont.
Santa Rosa,—Wm. B. Dennison, John Morrison.
Vallejo,—J. S. Howard.
Healdsburg,—Joseph Dimmick, Wm. Harmon.
Bloomfield,—J. D. Bandy.
St. Helena,—W. A. Pratt.
Petaluma,—Edwin Moore.
Napa,—Joseph Eggleston, C. H. Clark.
Woodland,—M. G. Kellogg, Alfred Mason, Wm. Saunders.
Green Valley,—W. T. Ross.
Red Bluff,—J. H. Disher.
Oakland,—John I. Tay, D. B. Rickey, J. W. Cronkite.
Gilroy,—J. N. Loughborough.
Watsonville,—S. B. Bresee.
Bear Valley,—John Judson.
Little River,—Reuel Stickney.
Hollister,—J. D. Richardson.
Middletown,—Wm. Healey.
Lower Lake,—R. D. Hicks. The minutes of proceedings of last year's Conference were read, and unanimously approved.
Adjourned to Sunday morning, at 8 1/2 A. M. Sunday, Sept. 26, 8 1/2 A. M.
Opened with singing, and prayer by Eld. Waggoner.
Eld. James White, President of the General Conference, being now present, was requested to take part in the deliberations of this Conference.
The President announced the following committees :— On Nominations—Wesley Diggins, Edwin Moore, John I. Tay.
On Credentials and Licenses—A. B. Atwood, M. G. Kellogg, Charles Chittenden.
On Resolutions—Eld. J. H. Waggoner, Wm. Saunders, R. A. Morton.
Auditing—Brn. Diggins, Morrison, Harmon, Mason, Stevenson, and Pulse.
Adjourned to the call of the President. Sunday, Sept. 26, 5 P. M. Opened with prayer by Elder Waggoner.
Reports of labor were presented by Elders Loughborough, Waggoner, Canright, and Kellogg, and Licentiates Carey, Stockton, Howard, Healey, Judson, Uhl, and Brossen.
Elder White made some very interesting remarks in regard to the work of the Conferences in the East ; he thought the business sessions should be made short and interesting, and spoke of the great interest in the Vermont, Iowa, and other camp-meetings which he had lately attended. In some places it seemed as though the whole people were anxious to hear and learn the truth.
Adjourned to the call of the President. Monday, Sept. 27, 5 P. M. Prayer by the President.
The Committee on Nomination of Officers reported as follows :—
President—Elder J. N. Loughborough.
Secretary—Wm. Saunders.
Treasurer—W. C. White.
Executive Committee—Wesley Diggins, T. M. Chapman, (the President being ex officio chairman of the committee). The nominees of the committee were elected by unanimous vote of the Conference.
Eld. Waggoner, Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, presented the following :—
Whereas, The Michigan Conference has invited Elder Loughborough to labor in that State, and the General Conference has consented to transfer him to that State,
Resolved, That this Conference earnestly request that Elder Loughborough be not transferred to the East, but be permitted to labor in California during the coming Conference year. On motion, adopted unanimously. The following preamble and resolution were also offered by the Committee :—
Whereas, Our brethren in various places have been called upon to serve as jurors and witnesses in courts of justice upon the Sabbath,
Resolved, That the Conference Committee be and are hereby instructed to appoint a suitable person or persons to obtain signatures to a petition asking the next Legislature to pass a law exempting all who observe the seventh day of the week, commonly called Saturday, as the Sabbath of the Lord, from serving as witnesses and jurors on that day. The resolution was adopted unanimously. Committee on Licenses and Credentials reported in favor of renewing the credentials of Elder J. N. Loughborough and Elder M. G. Kellogg, and granting licenses to R. A. Morton, Knud Brossen, J. E. White, J. Andrews and John Judson. The committee recommended that Wm. M. Healey be ordained and set apart for the ministry, and that he be granted ministerial credentials. The names of other candidates for licenses were referred to the committee for further consideration.
Adjourned to call of the President. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 5 P. M.
Opened with singing, and prayer by Eld. Kellogg.
Committee on Licenses and Credentials reported that they had no further business to transact, and they were discharged.
Committee on Resolutions reported further, as follows :— Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude for being so highly favored with the help of Brother and Sister White at this camp-meeting, and we appreciate the interest which they have manifested in us and in our prosperity, in that they have passed several large camp-meetings which they were urgently requested to attend in order to meet with us. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Elder or leader of each church in this Conference, to see that the proper reports of the S. B. Treasurers be sent to the State Secretary quarterly, and that the S. B. books and church records, together with the annual reports of the treasurers, be sent to the Annual Conference by the delegates representing their respective churches. Resolved, That we recognize the voice that for twenty-five years has been calling to Seventh-day Adventists through the testimonies to the church as a voice from Heaven ; and that it is our duty to heed it in all its teachings, whether it encourage, admonish, or reprove us. Resolved, That we fully endorse all the steps that have thus far been taken in locating and establishing the Publishing House in Oakland. Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude to God, and to our brethren east of the Rocky Mountains, for their noble liberality in furnishing us with two power presses, a steam engine, and the necessary equipments for a first-class publishing house. While we have this evidence of their deep interest in us, we also express the great pleasure we feel in receiving the good reports of the success of the work among them, especially in the eastern camp-meetings, and we renew our pledge to be faithful to the trust conferred upon us in this important field, to endeavor to spread the present truth to the peoples, nations and tongues of the earth. The last two resolutions were put to vote separately and passed not only by vote of the Conference but also by a rising vote of the congregation. The secretary here read the membership and financial reports of the different churches of the Conference, which were accepted.
The President appointed as a Camp-meeting Committee for the ensuing year, G. D. Hager, Wm. Harmon, E. J. Church.
The President stated that the Railroad Company had offered the Conference the use of these grounds for two years more, and on motion he was authorized to conclude such an arrangement with the Company.
Adjourned to call of President. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 5 P. M.
Session opened with prayer by Elder Loughborough.
A report of the Tent Fund was made by the President which showed a balance of $227.96 on hand at close of this Conference.
Funds were raised by voluntary subscription to pay for clearing the grounds.
Voted, by the Conference that the expense of transporting the organ used during this Conference and Camp-meeting to and from Oakland be paid out of the money so raised.* The Conference Treasurer made the following report :—
On hand at date of last settlement, April 24, 1875, $954.05
Received since that time, 2072.60
Total, $3026.65
Paid out since that time, $1913.72
Balance, $1112.93
Additional Receipts, $200.00
Total am't now on hand, $1312.93 The matter of loaning one thousand dollars from the Conference funds to the San Francisco church for one year without interest, to assist them in building a church edifice, having been recommended by the Auditing Committee, Eld. White and others gave their views, and it was put to vote and carried unanimously, and also by a rising vote of the congregation. On motion, Napa Church was allowed to retain the balance due the State Conference on the last two quarters' S. B. pledges, to enable her to pay off her church debt. The following resolutions were offered and adopted :—
Resolved, That we hereby tender our thanks to the North Pacific Coast R. R. Company for the use of their grounds and for the facilities they have extended to us in this camp-meeting.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this Conference be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and in the Review and Herald.
Conference Adjourned sine die.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres.
WM. SAUNDERS, Sec. J. H. WAGGONER
By J. H. Waggoner
We took down the tent in Hollister, Sept. 6. The 7th I went to Old Gilroy to prepare a place for baptism. This at first appeared to be impossible; but selecting a place where the water in the wet season had washed out a gully about two feet deep and five feet wide, I dug a spot sufficiently deep, built a dam across it, and turned the water of an artesian well into it, and soon had a pool of water. Spoke to the company assembled at Gilroy the evening of the 8th, and on the 9th went to Old Gilroy and baptized three: one from the world, never having professed faith in Christ, one from the Presbyterians, and one who was, not many weeks ago, a Catholic. Three more signed the covenant at Gilroy. The next Sabbath and first-day I spent in San Jose, where I preached five times and held two other meetings, celebrating the ordinances. During the week following I met with them again in Gilroy, and Sabbath and first-day, Sept. 18, 19, was at Hollister. We enjoyed a good meeting. Some will be baptized as soon as opportunity offers. At present water is not easily found in that country. At the commencement of my labors with the tent this season I felt great disappointment, the attendance being so small, but soon learned that the percentage of attendance on religious meetings is very small throughout this State. We have seen a large attendance, however, in Eastern States, with no better results. The truth has been placed on a footing in a growing country where we hope it may also grow. One feature of California tenting is gratifying. It is the almost certainty that no meeting will be prevented by the weather. It is quite surely known in any given locality what the weather will be throughout the entire meeting. The order also is almost invariably good. True the laws are strict on this point, but it would appear that lawlessness does not largely show itself in that direction. No disturbance occurred during the season, and nothing was removed or injured in or about the tent, although crimes were not infrequent in the neighborhood. Considering the change of climate, and the badness of the water, especially in Hollister, we came through the labor of the season in remarkably good health. Enjoying comparative rest during the week of the camp-meeting, we feel invigorated, and encouraged to resume labor in this great and good cause with zeal renewed and a yet greater sense of the growing importance of the work. From all parts of the eastern field there comes the most encouraging reports of the advance of the truth. Eld. Lane reports considerable interest in New Hampshire. He and his estimable wife have been laboring in Milford, where, in spite of bitter opposition, and the sickness of both Eld. and Mrs. Lane, an interest was secured and a small company converted to the truth. Bro. Bourdeau is among the Belgian French in Wisconsin. In company with Bro. O. A. Olsen he has pitched a tent in Green Bay, and they are holding meetings in both English and French. Under date of Sept. 12, he says:— “We came to this place with trembling, knowing it to be a large place, and an important point for the work for different nationalities. We have now spoken five times in English and once in French, and the prospects are that a church will be raised up here that will be composed of French, Americans, and a few Norwegians. God helps in preaching. We were encouraged greatly in speaking to at least one hundred candid French listeners this afternoon, one-half of whom were Roman Catholics. Four different kinds of French tracts were taken quite freely.” Bro. M. B. Miller reports a good work in Southern Michigan. In Bronson where he spent eight weeks, an interest had been aroused by the distribution of tracts, and a few had commenced to keep the Sabbath, and thus the way was well prepared for a course of lectures. Though almost alone in his labors, there are now twenty-five keeping the commandments in that place. Regular meetings were appointed and a Sabbath-school and Tract Society were organized. Sister Anna J. Carlstadt has been scattering tracts in Northern Minnesota. Of the interest there she says: “The publications given out in that language [Danish] have been well read; some of them have gone from house to house until they are almost worn out.” “I need some Danish tracts. I need but a few; and these I must have—not so much for the Danish people—but there is another nationality here that I shall try to reach by them—the Icelandic. There are people living not very far from here who are well educated both in the Icelandic and in the Danish. From them I shall try to get directions to the people in Iceland who may read the Danish. I shall then send them some publications, and write them letters, telling why they have been sent.” Bro. James Ertzenberger, who, since Eld. Andrews returned to Switzerland, has been laboring alone in Germany, speaks of the interest in Solingen as follows: “I can say the good work in Prussia is not stopping, but moving on. The lectures at Solingen are well attended. The hall is literally packed with attentive listeners. Those who attend these lectures either belong to the leading national churches, Lutheran or Evangelical, or to the different denominations of that city, as Baptists, Darbyists, or Independents.” The interest to hear the truth was still gaining and invitations to visit were coming in375from rich and poor. Of one of his visits to a clergyman of the National Church Bro. E. says: “He wished to know by whom I was sent, why I came to lecture in Solingen, and what we teach in general terms. To these questions I responded. Thus far all was right. But it is most alarming that this pastor could tell me with laughter that St. Paul greatly erred when writing on the second coming of Christ, and that the Bible contains many contradictions. I asked him to show me one but he did not. Then in a Christian manner I admonished him to pray God for light, to become converted to God’s word, warning him of the terrible retribution of the unfaithful shepherds.” The Giver and the Taker.
By John G. Whittier
[THE following is an attempt to versify a literal translation of a poem by the Hindoo writer, Tineval-luva, who lived, it is supposed, in the third century of our era. He was remarkable for his hatred of idolatry and caste, and for his almost Christian conception of God and human duty :] Who gives what others may not see,
Nor counts on favor, fame, or praise,
Shall find his smallest gift outweighs
The burden of the mighty sea. Who gives to whom hath naught been given,
His gift in need, though small indeed
As is the grass-blade's wind-blown seed,
Is large as earth and rich as Heaven! Forget thou not, O man! to whom
A gift shall fall, while yet on earth,
Yea, even to thy seven-fold birth,
Revive it in the lives to come! Who, brooding, keeps a wrong in thought
Sins much, but greater sin is his
Who, fed and clothed with kindnesses,
Shall count the holy alms as naught. For he who breaks all laws may still
In Sivam's mercy be forgiven;
But none can save in earth or Heaven
The wretch who answer's good with ill! —John G. Whittier, in the Waif. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2. In 1871 a Mr. Ellis published a small pamphlet in San Francisco on the subject of peace, national and individual, and how to obtain it. He makes it a question of diet, and his statements are correct and his reasoning good, as the following extract shows:— “Take the North American Indians at the time of their discovery by Columbus. We find them subsisting almost exclusively on meat. Their numbers were very few, and their natures were almost identical with those of the wolf and panther that slaughtered and fed on the same animals that they did. Their greatest happiness was in scenes of blood. They had little or no mental enjoyment. The long and exhaustive hunts and the kind of food they ate doubtless made them what they were. Their numbers could not increase, because the land could not maintain them, owing to their system of living. Now let us consider the condition of the Sandwich Islanders for a contrast, at the time of their discovery by Captain Cook. They had few domestic animals, and comparatively no wild ones; they lived on fruits and vegetables. Captain Cook says that at one place where he stopped the natives had a large oven in which the whole village cooked, and that there was no meat cooked during his stay, and adds: ‘I think I can safely say that their food is nine-tenths vegetable; and they have kind, gentle dispositions, and have excellent health, few or no cases of sickness among them.’ He estimates their numbers at four hundred thousand. Probably there was not a place on the North American continent of ten times the size of these islands that contained so many native inhabitants at that time, and when we consider that the Islanders had no agricultural implements with which to cultivate the soil, we have only to guess how many times more inhabitants the islands would support under a proper system of cultivation, if they would only live as the natives did at the time of their discovery. But they have taken thither all kinds of domestic animals, and gone to living on meat. They had their numbers taken in 1860, and there were but sixty-eight thousand natives left, and less than three thousand foreigners. Is there not a mighty lesson to be learned from these facts? “But what has all this to do with peace, national peace? may be asked. • Everything to do with it. Just as much to do with it as the rain has to do with the prosperity of California. There can be no such thing as permanent national peace until there is individual peace, health, and happiness among the masses. • Under our present system of living our lives are nothing but one continual toil, struggle and strife. This state of things ought not to continue, and, I think, need not.” The writer then speaks of the health and longevity of man while eating the simple diet provided for him by his Creator, as stated in Gen. 1: 29, 30, and of his speedy degeneracy after the introduction of animal food, and continues:— “The Sandwich Islanders have done the same thing. What has been the result? Why, out of four hundred thousand healthy, happy human beings there are seventy thousand discontented, sickly persons left. Are they not most effectually driven out of their beautiful garden, and compelled to earn their food by the sweat of their brows as the Bible says old Adam had to? How can there be such a thing as happiness so long as a man has to toil with body or brain eight, ten, or twelve hours out of every twenty-four, for a livelihood? Is it necessary that the laboring classes of the United States should earn nineteen millions of dollars annually to pay for duty on tea and coffee? Is not the use of these drugs worse than useless? Are they not causing the immense consumption of tobacco and alcoholic drinks which is going on all over the civilized world, and destroying the peace of thousands of our fellow-beings? Do they not heat both body and brain, even if a person never uses tobacco or alcohol? I think they do, and never use them. “What effect has the eating of meat on individual and national character? We have seen what the North American Indians were, who lived on it. We know that it strengthens, stimulates, and renders active all the lower faculties of man, at the expense of the intellect. Why did so many of the founders of different religions abstain from its use? Because they knew that it would give them an animal and not an intellectual nature. The habitual use of meat makes man governed by passion and impulse, instead of reason and forethought, and hence destroys the very foundation of national peace and prosperity. And then look at the toil and expense necessary to produce it. How few there are who seem to realize that in buying meats instead of other food there is a loss of four dollars out of every five. Take the San Francisco market for example. Good beef is worth twenty cents per pound, bones and all; rye or corn meal and flour, from three to four cents per pound, and nearly all is good food, while meat is three-fourths water. Chickens are worth from seventy-five cents to one dollar each; the best of potatoes, one cent per pound. I have bought the best of sweet potatoes, the past season, for seventy-five cents per hundred; compare those with chickens at seventy-five cents each. Many suppose that they cannot have strength if they do not eat meat; but let such a person be at Castle Garden, New York, and see those German and Irish immigrants land, see those broad shoulders and strong arms, deep chests and large vital organs, and he cannot help noticing their strength and apparent powers of endurance. Many of them will tell you that they did not eat meat in their old homes more than once or twice a week, and as for tea or coffee, they drank them no oftener. I know of a laboring man in this city who practices the principles which I am trying to advocate, and it is his pride and boast that he has done a week’s hard work on food that he has bought for one dollar. He says that he has earned money enough in one week, as a common laborer on the street, to feed, clothe, and give him books for one month. Now, don’t you think that man has done his part toward producing universal peace? I tell you that as long as butchery and bloodshed are necessary for your daily existence, so long shall army meet army and strew the battlefield with the slain; for to have a higher mental development the use of meat as food must cease, in order to give the masses time to cultivate the intellect and the desire to do so. The laborer above referred to is satisfied that he can go out into the valleys and select one acre of ground, which, by being brought to as high a state of cultivation as the soil will admit of, can support fifteen adult persons, in full health and strength, if they will live as he does; and the labor for its cultivation will not exceed four hours per day for one-third of that number.” We might allow a wider range in the line of food than this San Francisco laborer allowed to himself, and still the statements of the writer would be forcibly correct. The subject is worthy of much more attention than it receives. —According to the London Tablet there are in India alone nearly two thousand missionary priests of the Roman Catholic faith. —The Board of Educators of Chicago has discarded the Bible from the public school. There was but one vote opposing the proposition. —Cardinal McCloskey, who has been obliged to go to Rome in person for his "red hat," is there, and has been received and embraced by the pope. The latter, according to the telegraph, has asked many questions of the Cardinal about his church in America, and he doubtless received some very hopeful answers. —Spirit knockings, it seems, are nothing new. Among the manuscripts left by Richard Baxter is a letter in which he says: "I heartily thank you for your communication on the matter of apparitions, and dead men's candles. We have a house, three miles off, haunted with nightly knockings and walkings. We spent a day in prayer, and they were free for five or six months after that. Since, it is all as before." —Traveling among the Baptist churches in Ireland this summer, Rev. Dr. Hague finds nothing cheering to say about them. He was disappointed at Belfast to find the pastor there had renounced his charge and was gathering a congregation that should be recognized simply as "Christian," and that in Cork and Dublin matters were hardly better. Most, if not all, of these churches have the "open door and broad table." —As an illustration of the tendency that is now working toward a union of Christians of different creeds, it may be mentioned that at Stanley Pastures—now a collection of collieries—an enterprising firm has undertaken to erect an English Church, and they invited a rich old Quaker, David Dale—one of the same family which was connected with the Owens—to lay the corner stone. The Quaker performed the ceremony in the presence of several clergymen, and of the Vicar, who, when the church is erected, will read in it thirteen times a year that creed which dooms all Quakers to "perish everlastingly." —After long discussion over the matter, the American Jews have organized a college at Cincinnati for the education of rabbis, who, heretofore, have all been trained abroad. In addition, all who are desirous of obtaining a substantial education for any avocation in after-life, and to be well informed in Hebrew lore and history, are welcome to the Hebrew Union College and the enjoyment of all the privileges and advantages it may offer. October 3 was the date for the formal opening of the institution, which, in the opinion of the American Israelite, will be an event full of incalculable importance to the Hebrew cause in the United States, "where, under the genial sun of freedom, in the centennial year of liberty, a new chapter of Israel's wonderful history shall be opened to the glory of God, and the fraternization and elevation of the human family."