"Too many laws" is what President George R. Peck, of the American Bar Association, declared in his address at St. Paul, August 29. He further remarked: "They are becoming too largely merely administrative and regulative, establishing rules for the direction and control of business activities, drawing lines of separation between that which is and always was permissible and that which shall no longer be so, establishing boards and commissions and providing for a scrutiny which more and more pries into affairs that once were supposed to pertain exclusively to the individual primarily interested."
And it is true. We are overburdened with laws national, state, county, municipal, till the people are law-ridden, and few laws are enforced. Better fewer laws, on civil conduct and procedure, well enforced, than so many of the character President Peck portrays.
Cancer Increasing in France
A despatch from Paris, September 1, based on statements presented before the Academy by Dr. Borrell, states that every year thirty thousand persons die of cancer in France, and that in Paris alone the figures number four thousand. Instead of diminishing, cases of cancer are increasing. Formerly the age of attack was usually over forty; now many young people of twenty-five and thirty are affected. Formerly cancer was limited to two or three portions of the body, such as the face and breast, but now it attacks all the organs of the body. Dr. Borrell thinks it is due to a cancer worm which lays its eggs in foods which are eaten.
Translation of Pope Leo XIII’s Remains
With great pomp and ceremony the remains of the late Pope Leo XIII. will be "translated" from the church of St. Peters to the basilica of St. John at the Lateran. The procession will start at night and march four miles between the two churches, every one taking part in the ceremony will carry a lighted torch and a magnificent hearse drawn by four horses will carry the coffin. The procession will pass through double lines of police and troops all the way.
Los Angeles Leads in Divorces
In one point San Francisco gracefully yields the palm to Los Angeles in their perennial rivalry, and the News Letter hastens to tell it. "Statistics compiled for the year show that there were 486 divorces in Los Angeles last year, while in San Francisco there were 475."
DONATIONS TO THE PACIFIC PRESS.
By Editor
We present below additional names of those who have so kindly donated to the Pacific Press, and so identified themselves with God's suffering cause. Read in this connection the first article in the paper. We wish on behalf of the Board of Directors to thank all these donors. This list is up to October 23.
Louise Linggi ......................... 1.50
Miss P. Doering ....................... .50
Mrs. E. A. Olcott ..................... 28.00
A friend, Mrs. B. W. L. ............... 1.00
Geo. W. Sterling ...................... 1.00
H. A. Morehouse ....................... 2.00
J. H. Eastman ......................... 19.75
Mrs. N. E. Lellard .................... 5.00
Robt. Cowan ........................... 10.00
Lyle and Lester Ostleford ............. .50
Mrs. H. M. Curson ..................... 5.00
Wm. Ploeger ........................... 1.00
Jas. Ellis ............................ 2.00
E. C. Purson .......................... 2.00
F. G. Kaye ............................ 5.00
Chas. Baierle ......................... 25.00
Sarah D. McRae ........................ 3.00
John Biron ............................ 5.00
A. H. Burford ......................... 10.00
Mrs. S. A. Condon ..................... 1.00
J. C. Bidwell Co. ..................... 5.00
J. S. Quinn ........................... 2.00
N. Greenleaf .......................... 1.00
A. and L. Wolohen ..................... .25
Mr. and Mrs. Brimacombe ............... 1.00
A. H. Mathews ......................... 5.00
Oklahoma Society ...................... 20.50
Mrs. L. E. Fuller ..................... .25
Mrs. Alice Wallace .................... 5.00
Zoa Buckley ........................... 2.25
Mrs. Geo. W. Fenger ................... 8.50
Mrs. S. A. Fitch ...................... 1.00
Mrs. Jas. F. Woods .................... 1.00
Geo. E. Henton ........................ 25.00
A Sister, H. A. ....................... 10.00
C. W. Rubendall and wife .............. 10.00
Phebe Van Pattin ...................... 3.00
Mrs. Jennie Beal ...................... 10.00
Mrs. Lillie Whitworth ................. 1.50
Mrs. A. L. Wadsworth .................. .50
Mrs. J. Grove ......................... 5.00
Mrs. W. H. D. ......................... 1.50
Mrs. L. M. Maycock .................... 5.00
J. M. Murray .......................... 1.00
M. E. Motz ............................ 1.65
N. P. Union Conference ................ 25.10
A friend (Judge) ...................... 1.00
R. H. Campbell ........................ 5.00
Veotta Matters ........................ .50
Chas. Booth ........................... .05
Eva B. Stennenberg .................... 5.00
A friend at Sebastopol ................ 5.00
J. A. Seibert ......................... 2.05
Mrs. Flora Lovely ..................... 2.00
A friend .............................. 3.00
Amy Kivvett ........................... 10.00
Louisa Shaeffer ....................... 50.00
Chas Lee .............................. 5.00
L. M. Wheeler ......................... 1.00
Peter Jensen .......................... 1.00
Miss Eula Roberts ..................... 5.00
Mrs. Filer ............................ 5.00
Jetur Wheeler ......................... .10
Minnie Tucker ......................... .50
Mrs. J. F. Phy ........................ .30
Al Lovgren ............................ 10.00
Myrtle Dillman ........................ 3.00
L. F. Sparhawk ........................ 5.00
Mrs. J. W. Young ...................... 5.00
A. M. Dart ............................ 5.00
Anna Nelson ........................... 8.50
Mrs. M. Melton ........................ 3.50
Kate Fletcher ......................... 5.00
C. M. Snow ............................ 20.00
John A. Staff ......................... 2.50
Florence Martin ....................... 2.00
A. Schlotthauer ....................... 25.00
A friend .............................. 5.00
Heilda Carlstrand ..................... .50
Mrs. R. E. Hay ........................ .50
Maggie Serns .......................... .50
Nellie Paulson ........................ .50
L. and E. Serns ....................... .20
H. F. Halsey .......................... .25
Mary E. Scott ......................... 25.00
J. M. Cartwright ...................... 6.00
Mrs. Sarah Rhea ....................... 2.00
Chas. E. Means ........................ 5.00
Anna Sander ........................... 10.07
Rosa Ainkler .......................... 1.00
J. J. Allen ........................... .50
Mrs. A. M. Smith ...................... 10.00
North Queensland Society .............. 2.44
Richard Martz ......................... 1.00
Mrs. Matilda Naggle ................... 1.00
M. E. Snow ............................ 3.50
Gertrude Barron ....................... .05
Mrs. J. M. Sampson .................... 4.00
John Kahnke ........................... 3.50
Lizzie Holmes ......................... 1.40
Mrs. Nannie Burke ..................... 1.00
Robena D. Simmons ..................... .60
Martin Baumgarten ..................... 10.00
New History of the Jesuits
A new history of the Jesuits is under preparation, to be published in several languages and consisting of nearly a score of volumes. Needless to say it is being written by the Jesuits themselves.
Bible Study Sunday
By Editor
Bible Study Sunday.—The American Institute of Sacred Literature, founded by the late Dr. Harper, has been putting forth a special effort for a Bible Study Sunday, which occurred this year September 15. Georgia Chamberlain, the secretary, reports very encouraging progress from the field. The denomination which chiefly responds is the Baptist, 243. We are glad, indeed, that one Sunday is given to Bible study. If the Protestant churches were standing where they ought, every Sunday would be a Bible Study Sunday, and every sermon would be more or less an expository sermon of the Gospel of Christ; but we are thankful for the small omen of good.
Not in Noise or Show, but in Power.
The false prophets of Baal seemed to believe that prolonged violent exercise, leaping, shouting, cutting themselves, would induce their God—the fire-god, the sun-god—to answer them; but the lurid heavens gave no sign. The pitiless sun which had dried up the brooks and parched all vegetation burned on, but the sacrificial wood remained unlighted, and the evening brought the worshipers no result. The turn of the prophet of God comes, and he calmly builds the altar of God, lays upon it the wood and the sacrifice, causes it to be deluged three times with water, and in a few simple words asks Jehovah, the covenant God, to remember His promise; and God replies by fire, consuming both sacrifice and water. God is as ready to hear to-day as ever of yore; and simple humility and faith will bring the promised blessing.
OUR INDIA MISSION.
By Editor
WE add a few names to the splendid list of donors to our hill mission in India. Prof. J. L. Shaw and wife, devoted souls, are just returning. They nearly gave their lives, working in the hot, humid lowlands. They were forced to remain a few months longer in the Rocky Mountain region to recruit. They return much better, praise God. Now if the mission can be established among the hill tribes where the workers in the great populous districts in the malarial, miasmatic lowlands can go for a few months, the worst months of the year, and recruit their wasted energies in labor for the hill tribes, what a blessing it will be. It is the "living sacrifice" which God wants, not the dead one. Those who are giving to establish this mission are giving doubly, for a mission among the best of India's natives, and for the prolongation and strength of our missionaries there. These donations include those received to October 22.
Monday's paper, October 22, tells us that a fearful storm has ravaged the state of San Salvador, leaving in its broad path ruin and death; that during this storm the volcano Chulo burst forth without warning, vomiting thousands of tons of sulphur-impregnated water, sweeping away isolated farms, literally inundating and destroying the town of Panchimalo. In Coatepeque more than a hundred persons were killed by the storm. Piminento and other towns are reported destroyed, and great damage to ships, shipping, and railways. Later reports from Central America show that the awful hurricane swept Nicaragua as well as San Salvador. Bluefields, its most important town, is said to be entirely destroyed. Little Corn Island is said to be swept clean of buildings and life, and Great Corn Island has suffered immensely. Millions and millions have been lost on various plantations. A Russian coasting steamer came in collision with a floating torpedo near Vladivostok, the torpedo exploded, the ship was blown up, and 200 were drowned, only one being saved. A rusty bomb of the Civil War exploded on the peanut farm of Samuel C. Oliver, seriously injuring four men, and the buildings on the farm. And every day is about the same. Calamity succeeds calamity. The year has been a fearful one.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, widow of the late president of the Southern Confederacy, died in New York City on the 16th inst., of pneumonia. Mrs. Davis was the daughter of President Zachary Taylor. When President Taylor was an officer in the army, young Davis was a lieutenant under his command. When the young officer desired to marry the daughter of his superior, the latter objected on the ground that he did not want his daughter to marry a soldier and become subjected to the vicissitudes of army life. Then Davis promptly resigned, and with his brother settled on a southern plantation, thus removing the objection to his marriage to General Taylor's daughter.
Elder Henry Shultz sends us an earnest appeal for the International Publishing Association collection which is to be taken November 3. The association needs funds to enable it to print for the twenty million foreigners in this country. But the appeal did not reach us in time for our paper previous to the date of the November 3 meeting. The date of this paper is November 7. However, the donation will be acceptable at a later date. The SIGNS mentioned that collection several weeks ago. We regret the appeal came too late.
Rumors come to us from Rome that there is likely to be a breach with Spain. The Spanish Government appointed as their ambassador to the Vatican a member of the Liberal party whom the Vatican authorities, warned by the Spanish prelates, have refused to receive and protested against his appointment. The Spanish Government has insisted that he be accepted, and if not, the nuncio will be recalled from Madrid to Rome. Unless forced to do otherwise, Rome does not believe in liberalism. The old monarchic ideas are much more in harmony with the government in the church.
Increase of Disease.
Sir James Crichton-Brown, an expert in mental diseases, addressed the congress of sanitary inspectors in England on September 13. Among his declarations are, "Nervous diseases are increasing." "A gospel of recreation by communication with nature is needed." "Rapid locomotion is a craze, involving blindness to natural beauty." "Fast motoring at its worst tends to homicidal mania." "A confirmed motorist must become sluggish in intellect and excitable in temper." And there is yet more to be said.
Referring to the finances of the country the New York World of September 9, tells us that the bank notes show a deficit of $6,577,925, that their condition is the weakest since the panic days of 1893. The present condition is due to the tremendous speculation in Wall Street.