A Model Institution for General Culture. Instruction Given in the Branches of the Usual College Curriculum.
Special Attention to Common Branches and the Elements of Learning.
Physical Culture and Experience in the Most Common Affairs of Practical Life, and the Useful Trades are Combined in This College with the Study of the Regular School Branches.
This College Is Very Successful in the Education of Youth, Because It Is Founded on Correct Principles.
1. The Bible is made the Text-book of Morals and Religion, and nearly every member of the school has Daily Recitations in Biblical History.
2. The union of manual and mental labor among the students will secure to them habits of industry, as well as a knowledge of the most common methods of obtaining a livelihood, and will thus make of them practical men and women.
3. The strong Moral and Religious influence finds its equal in no other Institution of the kind.
4. The expenses of Students for Board, Tuition, etc., come within the ability of all.
5. The Discipline is rigid, and the Instruction is thorough and Practical throughout.
DISCIPLINE.
One of the most prominent features of Healdsburg College is the effort to impress upon its students the claims and benefits of morals and religion. Any one, of known evil habits, who is exerting a pernicious influence upon his fellow-students, is not tolerated in the school.
During the year 1883 there was completed a large building called
NORTH COLLEGE HALL,
Upon a tract of five acres of ground, the whole designed for a Students' Home, where will be afforded the best home influence, and an opportunity for combining manual labor with study. No other institution offers so favorable facilities on so reasonable terms.
To those who wish to obtain instruction in the Bible, Old and New Testament History, &c., special inducements are offered. A class will be opened at the beginning of the Spring Term, for old and young.
A PRIMARY DEPARTMENT
Is connected with the College to accommodate those children whose parents desire to place them under the instruction and moral influence of the school.
The Spring Term began January 2, 1884, and closes May 29, 1884. Any information, and calendar sent on application.
Address,
S. BROWNBERGER, A. M., President,
Healdsburg, Cal.
“Sinless Perfection.”
By A. S. Worrell
SOME well-meaning people have been decoyed into this snare—which I regard as very fatal to the highest interests of the soul. For one to affirm that he has not committed a sin, or failed to do all that is required of him, for so many days, months, or years, seems to me to savor of presumption, if indeed it be not the very essence of it. For one to make such a statement, he would have to know—1. That he had, during the whole time, kept the decalogue. And he must know—2. That he has perfectly kept these two laws: (a) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind”—in other words, he must know that he has loved God with every energy of his being, and that, in this service, these powers have been strained to their utmost all the time—something which I see not how any one can certainly know; and, (b) “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Under this law, the law requiring us to love our enemies is included.
Now, it may not be a difficult thing for one to know that he does love God, but how is he to know—during the pressure of many worldly cares especially—that he has kept this law in all its length and breadth? How, too, is he certainly to know that he has loved his neighbor as himself? When we look at the positive side of duty, the commandment appears “exceeding broad.” It extends not to the outward act merely, but to the motives, desires, and tastes. Now, to know that these are all in exact harmony with the divine requirements, and that every other power of soul and body is at the same time filling its mission perfectly, is more, it seems to me, than any one, save Omniscience himself, can know without a direct revelation, well and definitely attested.
When in connection with all this it is taken into account that “The heart is deceitful above all things,” one should shrink back from making any such declaration as that he has committed no sin, or that he has been chargeable with no sin, for any definite period of time! The wisest and most advanced Christian on earth has no authority for making any such declaration. His conscience may have reported nothing against him for a given period; but many things may transpire within one, and consciousness take no note of it. Sins of ignorance were provided for under the Mosaic economy; and this is, to say the least, suggestive of the possibility, if not the probability, of such sins existing under the present dispensation. It is well to tell the truth, if possible, in every utterance; but one cannot know that he does tell the truth when he asserts that he has reached the position of “sinless perfection.”
“But do not the Scriptures declare that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth the dutiful believer from all sin?” To be sure it does; but this does not signify that the believer gets to the point where he has no need of cleansing. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The texts show a gracious provision for the pardon and cleansing of the penitent believer; but I do not understand any one of them to teach that the believer lives without sinning, or that he ever, in this life, reaches a point at which he may say, “I have no further need for the cleansing blood;” “I have no sin to confess;” “I know that I am doing my whole duty every moment!” Such declarations as these should never be made in this life, by “the most advanced Christian.” Such assertions seem to me to imply very great ignorance and presumption on the part of the one who makes them.
Some lay great stress on “testimony.” This, doubtless, is valuable, provided it be true, and prudently stated; but a bold declaration of “sinlessness” is a poor substitute for a life characterized by “the fruit of the spirit,” and by patient, well-directed labor for the good of souls.
The proper place for Christians of every stage of advancement is “under the blood.” Living here, they confess their need of Christ continually; and then they have the assurance that all their sins—recognized and unrecognized—are pardoned. Thus it is possible to live in such a way as to have, the consciousness of cleansing, or of being cleansed, continually; and such a life would not leave sin on the soul for any considerable time.
This is a position of humility—the only place suited to a sinner saved by grace alone. Here the most devout heart may pray daily: “Our Father who art in Heaven! hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins,” &c. It would be impossible for such a soul to pray after the manner of the Pharisee: “Lord I thank thee that I am not as other men”—“I thank thee that I have no farther need of the pardoning, cleansing blood of Christ!” What a prayer! Rather let the prayer ascend, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”—A. S. Worrell, in Baptist Play.
The Silent Clerk.
A GENTLEMAN of high position and great wealth, in the city of Pittsburg, was converted some years ago. He was a man of much earnestness of character and admirable social qualities. From the moment of his conversion, he took a decided stand for Christ and his cause. He wrote letters to all his impenitent friends, informing them of the change he had experienced, and inviting them, as Moses did Hobab, to join him in journeying to the “good land.”
It was my pleasure to ride with this gentleman in his buggy, soon after his conversion, to Washington, Pa., a distance of twenty-six miles. During that journey, he gave me a full and most interesting account of his religious experience. At the close of it I said to him: “Mr. M—, what, in your judgment, has contributed most to the happy change you have just related to me?” He promptly replied: “The example of one of my clerks.” His answer interested me deeply, and I begged him to explain himself more fully. To this request he responded as follows:—
“When I commenced business some eighteen years ago, I employed a gentleman as bookkeeper who was a member of the Associate Reformed Church. He was a quiet, but holy man. His religion was his life, rather than on his tongue. He soon won my profound respect, and his example became a power over me.
“I was profane at that time, and uttered oaths at the slightest provocation. My clerk never reproved me for this, but I saw that every profane expression of mine gave him pain. Out of regard to his feelings, I gradually laid aside the habit of profane swearing, until I ceased to utter oaths on any occasion.
“I was also at that time very irascible; and if one of the men employed by me—of whom I had a large number, in any way provoked me, I had no hesitation in letting him instantly feel my foot or my fist. I could not but observe that this also was extremely painful to my bookkeeper, though he uttered no word to that effect.
“My respect for him, and my unwillingness to wound his feelings, led me, by degrees, to break myself of this habit, as well as the other. In a word, this man, though he never spoke to me on the subject of religion, exercised an influence over me for good wielded by no other human being. He did not preach by words, but his life was a perpetual sermon; and to him, under God, more than to any other, am I indebted for the hope, in which I now rejoice, of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Selected.
False Prophets.
By Sel.
THE false prophets of Islam have been many, and not a few of them have endeavored to follow the example of Mahomet, and found an empire by force of arms. Not one of them, however, has been permanently successful, and if the Mahdi escapes capture or assassination he will be more fortunate than most of his forerunners have been. Moseilama, who raised the standard of religious revolt during the life-time of Mahomet, was defeated and slain during the reign of Abu Beer, by Khaled Ebn al Walid, and Al Aswad, who set up in the year of Mahomet's death, was almost immediately betrayed and decapitated. It was upon that occasion that Mahomet declared that ere the day of Judgment Islam would be troubled by thirty other impostors. Soon afterward Toleiha Ebn Khowailed arose, but seeing the error of his ways recanted, and Sejaj Bintal Moudar, an early exponent of woman's rights, led many after her. In the reign, too, of the Khalif al Mohdi, Hakeim Ebn Hashem, called Al Mokanna, and well known as the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan, gained some successes, and might have gained more had he not despaired and committed suicide; and in the reign of Al Motasem the still more formidable pretender Babac was executed, but not until he had slain a quarter of a million of his enemies.
Then came the Karmations and the Ishmaelians, or Assassins, and the followers of Al Montanabbi, and of Baba the Turkoman, and of many more; so that, if Mahomet's thirty impostors have not already appeared and disappeared again, the Mahdi must surely be nearly the last of the series. If, on the other hand, all the false prophets have come and gone, who is the Mahdi? It is but too probable that Islam, or at least a great part of it, will answer the question by proclaiming that Mahomet Ahmed is the Messiah.—Sel.
We Shall Know Each Other.
By Sel.
THE minister of a fashionable church once preached a beautiful sermon on this subject. He drew the picture of a very beautiful heaven. We would walk in the sunlit groves, by the music of water-falls, and gaze out upon Amaranthine fields. And then, too, “we shall know each other there,” said the minister, and then added, “there’ll be no strangers in the New Jerusalem; we’ll all be friends.”
“Beautiful!” said Deacon Sham, as he trotted down the aisle.
“A lovely sermon!” said Miss Simpkins, as she put her bony hand into the minister’s. She was stopped by a poor mechanic, who came up and addressed the preacher.
“Mr. ——, I am glad we shall recognize each other there.”
“Yes,” said the minister, “it is one of the greatest consolations of our religion.”
“Well, I’m right glad we shall know each other. It will be a great change, though; for I have attended your church for over four years, and none of the members of this society have recognized me yet. But—we shall know each other there.”—Sel.
SECULAR.
—Sixty buildings were wrecked at Compton, Quebec, last week by a storm.
—Thirty persons were injured by the wrecking of a train near Wexford, Texas, on the 15th inst.
—An aged polygamist at Salt Lake, on reading the Governor's late message, went out in the woodshed and hanged himself.
—It is now asserted that twenty-five lives were lost by the burning of Belleville (Ill.) Convent, on the night of the 5th inst.
—A colony of 500 Germans is on the way to Los Angeles County, this State. They are said to all be strong temperance people.
—Delegates claiming to represent 150,000 workingmen have made a demand upon the French Chamber of Deputies for employment.
—Of forty-five homicides in New York last year, thirty were caused through intoxication, and seven were committed by policemen.
—Carl Schurz has been sued for $300,000 damages by a Washington lawyer whom he disbarred while Secretary of the Interior.
—It is said the reason that so many iron mills are shutting down is because iron is not being used by the railroads for rails. Steel is cheaper on account of its durability.
—President Gonzales was pelted with nickel coin in the City of Mexico, on the 16th inst. It was the last day for paying taxes, and only twenty cents on each amount would be received in nickels, and a great uproar was raised.
—North Carolina has 40,000 square miles of forest, which is deemed of more value than all other species of property in the State combined. There are nineteen varieties of oak.
—The several railroad companies centered at Portland, Oregon, have given notice to labor contractors that after Feb. 1, wages of Chinese laborers will be reduced to 80 cents per day.
—The Chicago Tribune sums up the human lives lost in 1883, by earthquakes, tornadoes, shipwrecks, fires, mine disasters, and other accidents, and estimates the number at 125,000.
—A night school has been established among the prisoners at Sing Sing penitentiary. The teacher was once an accomplished pedagogue in Massachusetts, and was imprisoned for bigamy.
—It is said of a certain military man, that “in case of another war he would greatly distinguish himself.” It is too bad to have genius lying dormant just for want of a war to develop it.
—A great Cotton Centennial Exhibition is to be held in New Orleans, commencing in December, 1884, the centennial anniversary of the first shipment of cotton to England from America.
—President Angell, of the University of Michigan, expresses great satisfaction at the results of thirteen years' experience in the admittance of women to all the privileges of instruction.
—On the 15th inst., in the Pennsylvania oil region, a passenger train on the Bradford Railroad was fired by the burning of waste oil on the track, and fifteen persons were burned to death or injured.
—Immense tidal waves are reported on the southeast coast of South America, especially high at Montevideo. They were supposed to be caused by volcanic action. Each was preceded by a black cloud.
—A commercial traveler, writing to the Pacific, says: “California gets very little El Paso [Texas] trade, while it should have a great deal. Nearly all goods of Pacific Coast production are bought in St. Louis or Chicago.”
—A lady in New Orleans applied for license as master of a steamboat. The District Inspector found her competent, but refused her license on account of her sex. The case is referred to the Solicitor of the Treasury.
—Jay Gould considers the Northern Pacific Railroad a good property, and says the cause of the collapse was ignorance on the part of those who carried on the project. They had had no experience in large undertakings, and did not understand the business, and therefore it cost too much.
—A new commercial treaty between the United States and Spain will go into effect March 1. A reduction of 10 per cent. ad valorem duty will be made on all goods imported from Cuba or Porto Rico under the Spanish flag into the United States, with equivalent considerations in return.
—Mr. Robert Harris, long connected with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road, has been chosen President of the Northern Pacific, vice Henry Villard, resigned. It is said the real terminus of the road will be at Tacoma, W. T., whence a new line of steamers will connect with Japan.
—A company with $2,500,000 capital is preparing to drain 1,000,000 acres of land in Cameron, Calcasieu, and Vermillion, in the southeast corner of Louisiana, and to make a Gulf front of one hundred miles of agricultural lands between Lake Charles and Sabine Pass. Steam plows for the work have arrived from England, capable of plowing fifty acres a day.
—The leading politicians are looking anxiously for a new issue in the next Presidential campaign. It was fondly anticipated by some that the tariff question would furnish the desired bone of contention; but it is transpiring that the representative men of the two prominent parties are about equally interested in the great enterprises that are demanding “protection.”
—The State Controller has refused to draw his warrant for any further interest money, guaranteed for twenty-five years by the State of California on $1,500,000 of Central Pacific Railroad bonds. Five years of the time has yet to be fulfilled, but the Controller claims the conditions of the guarantee have been for a long time violated by the company. The interest amounts to $105,000 yearly.
—Fires: A large hotel at Suwannee Springs, Fla., was burned on the 17th inst.; loss, $160,000. The Grand Montezuma Hotel, at Las Vegas, N. M., was burned on the same day; loss, $300,000. This hotel was owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Co. Also, a $150,000 fire occurred in the Court Exchange, New York; and another at Syracuse damaged property valued at $70,000.
News and Notes.
RELIGIOUS.
—It is proposed to raise $10,000,000 as a Methodist jubilee offering during the present year.
—The Garfield Memorial Church, one of the finest buildings in Washington City, was dedicated on the 20th inst.
—Capt. Burby, his wife, son, and two daughters, make trips throughout the northern lakes in a vessel called the Glad Tidings, and hold religious services.
—A sensation has been created in Doyleston, Pa., over the attempt of a Catholic priest to secure a part of the public school money for his parish school. He is not likely to get it.
—Only one of the 565 papal churches of Rome is dedicated to Christ, and that is a Jesuit edifice. Honor to the Virgin predominates, and at all of them are sellers of so-called sacred objects.
—Mrs. General Sherman is persistent as well as prolific in ways and means to forward Romanism. Her last effort is a woman's club, at St. Louis, “for the study of philosophy from a Roman Catholic standpoint.”
—Speaking of the inevitable Sabbath question, the Sabbath Recorder (Seventh-day Baptist) says: “Let us purge and arm ourselves for the contest. This Sabbath is, evidently, what God raised us up and preserved us for. If this is not our special mission, then we have none as a denomination.”
—After the missionary has, through great self-denial and untold dangers and difficulties, made it possible for civilized people to enter a heathen land at all, then follows the rum merchant, with his death-dealing traffic, making money and scattering vice. Poor Madagascar is suffering terribly from the alcoholic ravages of the great civilized nations of Europe.
—A correspondent of an Eastern religious paper says: “In no part of the country have the Baptists so little comparative influence as in California.” We do not vouch for the truth of the assertion, but there is cause for such a state of things, in the fact that in no part of the country have their representative men taken square issue with the law of God as they have in California.
—The Steubenville, Ohio, Presbytery wants the Presbyterian General Assembly to put a stop to the discussion, especially in the papers, of cases of discipline until the church courts have rendered their decision. These discussions, they say, are “often imperiling to the harmony and unity of the church.” The N. Y. Independent retorts that other causes are responsible for a want of harmony; and cites “the practice of bringing charges for insignificant doctrinal variations from standards which have no divine authority.”
THOUGHTS ON DANIEL, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
By Uriah Smith
BY ELD. U. SMITH.
EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL, VERSE BY VERSE.
We are now living in times plainly pointed out in this prophecy, and it is important to understand it; for Daniel himself says that in the time of the end, the wise shall understand; while, if we fail, we are equally guilty with the Jews, who knew not the time of their visitation (Luke 19:42–44), and shall meet a similar fate.
416 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
By Uriah Smith
BY ELD. U. SMITH.
This work presents every verse in the book of Revelation, with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. It is a new and harmonious exposition of that important book, and is designed to create an interest in its study.
416 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE NATURE AND TENDENCY OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
This is a thorough expose of the system of Spiritualism. The author has carefully studied the subject, and has given such copious extracts from a large library of Spiritualist publications, as to fully condemn them in their teachings and in their practices, by their own testimony.
It is also shown from the prophetic scriptures that Spiritualism is one of the most impressive signs of the times.
154 pp. Price, 20 cents.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE OF PAUL.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
In this book the history of Paul's life, from the time when he 'made havoc' of the church until he was 'offered up' as its chief representative, is traced in a clear and connected manner. Paul's allusions to himself in his epistles are connected with the record in the book of Acts in such a manner as to throw great light both on the epistles and the 'Acts.' But that which gives the book even greater value than its historical accuracy, is the lessons that are drawn from Paul's words, and the hardships which he endured, and their practical application to our own times. This is a marked feature of this work, and the instruction given in this way cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. 234 pp. Neatly bound in cloth, 80 cents.
Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.;
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
THE HOME OF THE SAVED.
By John Norton Loughborough
By Eld. J. N. Loughborough.
Gives the Bible evidence upon the interesting topic of the earth made new, as the inheritance of the saints. 82 pp. Price, 10 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR.
AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY PAPER FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN, DEVOTED TO MORAL, MENTAL, AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE.
This paper is not devoted to insipid stories and religious fiction, but is filled with a great variety of that kind of reading which tends to the healthful development of the youthful mind. Its pages are made bright by the choicest illustrative pictures, and its columns are always full of useful information.
As a Sabbath-school and Lesson paper, it is suited to the wants of scholars and teachers, and is calculated to increase the interest of all who read it, in thorough Bible study.
The Sabbath-school Department contains two series of lessons, one for children and one for youth.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, 75 CENTS A YEAR.
All new subscribers paying the above price will receive the “Child's Poems” as a premium without extra charge.
TERMS TO CLUBS, PAID IN ADVANCE.
Price per Copy, Post-paid.
5 to 10 copies ............................ 60 cents a year.
10 copies and upward ...................... 50 cents a year.
Subscription for 5 to 10 copies will be taken for six months. Larger clubs may be paid for quarterly.
Address, YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, Battle Creek, Mich.
The Healdsburg Meeting.
By Editor
The usual pressure of our work at the office prevented our attending the whole of this meeting. We went Thursday morning, Jan. 10, and remained until the 14th. Not much preaching was done, except on Sabbath and first-day. The exercises consisted mostly of Bible-readings and instructions in the missionary work. The Bible-readings were both interesting and profitable, not only to those in the faith, but to all who attended.
This meeting was of great benefit to the church in Healdsburg. The original church there never fully realized their privileges and responsibilities in view of the College being located in their midst. They did not stand where they could lift and work together effectively. Now they evidently occupy a position better than ever before, and we trust they may be a source of encouragement and strength to those whom Providence has placed there as helps and educators.
There was a fair representation from other churches, and these went to their homes with renewed courage and faith in the work. Except some of the camp-meetings where the benefit was general to all the churches, we hesitate not to say that it was the best and most profitable meeting ever held in this State.
It was gratifying to all that Sister White was there. Much of the good result was owing to her faithful labors. Elder Corliss assisted much in the Bible-readings.
The confidence of the brethren in the College and its work was greatly strengthened. The propriety and wisdom of building the “North College Hall” is now placed entirely beyond question. A man who is not of our faith, who had heard strong recommendations of the school and boarding-house, went there to place a scholar, and on his return home said the half was not told of the advantages of the position. And this is the feeling of all who visit there.
We are happy to be able to announce that a similar meeting will be held in Woodland, beginning Feb. 7, and closing Feb. 18. The neighboring churches will be visited to stir them up to attend, and we shall look for a good and profitable meeting there. We earnestly urge them to go. These meetings are so different from any they have attended that they cannot realize their value unless they improve the opportunity of enjoying them.
If it is desired, and the brethren and sisters will make an effort to attend, such a meeting will be held in San Joaquin Valley, say at Fresno City, some time in March. We hope to hear from the brethren in that section. And another will be held in Oakland in April, ending with the Annual Meeting of the Publishing Association, April 28. Of this we will speak hereafter.
What Will Our Agents Do?
By William Clarence White
THOSE who wish to increase the circulation of our periodicals will find the present a very favorable time to work. The long winter evenings furnish more time to read than any other season. And how important that this precious time be occupied in reading Bible truths for the present time.
In thousands of families the subscriptions for secular and religious papers taken during 1883 have now expired, and the decision must soon be made as to what papers shall be taken for 1884. Will not every one of our friends and subscribers say a good word for the SIGNS at this important time?
A judicious correspondence will induce hundreds to give a year's subscription for our paper, who would not do so at any other season of the year. We hope our Vigilant Societies will devote their best energies to this branch of the work for the next few weeks. We have a very good circular containing prospectus, testimonials, and our premium offer, which will be furnished free on application to the Secretary of your State Tract Society.
There should be agents appointed in all our churches, not only to solicit new subscriptions, but to solicit renewals also. We fear that very many will cease to read the paper who would renew their subscription if solicited to do so by the one who secured their first yearly or trial subscription. There are many cases where more good will be accomplished by securing the reading of the paper a second year than by obtaining two new subscribers. Will our people take hold of this work?
At the State quarterly meeting in Healdsburg, the importance of this work was appreciated by the brethren present, and when we called for volunteers to make a thorough canvass for renewals of subscription to the SIGNS, Review, Good Health, and Instructor, about twenty came forward, and we found good agents for every place represented at the meeting.
So much interest was manifested in this work that a class of seventy members was organized to learn how to canvass for our papers. In this class the lessons were presented the same as by Bro. Boynton at the General Conference. All members of the class were greatly encouraged as they saw how easy it would be to do better work than before. Some members of the class took quite a list of new subscribers on their way home from the meeting.
Wherever our agents are working, we hear of good success. A brother who was employed by the Oakland V. M. Society took seventy-seven subscriptions in six weeks, besides doing much other missionary work. Thirty-eight of those were for a year. A sister working in Northern California and Southern Oregon has lately sent us over one hundred names for the SIGNS, besides sixteen for the Instructor. Of her 109 subscribers for the SIGNS, 22 are for a year, 3 for six months, 32 for three months, and 52 for one month. Her first letter ordered 35 for one month and 4 for a longer time. Her last letter ordered 2 for one month, 20 for three months, and 9 for a longer period. We are much pleased with this improvement in the length of the subscriptions.
We believe that with experience many of our agents will take trial subscriptions for three months instead of for one month, as formerly. This will be much better, as one month is too short a time to become thoroughly acquainted with the paper. This is an excellent time to work. Golden opportunities are passing. What will our agents do?
W. C. WHITE.
The Signs of the Times.
By Editor
Oakland, Cal., Fifth-day, January 24, 1884.
Notice.— We send no papers from this Office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving them are not indebted to the Office.
Money orders, drafts, etc., should be made to “Pacific Press,” never to individuals, as they may be absent, and business thereby be delayed.
The post-office address of Eld. J. O. Corliss is Healdsburg, Cal., box 221.
The post-office address of Bro. Geo. R. Drew is 16 Rodney St., Birkenhead, Cheshire, Eng.
The Editor of the Signs has been invited to assist in dedicating the Seventh-day Adventist house of worship in Ferndale, Humboldt Co., Cal. We can attend if it is deferred to Feb. 3. On account of our absence to attend the meeting at Healdsburg we cannot leave the office sooner. We expect the dedication will be Feb. 3, at 2 P. M.
The many friends of Dr. W. P. Burke, in California, will be pleased to hear that he is well, and pursuing his studies in the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. It is a first-class school, and we congratulate him on his situation.
An extended report of the late meeting in Healdsburg is at hand, which we would be much pleased to have in this number of the Signs, but it was received after the pages were stereotyped. This and some other matter we have been compelled to lay over a week.
We have received the first of a proposed series of articles, and the writer says that if it is not understood future numbers will make it clear. We cannot publish anything with the expectation that it will be made clear to the reader at some future time.
Dr. Dio Lewis is undoubtedly a man of much ability, but we cannot commend his discretion in consenting to discuss with John B. Finch, the advocate of prohibition. Finch is a young man, but he has the strong side, and he understands it.