THE following is condensed from the various churches as far as heard from. We are sorry that the report is not complete, but are gratified to see the increased interest over a year ago. We are encouraged to see that our brethren are becoming aroused to the dangers around us, and to the fulfilling of Revelation 13, which is now just before us. Counter petitions to the Blair Bills now before Congress have been circulated quite largely in the short time since the blanks were placed in the hands of the solicitors. There also seems to have been quite a general effort made to get nearer to the Lord.
SACRAMENTO.
From this company Brother W. A. Blakely reports a good meeting, notwithstanding very rainy weather. The attendance was good, all taking part in the social meeting. The Christmas exercises were not held, on account of rain. The offerings amounted to $32.
HEALDSBURG.
From Healdsburg Brother R. S. Owen writes that the meetings during the week of prayer were well attended and of good interest. The church is greatly revived and an excellent spirit prevails. The meetings were expected to continue a week longer. The amount of donations to foreign missions was $332.25 in cash besides considerable jewelry.
ARROYO GRANDE.
Sister J. A. Owen reports that they have cause for gratitude for the blessings of the week of prayer. The friends of the truth are few here. Only five or six were members of the partially organized church at the beginning of the meetings, and bitter enmity to the truth exists throughout the community. Four new ones have signed the covenant, some of whom are cases of special interest. The donations were $13.25.
FERNDALE.
Brother Brown writes from this place that the week of prayer and fast was a great blessing to them one and all, and before the week was out, old and young were anxious to give of their means to help carry on the Lord's work. The church has become few in number, and with two exceptions are all poor; hence, he says, their small amount. But they are glad that God will accept according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. The amount was $111.65.
NORWALK.
From this place Brother G. K. Owen writes that they met each day at six o'clock P. M., which gave time for instruction in Bible work, and in other branches where needed, as well as time for the regular readings, and prayer and social meetings. He was thankful to see a greater separation from the world and a drawing nearer to the Lord. Thirty-two dollars were given to foreign missions, and $13 were paid into the Los Angeles Mission. Many were kept away by reason of the rainy weather. There were five hundred and thirty names obtained to the petition against the Blair Bill.
STOCKTON.
Brother Hutchinson reports excellent meetings at Stockton. Some of the company have moved away, and divisions had crept into the church. But the Spirit of the Lord came in, and all hearts were melted down by its presence, and all differences put away. The Sabbath meeting was one of great blessing, lasting five and one-half hours. The outside interest is good. Christmas offerings were $25.
ST. HELENA.
Brother Fulton writes that the meetings of this church were held at the Health Retreat, and were exceptionally good from the first. In the beginning of the meetings a spirit of confession came in, and more of the Spirit of God was manifested than he had seen there for a long time. They desire more of the same work. Their Christmas exercises, varied from the regular program, were of interest, the patients and boarders at the Retreat taking part. The amount given was $264.25.
OAKLAND.
THE good meetings begun some weeks ago by Elder E. P. Daniels, who left December 13 for Woodland, continued throughout the week of prayer, and the evidences show that the work is not a superficial one. It has extended throughout the whole church, and has led to such a consecration of heart and life and all to God as has not been seen for many years among our people. And this, while more fully seen among the young, has not been confined to them. Our older brethren and sisters are praising God for victories gained. But the work among the youth, especially the employees in the office, has been a cause of much rejoicing. Many had held a nominal connection with the church, but knew nothing of real conversion to God; some had backslidden, and others had never made a profession; but nearly all are now rejoicing in the light of God's smile, justified by his grace.
The fast-days were days of victory to many. The last Sabbath, December 22, a praise service was held, which was indeed a service of praise. In the forenoon a Bible-reading was given, which presented many of the reasons and injunctions for praise, and the precious privilege God has given us of being able to praise him at all times. In the afternoon some eighty testimonies, interspersed with singing, were given in fifty minutes, when it was found necessary to divide the meeting, in order to give all an opportunity to speak. From ten to sixteen were on their feet at the same time waiting to testify. The meeting then closed before some had spoken, who would have spoken had they had time, and yet the testimonies were not long or prosy. Victories over habits which had had the mastery for years were achieved, the power of sin was broken, through the strength of grace divine, and hearts were made glad through being renewed. The Christmas exercises were of interest. The donations were $1,000.28(Concluded on page 30.)
SANTA ANA.
Brother Briggs writes from Santa Ana that the week of prayer was carefully observed, and that the solemn and timely admonitions contained in the readings seem to have had a deep and beneficial effect. He also preached seven times to good audiences. The Christmas program was, with slight variations, carried out; and although more than half the crops of this part of the State have been destroyed by insects, the donations amounted to $39.
ROCKLIN.
Brother A. J. Morton and wife were with the little company (only three sisters) of Sabbath keepers at this place during the week of prayer. All the readings were given except the last, which was prevented by unforeseen circumstances. One public meeting was held, and the United States in the light of prophecy presented. Eighty names to the petition against the Blair Bill were obtained. The three sisters here maintain Sabbath meetings, and until quite recently missionary meetings. These they promised to resume, and also to take a club of SIGNS for missionary purposes. Their donations to foreign missions aggregated $12.75.
WOODLAND.
Brother Daniels reports from Woodland that they had a very interesting meeting on Christmas, not only to the church, but to those not of our faith. The light-house was made much more effective in impressing the children's minds with the lesson designed to be taught, by lowering the lights in the room. Elder Loughborough gave a brief but interesting description of the different light-houses which he had seen in his thirty-two thousand miles of ocean travel. Few gifts were made between friends and relatives. It seemed to the brethren that every dollar in these times should be given, every nerve should be taxed, every energy should be devoted, for the one sole object of erecting light-houses along the highways of life, and set in them the lamp of eternal truth to light the benighted millions who are now in darkness. The donations were $160.65.
SAN FRANCISCO.
Brother St. John writes that meetings were held each evening, and at 12 o'clock noon on each of the two fast-days. All were well attended, with the exception of two evening meetings, which were hindered by rain. The meetings consisted of readings, prayer, and testimony. Many of these meetings were characterized by much humiliation and confession. Some were much profited, and all who attended seemed to take courage, and there were earnest expressions of a determination to get just right in the sight of God, and to labor more unselfishly in the spread of the last message of mercy. The shortness of time was felt by all. The furnished program for December 24 was followed in the main. The sum of $113.52, together with considerable jewelry, was deposited in the light-house.
SELMA.
Brother Cook, who was with the Selma church during the week of prayer, writes that the meetings were very profitable. Nearly all came throughout the week. The Lord appeared to especially bless the fast-day services.
Freedom was felt in seeking God that the winds of strife might be held till the sealing work was completed. Many good confessions were made, followed by the peace of God. The meetings and preaching were timely and encouraging, as the church was hungering for the word, not having had preaching for nearly two years. Vigorous canvass was made for petitions against the Blair Bill. The holiday offerings amounted to $76, $13 of which was given by the children. They thought it would be better to give it to the cause of Jesus than to spend it for toys and sweetmeats. If all money used in this way by our children was put into the cause of Christ, it would amount to thousands of dollars. Shall we not educate our children to sacrifice?
SANTA ROSA.
Brother Ings reports that the readings for the week of prayer, with extracts from the Testimonies, were helpful in leading this church to see the necessity of seeking God more earnestly. As opportunity was given, confessions were made and deep contrition was manifested by some, and it is believed that a thorough work was done for those who sought the Lord with true repentance. The occasion of making the offerings to the Lord was a very profitable one. Remarks were made relative to the work in Europe, texts of Scripture were repeated fitting for the occasion, and appropriate songs were sung by the children; and as the hymn, "Bringing in the Sheaves," was sung, offerings were made to the amount of $43.15. A canvass for petitions against the Blair Bill was made among the leading men of the town, and nearly all signed the petition. The canvass is still progressing favorably.
SAN DIEGO.
Brother Thurston writes that it was thought at first that this church, owing to its scattered condition, could not meet during the week of prayer, but after considering the matter it was decided to meet both forenoon and afternoon of each day. The attendance was better than the brethren had dared to hope, in view of the many hindrances. What was better than all, those who attended came to seek God. Confessions were made, and a goodly number were enabled by faith to grasp and appropriate to themselves the promises of God, and rejoice in a knowledge of sins forgiven and acceptance with God. This enabled them to engage with heart in the praise service the following Sabbath. The inclemency of the weather prevented a large attendance at the Christmas exercises; but the donations amounted to $109.70, besides some jewelry. More will probably be added. The exercises were simple but instructive; and the happy faces of old and young indicated that all felt that it was more blessed to give than to receive.
The Missionary.
By William M. Healey
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I SPENT the first Sabbath of the week of prayer with the church in San Pasqual, San Diego County. There seemed to be a desire on the part of the church to go forward in the cause; but we know God has blessings for this church, if they will step fully out in faith and duty, that few of its members know anything of. The following Monday we spent with the church at Santa Ana, Los Angeles County. Brother Briggs was here and continued with them through the week, while I drove up to Norwalk and met with Brother Owen and the church on Tuesday and Wednesday at Los Angeles, and continued there until after Christmas. A heavy rain-storm interfered much with the last few days of our meetings in this part of the State. But from all I have seen and heard, I am confident much good has been done. We raised $100 at Los Angeles for foreign missions, and have some over $100 promised for the Los Angeles Mission. The program of exercises we carried out in full, although it was only received one week before. We would suggest that a program for next season be completed earlier, so that more practice and thought can be given to it.
Since my last report from San Diego, three have been baptized and several have signed the covenant. Brother and Sister Thurston will be with the church there during my absence. We learn they had good meetings through the week of prayer.
In company with Brother Briggs, we are holding meetings with the Santa Ana church. The cause here is much in need of a house of worship. The brethren are much scattered, but there is a goodly company when they all get together, which they have made considerable effort to do, and we have felt that the Lord has been with us. W. M. HEALEY. Santa Ana, Cal., December 31, 1888.
BURR VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.
By John Harvey Cook
WE closed our eight days' meeting at Burr Valley December 13. It was truly a good meeting. The Spirit of the Lord came very near. Backsliders were reclaimed, sinners were converted, and God's people were greatly encouraged. To the Lord will we give all the praise! It seems that the good Spirit is making more earnest effort than ever before to win the hearts of the people. Many have yielded. The same good work is going on at Lemoore. God is moving his people wonderfully, and many are awakening and trimming their lamps; but some sleep on. Are we not having the advanced showers of the latter rain? J. H. COOK.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE ROCK.
By L. L. Robinson
APART in the busy school-room, with head bent low, and slowly moving finger, sat little Elice Grey, all absorbed in study.
Suddenly she paused, and over the expressive countenance flashed a quick, bright ray, as though some hidden chord within were answering gladly some touch without. Quickly the curly head was lifted, and then the soft blue eyes, looking straight before them, neither to the right nor the left, revealed that they were sightless.
It was thus that Elice had come into the world, bringing her tiny cross that was to grow with her growth, and never be lifted, till the light of another world should break on the yearning eyes. And, as though dwelling ever under the shadow of that cross, the fair, sweet face bore trace of thought, deep and earnest, such as childhood rarely knows.
A slender slip of a girl, it was not strange that often in the merry game she wearied sooner than others, and at such times, stealing quietly away, or whispering to someone near, "Lead me, please, to a safe place," she would sit listening to the unhappy sounds, ever patient and uncomplaining.
And all the little friends well knew what Elice meant by "a safe place." With the idea of security, she had ever seemed to associate that of greatness and strength; and when, with outstretched hand, she groped her darkened way, instinctively she seemed to seek some lofty tree, or sheltering wall, against which to rest, assured, as she often said, that no harm could befall her while thus upheld.
But it was in the buzzing school-room that now she sat, her finger moving slowly over the raised letters of the book before her, when the quickly lifted countenance, brightened by that light within, attracted the attention of her teacher.
"What is it, Elice?" she asked, as though the sightless eyes had spoken.
"Oh, Miss Agnes," said the little one, eagerly, "please tell me, were these words written by a little blind girl?" and rapidly she read the letters, "L-e-a-d m-e t-o t-h-e R-o-c-k t-h-a-t i-s h-i-g-h-e-r t-h-a-n I."
"No, dear," answered the teacher, "they were not written by a blind girl, but a great and powerful king. Why do you ask?"
"Because," said Elice, slowly, "I thought no one but a weak little blind girl could feel that longing. It is just what I am always reaching out to find, something taller and stronger than I, against which to rest and feel safe."
"Well, perhaps, dear," replied the teacher, gently caressing the drooping head, "perhaps King David, though not blind in the way you mean, may yet have felt something of that same longing. There are times when even those blessed with sight and strength are blinded by sin or sorrow, and they, too, reach out for a strong, sure shelter against which to lean and feel safe. This is why God calls himself our Rock of defense, so much stronger, so much higher than we, that under its protecting care safety and rest are found."
The teacher passed on, but Elice still sat wrapped in thought, her slender finger still moving lingeringly over the letters.
"The Rock that is higher than I," she repeated softly; "surely little children who can see their way and are never afraid cannot feel these words as I do. Whatever the good teacher may think, I believe God wrote them just for his blind children, for who else has need to be led as we?"
The bell for dismissal had sounded, and the children had filed out before Elice roused from her reverie; with unerring neatness she arranged her little desk; then, quite alone, started homeward.
The roadway leading into the little town was a shaded lane thoroughly familiar to the unguided feet; but, absorbed in thought this afternoon, Elice walked dreamily and less guardedly than was her wont. Suddenly a harsh voice recalled her.
"Why don't you look where you are going, child, and not walk into one, as if you were dreaming?"
The startled child stopped quickly, with that nervous outreaching of the little hand, the first impulse when frightened, and immediately it came in contact with what she knew to be the form of a woman seated on the roadside.
"Excuse me, please," said the gentle little voice, with its pathetic ring of sadness; "I cannot look where I am going, because I am blind."
The sightless eyes were lifted a moment to the face beside her, and over the latter swept a sudden shade of remorse.
"Blind, child?" she repeated more gently; "I would never have guessed it, or I would have moved out of your way—but," she added, with an accent of passionate pain, "I, too, am blind, blind, blind."
The little one at her side started again, as though frightened by the vehemence of the tone. "Blind," she repeated, with tenderest sympathy; "you blind, too?" and instinctively her hand reached out and grasped the one near her. "Ah, I see," she continued, unconsciously using the familiar figure of speech, "I see; you have no one to lead you, and perhaps have lost your way."
"Yes, yes," said the other, slowly, as though speaking to herself, but with that same desolate pain ringing through her words; "lost, that is it; I have strayed far, and lost my way."
"Then do let me lead you," said the child, looking earnestly into the face she could not see; "though I am blind, I know every step of the way here, and I will lead you home."
Into the weary, haggard eyes beside her, with the sound of that word, sprang hot, rushing tears, such as had not moistened their depths for many a day.
"You lead me, little one," she said, brokenly; "you are too young, too small and weak."
"Ah, I see, I know," cried the child again, with that same bright light once more illuminating her face. "I understand just how you feel; you want something tall and strong against which to lean, just like that poor, sad king, who said, 'Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.' You are so afraid of stumbling or falling; isn't that it?" she cried, eagerly.
The unhappy wayfarer was gazing upon the glowing countenance of the child beside her with something of deepening awe, as though listening to an angel speaking, and wonderingly now came the words from her quivering lips:—
"Yes, yes, child, that is it—something stronger, higher than I to save me from stumbling and falling. But," she cried with sudden anguish, "you cannot understand—it is not my eyes that are darkened, but my heart, my soul, that is blinded with sin and sorrow!"
Once more that kindling intelligence flashed over the child's pure face.
"Oh, is that it?" she said quickly, "and is not that just what my teacher said to-day? She knows all about it; it is God, then, that you want. He is the strong, sure Rock for all his children blinded as you are. Oh, come, do come with me! She is still in the school-room. I will lead you to her, and I know, I know she will show you the rest of the way!"
The little hand was grasping with eager strength the one within its clasp; and as though impelled by some irresistible power, the poor wanderer arose and obeyed the pleading voice. Down the shaded lane they passed, the blind child carefully choosing her steps as though leading one more blind than she, the little hand, in its spotless purity, never for a moment relinquishing its hold.
In silence they went their way, these two, the face of the one radiant with heavenly joy, that of the other wet with tears that fell unchecked on the faded cheek. In the school-room, busied with her evening tasks, still sat the patient teacher, when suddenly in the door-way stood those strange companions.
"She said she was blind, and had lost her way, Miss Agnes," said the child's sweet voice, "so I have brought her to you, for I knew you could help her."
And turning away, Elice slowly retraced her darkened path, little knowing that though weak and blind, she had that day led a wanderer home, to a safe place within "the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land."—L. L. Robinson, in N. Y. Observer.
The Home Circle.
By Mary D. James
COUNT THE MERCIES.
COUNT the mercies! count the mercies!
Number all the gifts of love;
Keep a daily faithful record
Of the comforts from above.
Look at all the lovely green spots
In life's weary desert way;
Think how many cooling fountains
Cheer our fainting heart each day.
Count the mercies! count the mercies!
See them strewn along our way!
Count the mercies, though the trials
Seem to number more each day;
Count the trials, too, as mercies,
Add them to the grand array.
Trials are God's richest blessings,
Sent to prompt our upward flight
As the eagles' nest—all broken,
Makes them fly to loftier heights.
Count them mercies, count them mercies,
That bring Heaven within our sight.
Let us number all our jewels,
Let us estimate their worth;
Let us thank the gracious Giver,
Strewing blessings o'er the earth.
Let our hearts o'erflow with gladness,
Let us tell the wonders o'er,
Till our multiplying treasures
Seem a countless, boundless store.
Then let praises, grateful praises,
Be our language evermore.
—Mary D. James, in the Moravian.
ADVICE FOR TWO.
THAT quality of intimacy which breaks down all the barriers to politeness should never be tolerated. Young wives and husbands cannot be too strongly reminded of the probable shipwreck they will make of their happiness if they yield to that ill-temper which exposes itself in discourtesy, want of compliance, unnecessary opposition, and, above all, that most disastrous amusement of "nagging" and creating a quarrel.
Hundreds of homes have gone wrong for the mere want of checking, in time, the habit of annoying, as a relief to a momentary feeling of irritation or discomfort. The wife who gets in the way of contradicting or checking her husband, of opposing him in small things and standing out in large ones; the husband who is sneering, contemptuous, and fault-finding—perhaps neither side knowing the whole extent of its folly, but just giving way to it as more easy than to fight and conquer it—these young people are doing their best to dig the grave of their married peace; and some day poor, pale, fainting, little love will fall into it, stark and plumeless, and will never rise again.
In the beginning, these tiffs and confabs are made up with a kiss from her to cement the reconciliation. By and by these tiffs get more and more acrid, and the reconciliation is less warm. By still further time this never comes at all, and things get into that chronic state when there is never an open breach and never a formal healing, but an ever-widening rift and a never-ending coolness. Then the two live ajar, and grind like rusty hinges—locks which misfit the slot—wheels where the axle is stiff—or anything else which should work together in harmony and smoothness, but which for want of care to keep the adjustment exact—perhaps for want of oil to the joints—creaks and chafes and hangs and does not fit—to the annoyance of the by-standers, the grief of the family, and the disgust of all beholders. The end is not far to seek. "Therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with."
—Selected.
The Ostrowskia Magnifica
ONE of the most recent discoveries is a plant of the Campanulaceæ, or order of bell-flowers. It produces a stem reaching five feet in height, and the flowers, arranged along this stem, are over six inches in diameter. These huge bells are of a pale lavender color, as showy as they are monstrous. Begel, the botanist of St. Petersburg, seems to be the first to have taken note of it, and that it is wholly new to science; so it has been named by him for a Russian patron of science, Mr. Ostrowsky. Ostrowskia magnifica, as it is now to be, was discovered in Bokhara in 1884; but it has already found its way into cultivation in European gardens.
The Meaning of Ease
By S. S. Times
EASE signifies waste power, or, at least, strength unused. Generally, he who does anything easily is doing less than his best. Not until we feel the burden of overcoming a difficulty can we know that we are doing as well as we might do. It were better to have it said that you write well than that you write easily; for though you may write comparatively well with comparative ease, it would be a greater achievement to write better with comparative difficulty.—S. S. Times.
Health and Temperance.
DANGER IN BEEF.
WE pointed out recently the new danger to health that had arisen from the habit of dealers in coffee, pepper, butter, cheese, lard, and other largely consumed foods, of adulterating the adulterants they admit using, and which were comparatively harmless. Another and still graver peril threatens our people, and one that can only be guarded against by the use of the most painstaking precautions. This constant menace to human life has been formulated by Dr. Huidekoper, chief of the veterinary school of the University of Pennsylvania, in the statement that nearly one-half of the deaths from consumption in this country are the direct result of eating tuberculous beef.
While it is not asserted that every person eating the flesh or drinking the milk of tuberculous animals becomes diseased, it is true that if the patient happens to be susceptible to a certain class of ailments, either through inheritance or any other predisposing cause, the microbe finds all the conditions necessary for its multiplication and activity. So great an authority as Dr. Austin Flint has said: "It is probable that a person with an inherited tendency to consumption would never develop the disease if he could be absolutely protected against infection with the 'tubercle bacillus;' but once infected, the bacteria multiply and produce the characteristic signs and symptoms."—Frank Leslie's.
VALUE OF PURE WATER FOR THE KIDNEYS.
NATURE's safe cure for kidney diseases—and many others—is strictly purified water. So important to health is strict purity in water that it may be reasonably presumed that one of the causes of the remarkable increase of kidney complaints is in the increasing impurity of water consequent upon our multiplying population, manufactures, etc. Says Prof. Charles Mayr:—
"Of the thousands of chemical compounds and waste products formed in the human system, many require pure water for their solution and elimination; and water so overloaded with salts, etc., as average well water will not work satisfactorily. . . . Those who have never drunk pure water do not realize what an effect such water has upon the kidneys; its effect is better than that of acetates, nitrates, opiates, or alcohol, and for people with tendency to kidney disease or dropsy there is no better remedy than pure water."—Sanitary Era.
CURING WEAK EYES.
Bathe your eyes daily in salt water—not salt enough, though, to cause a smarting sensation. Nothing is more strengthening, and we know several persons who after using this simple tonic for a few weeks have put aside the spectacles they had used for years, and did not resume them, continuing, of course, the oft-repeated daily use of salt water. Never force your eye-sight by reading or working in insufficient or too broad light. Reading with the sun upon one's book is very injurious to the eyes.—Exchange.
CARE OF THE SKIN.
PEOPLE do not generally understand that the skin shares in the function of respiration, and that if this is interfered with death is apt to ensue; though this is due not so much to asphyxia as to some form of blood-poisoning caused by the constituents of the perspiration being re-absorbed into the blood. A striking illustration of the necessity of leaving the skin open to some extent to the action of air is afforded by the fact that a child who was coated with gum and then covered with gold-leaf, to represent a cherub at the coronation of Pope Leo X., died a few hours after the operation. A similiar fate nearly befell Gustave Doré in the days of his youth, when a passing caprice made him go to a fancy ball as "Un Monsieur Doré;" but as in his case the gilding was only partial, he survived, though he did not escape a sharp illness.—Hospital.
WANTED TO QUIT EARLY.
By New York Observer
A MINISTER of the gospel in England was asked by a number of workingmen to go to their employer and arrange with him that they should stop work earlier on Saturday. The answer was in the affirmative, with this stipulation, that they begin work on Monday morning. Upon inquiry the interceder found that on the previous Monday one hundred and twenty-seven of these men had not been at work, fifty of them were not at work on Tuesday, and it was Wednesday before they all made a start for the week. Strong drink was the cause, and the new arrangement was not carried through because of the drink.—New York Observer.
Cold Applications and Digestion
Dr. Chudnowski recently experimented on twelve Russian soldiers with a view to discovering the effect of cold applications to the epigastrium on the rapidity of digestion. Each soldier regaled heartily; his epigastrium was properly refrigerated, and the exciting contest began. Unfortunately for lovers of the weed, the competitors were divided into smokers and non-smokers. The rival teams digested their very hardest, but the non-smokers out-distanced the others by the space of one hour.—Happy Hints.
Cats and Diphtheria
The British Medical Journal mentions a report made to the Central Board of Health of Melbourne, Australia, describing an outbreak of diphtheria in which the cases occurred almost simultaneously in the neighborhood of Daylesford. The local health officer's report presents strong prima facie evidence that the children contracted the disease from cats, numbers of which animals were dying in the neighborhood.
Poisoning from Clams
SEVERAL persons, in Berkeley, this State, were poisoned a few days ago by eating clams dug near the mouth of a sewer. Two of the men have died, the others may recover. Clams are at best totally unfit for food. As shown by this incident, they are among the most filthy of scavengers, living on the most vile and poisonous matter.
Removing Vegetable Stains
THE best solvent for vegetable stains is tartaric acid. Keep a small bottle containing it near the wash basin, to be used on the hands when stained by handling vegetables.
SECULAR.
By Editor
—The new electrical process for refining sugar proves now to have been a fraud.
—The members of the Servian Ministry have tendered their resignations to King Milan.
—There is said to be great destitution among Norwegian settlers in Dakota Territory.
—January 4, seven skaters were drowned in the Ludwig Canal, at Hamburg, Germany.
—The decrease in the public debt during the month of December, 1888, was over $14,000,000.
—On the night of the 3d inst. 43 horses, 70 cattle, and 20 hogs were burned in a large barn at Schuyler, Neb.
—Floods are doing a great deal of damage in Italy. Twelve persons were killed in one house which collapsed.
—The feeling in Hayti against Americans is said to be very bitter. It is thought that their lives and property are unsafe.
—Col. John C. Dent, brother-in-law of Gen. Grant, died at his home in Carthage, Mo., on the 1st inst., at the age of seventy-three.
—Seven persons were drowned at Ripley, Ohio, on the 31st ult. by the capsizing of a boat in which they attempted to cross the river.
—The great engineers' strike on the Burlington road has been settled. The loss both to the road and to the strikers has been heavy.
—A Buffalo, N. Y., man has invented a new life-saving car which will, it is said, be of great service in rescuing persons from wrecked vessels.
—A passenger train was blown from the rails near Fiumi, Hungary, on the 5th inst. Three persons were killed and a large number were injured.
—Severe earthquake shocks were felt on the 3d inst. in Kohjend and Kastakos, Russia. Buildings were thrown down, and a number of people were killed.
—January 4th the striking coal heavers at Duluth, Minn., attacked a gang of Italian laborers who were guarded by the police. There was a sharp fight, but the attacking party was driven off by the free use of clubs.
—A dispatch from Bulgaria says that the Government has signed a contract with Krupp for 1,000,000 francs' worth of shells, and is negotiating with the same manufacturer for the purchase of eighty new batteries.31
—Mrs. Lucy Parsons, the colored wife of one of the men executed a year ago last November, made a speech in Chicago on the 30th ult. The police did not interfere.
—Famine and drought are causing much suffering in the interior of China. In the province of Shan Tung the crops have been destroyed by the overflow of the Yellow River.
—The estimated output of the Colorado gold and silver mines for 1888 was $26,061,546, of which $3,105,519 is gold, $17,025,628 is silver, $5,776,552 is lead, and $153,847 copper.
—At his inauguration on the 3d inst. Governor Luce, of Michigan, devoted a considerable portion of his address to the temperance question. He advocated the passage of a local option law.
—Norristown, Pa., was the scene of a disastrous dynamite explosion on the 2d inst. Two young men who were engaged in mixing the ingredients for the explosive were literally blown to pieces.
—Two kegs of blasting powder were ignited at Everson, Pa., on the night of December 30th, by a spark from the pipe of a careless smoker. Seven men were frightfully injured by the explosion.
—On the night of January 3d a number of dock strikers at West Superior, Wis., attacked and unmercifully beat with clubs ten Scandinavians who had accepted the reduction of wages made by several coal companies.
—The Italian Government has launched a new war ship. The vessel is called the Roumberto, and her displacement is 13,298 tons, or 1,358 tons more than the Trafalgar and the Nile, England's two largest war vessels.
—Twenty-seven persons were killed and as many more badly injured by an explosion in a Spanish coal mine on the 4th inst. The disaster will cause much suffering among the poor people, and they will have to have assistance.
—A London dispatch of the 3d inst. says that the ship Loch Eck, from San Francisco via Queenstown, for Hull, stranded at Donna Hook, mouth of the Humber, where she threw overboard 100 tons of her cargo, after which she floated.
—Kronek, the Chicago Anarchist, convicted of conspiring to assassinate with dynamite Inspector Bonfield and Judges Gary and Grinnell, was, on the 2d inst., refused a new trial and was sentenced to twelve years in the penitentiary.
—The joint committees of the Northern and Southern Presbyterian Churches concluded their conference at New York on the 1st inst., without a definite result as to the union of the two bodies. Another meeting will be held at Atlanta in April.
—On the night of the 4th inst. a party of White Caps attacked a house near West Jefferson, Ohio, but met a determined man, and a double-barreled shot-gun charged with buck-shot, and were repulsed with several of their number seriously wounded.
—Late advices from Samoa by way of New Zealand state that a German man-of-war lost twenty men killed and thirty wounded out of a party of 120 men, who went to assist Tamasese against Mataafa. The Germans were compelled to retreat to their boats.
—The steamer Robilant, one of the largest cargo carriers afloat, recently sailed from New Orleans for Liverpool with the biggest cargo that ever left that port. It was valued at $600,000, and consisted of 5,682,283 pounds of cotton and 32,028 bushels of corn.
—In his annual message on the 3d inst. Governor Ames, of Massachusetts, advises an early submission to the people of a prohibition amendment, and advocates increased penalties for violating the liquor laws. He thinks it wise to substitute imprisonment for fine in such cases.
—Again United States troops are removing would-be settlers from Oklahoma Territory. Springer City, a town of 3,000 inhabitants, is under martial law. Advices from Kansas City under date of January 5 were to the effect that bloodshed was probable, as many of the settlers were reckless characters.
—Fourteen passengers on a snow-bound railroad train in Russia were recently frozen to death before relief could reach them, and a party attempting to rescue them almost perished. December 27, 175 persons were frozen to death in a single district. The Black, Azov, and Caspian Seas are frozen.
—A bill has been introduced into Congress which provides that in all national elections the payment of money for the vote of any person shall be unlawful, and the person violating the law shall, upon conviction, be disfranchised for not less than six years nor more than ten, and during the said period be disqualified to hold any office of trust or profit under the United States. It ought to become a law.
—It is asserted by a San Domingo paper that a citizen of this country has, through United States Consul Astwood, made a proposition to the Dominican Government for the exhibition in this country of the bones of Christopher Columbus. To the credit of the officials of our sister republic the proposition was indignantly rejected, Minister Figuero saying that the Dominican republic had too much self-respect to give to the world a spectacle of such an unworthy nature, and that the Government considered the interference of a United States officer in this matter a public scandal.
The Soul’s Communion with God
THE soul can converse freely with God, and it can find God anywhere if it apply in prayer. God's thoughts are flashing from the stars, printed on the flowers, chanted by the birds, repeated by the seasons; but the sweetest expression is in those beautiful verses of the Bible, mottoed on the memory. In the solitary hour we can make our thoughts flow with God's thought. Such intercourse with our Lord is our highest happiness.