"MEN'S hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." Luke 21:26.
—A fire at Emporium, Pa., Feb. 22, destroyed $10,000 worth of property, burning several frame buildings.
—The extensive glue factory of Wahl Bros., Chicago, was entirely destroyed by fire, Feb. 22; loss about $350,000; insurance, about $86,000. Three hundred men are thrown out of employment. The factory was the largest in the West.
—A cargo of coal in the hold of the British ship Hoogley, at Harrison-street wharf, was discovered to be burning on Saturday afternoon last. An engine was sent for, and after four hours of pumping succeeded in extinguishing the fire.—S. F. Chronicle, Feb. 23.
A BRITISH STEAMER LOST.
LONDON, Feb. 26.—Intelligence has been received here that the steamer Hongkong, from this place for Japan, foundered off the island of Tenria. Nineteen persons are reported saved; six are known to have been drowned, and eighteen are missing.
SEVERE STORM ON THE ATLANTIC.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—Incoming vessels report that about a week ago a wind of great violence, amounting to a hurricane, prevailed all along the coast, and disasters and shipwrecks were the consequence. Vessels were driven about for days at the mercy of the winds, all losing spars or other gearing, and the crews were badly frozen. The bark Annie Maude sailed from Liverpool December the 12th, and has not since been heard from, and it is feared she is lost. A number of other vessels are due.
—An Idaho paper says: "There are said to be droves of cattle along Snake river famishing with thirst as well as hunger. The river being frozen over they can get no drink, and many of them venture out to the air holes, break through the ice, under which they are carried down by the current, and are seen no more.
TERRIBLE TORNADO IN MISSOURI.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24.—A tornado passed over Pettis County yesterday, destroying several dwellings. The storm was only one hundred and fifty yards wide, but was terrific in its power. A freight train was hurled from the track at Housatana, and some cars were carried a distance of one hundred yards. W. H. Porter was mortally wounded, and Dr. Williams had several ribs broken; he will probably die. Several others were more or less injured. The loss of property is about $40,000.
A DESTRUCTIVE FRESHET IN KENTUCKY.
KNOXVILLE, (Ky)., February 25.—The river is four feet above low water mark and is rising eight inches per hour. It is now five feet below the great flood of 1867. Atkins’ planing-mill and factory, and many houses have been destroyed, and the weather is still threatening, with a prospect of a considerable rise from the Upper Holstein and the French broad rivers and their tributaries. The gas-works are under water, and there have been several heavy slides and washes on the railroad. Two spans of the bridge over the Hiawasse are gone and more damage is apprehended. Mills in all directions have been swept away.
THE FLOOD IN TENNESSEE.
KNOXVILLE, February 26.—The most destructive freshet for years has visited East Tennessee. The bridge over the Hiawasse river on the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad is gone, and the mails were not received yesterday. It will probably be a week before the trains are running again. The Tennessee river has thirty-eight feet of water and is still rising. Bridges, mills, barns, and houses have been swept away by the flood. The Knoxville gas works are submerged and the city was in darkness last night. The losses in the city and country are large.
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD IN THE SCHUYLKILL.
PHILADELPHIA, February 26.—The ice on the Schuylkill, at Manayunk, broke up yesterday afternoon. During the night the river rose rapidly 25 feet above the usual hight, and only four feet below the highest point ever reached, submerging all of the houses in the lower part of the town, and forcing the occupants to abandon them and their contents. The gas-works were overflowed, the streets were in darkness, and all the mills except one suspended, throwing at least 2,000 persons out of employment.
COMMUNISM IN CHICAGO.
The Communists of Chicago have for some time assumed a threatening attitude. On the 24th they became more violent than usual, and every precaution was taken by the authorities to prevent their obtaining the public arms, and to guard against an uprising. From the S. F. Chronicle reports, we gather that "at their meeting, last night, the Communists indulged in the wildest denunciation and most bloody threats, but the precautions taken by the authorities will probably cool their ardor, and if the leaders persist in their insane folly, they are certain to be arrested and confined before night."
THE MOB IN FORCE.
CHICAGO, February 25.—A mob of about 2,000 people, composed chiefly of Communists, have assembled at the corner of Randolph and La Salle streets, in the vicinity of the offices of the Relief and Aid Society. The most intense excitement prevails among the crowd. With the exception of a few stones thrown, no violence has been attempted on the part of the mob. A large police force is on hand, and the command relative to keeping the neighborhood of the Relief Society clear is being strictly enforced. Further demonstrations are expected during the afternoon.
The firm, decided tone of the Mayor, who assured them that no violence would be tolerated or permitted, has thus far prevented an outbreak. But the element is a dangerous one, and by no means confined to Chicago.
THE ACAPULCO MASSACRE.
Six of the survivors of the massacre in the Protestant chapel in Acapulco have arrived in San Francisco on the Colima and have taken quarters at the National Hotel, on Pacific street. Their narrative of the massacre agrees substantially with that already given by the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson. They further aver that the Roman Catholics of Acapulco presented a petition to Diego Alvarez, the Governor of the province, asking that he should use his authority to prevent the opening of any more places of Protestant worship in the city. This Alvarez promised to do. Justo Denada, the Roman Catholic pastor of Acapulco, they say, furnished the assassins full forgiveness of sin and 200 days indulgence for every Protestant they killed. Four men and one woman were killed in the church, and a large number wounded.—Chronicle.
Happiness Is Home-Made
Show may be easily purchased; but happiness is a home-made article.
Sources of Happiness in City and Country
Every condition of life has its advantages and its peculiar sources of happiness. It is not the houses and the streets which make the city, but those who frequent them; it is not the acres which make the country, but those who cultivate them.
Sensible and Suggestive.
THE London Dietetic Reformer quotes the following graphic sketch drawn by the Baboo Prota Clumder Mozoomdar, of Calcutta, at a meeting at Exeter Hall, London :
“I am a Hindoo. I come from the banks of the sacred river Ganges. My forefathers were peaceful and progressive men. When they were hungry, they did not kill the beasts of the wilderness or the fowls of the air, but they satisfied their hunger with herbs and fruits; and when they were thirsty they did not open large casks of brandy, but quenched their thirst from the simple streams of our rivers. But the nations of the West have introduced into our land those two mighty powers of modern civilization—grog and gunpowder. Before the god of gunpowder the physical liberties of my countrymen have made an unconditional surrender; before the terrible god of alcohol, the moral nature of my countrymen is now about to be offered as a sacrifice. For this state of things who is responsible? I am ready to accord to your people credit—great credit—for the noble reforms and the nobler civilization which you have introduced among us, but I am the last man to withhold from you the discredit of the modern and Western evils which you have introduced along with that of civilization.”
-Health Reformer.
Spiritual Opiates.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THE Sabbath Recorder has the following sensible article on modern sermons:—
"The Arabs in the East stamp on their lozenges of opium the words Mash Allah—the gift of God. Too many of our modern sermons—too many of our Sabbath School recitations—all of which we somewhat ostentatiously call God's gifts, are only spiritual opiates for those who receive them. They lull the soul into lower satisfactions than God ever intended. It seems to be a growing policy of these latter times to talk altogether of the sweet love of Jesus, and the full grace of a forgiving God. But these are only soporifics to any person who has not yet seen his guilt as a lost sinner before divine law. The true gifts of God, like his goodness, lead to repentance. Oh, I do believe that what is more wanted in all our conversations at the present day than anything else, is a greater measure of thorough old-fashioned conviction of sin! Men are never so near to Christ as when they feel farthest away. Simon Peter never was so close to Jesus as when he said, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'
It is time to have done with a great part of these soft lozenges of soothing address. Men are lost souls, bound to an awful eternity of woe, unless redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. If one is not ready to accept his Saviour on that basis, let him go on counting the cost till he will, be. We are bidden to 'work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.' God is not always to everybody alike, just—'dear Jesus.' We are exhorted to pray for 'grace whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire!' The devout Psalmist said: 'My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.' Sure we may be of one thing—it is solemn business to join one's self to the Lord Christ. Of all things ever for any mortal on the earth, bound to the bar of judgment and eternal destiny, there is only one thing more serious and awful than to be a Christian; and that one thing is, not to be one."
This is sound Bible truth. This sentimental, song-singing, love-sick talk in our modern revivals is not of God, nor does it lead to genuine conversion.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
The Work Going Forward.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE site, one hundred feet square, for our printing house, in this city, is purchased at a cost of $5,000, and the money paid. Only about $3,000 of the amount subscribed for the publishing fund has been paid. Bro. John Morrison, who subscribed and has paid $1,000, has advanced $2,500 more for a short time, which enables the committee to pay cash down for the site.
What is next wanted, and wanted now, is the payment of subscriptions to enable the committee to return to Bro. Morrison the money he has so liberally advanced, and to go right forward with the building. None are pressed to hire money at high rates of interest, in order to pay their subscriptions now. But those who can raise all, or a part of their subscriptions, are urgently requested to do so without delay. Money packages should be sent to Elder James White, Oakland, Cal. Drafts should be made payable to James White.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
For the Committee.
Walla Walla.
BRO. J. F. Wood writes under date of Feb. 15th, of the state of the cause in Walla Walla, W. T., under the labors of Elder I. D. Van Horn:—
"The work here is gaining ground all the time. We have a beautiful house of worship nearly completed, which we shall dedicate about the first of April. It is the same style as the Napa, Cal., meeting house, only larger. It is 32x46. Total value of the house when finished, with the lot it occupies, is nearly $3,000. It was a great undertaking for us in our weak condition to engage in building such a house, but it was absolutely necessary for the advancement of the cause here, and we went at in faith, believing that the Lord would bless and help, which he has done in a wonderful manner."
"The people here are astonished that we have pushed the enterprise through so successfully. It has arisen, as if by magic. We are watching the cause in California and other places, and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES with interest. We are working and hoping that we shall do all things well, and then meet around the throne above with all the faithful."
"I hope we shall be able to raise means to help the SIGNS, and other missionary objects as soon as we are recovered from present pressure, under which we now labor on account of building. We do not forget that all those things cost somebody something."
Petaluma.
By Editor
We have just received a postal card from Elder Canright, dated at Petaluma, Cal., Feb. 28th, on which he says:—
"I found the way all open here. We spotted the whole town with our bills, put notice in the paper, and had the ministers read it to their people. Well, we had the house packed full, every seat and gallery. I was not very free for some cause. Hope to do better to-night."
"I have a fine place to stop at Bro. Chapman's, and a good chance to exercise, which I improve."
"P. S.—This evening had a full house and good freedom."
Books, Pamphlets, and Tracts Available
By James White
WE design to keep at the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal., a complete assortment of all the Books, Pamphlets and Tracts published at the Review Office, Battle Creek, Michigan.
We shall have Facts for the Times, and Who Changed the Sabbath, soon. J. W.
New Works.
By Editor
LIFE OF WILLIAM MILLER, with likeness. Price, post paid, $1.00.
TESTIMONY TO THE CHURCH Nos. 24 and 25. Price, post paid, 25 cents each.
MIRACULOUS POWERS, revised and enlarged. Price, post paid, 20 cents.
LIFE OF CHRIST, particularly his Temptation in the Wilderness, a most valuable work by Mrs. White. Price, post paid, 15 cents.
These works can be had at this office, or at the quarterly meetings.
Postage
By Editor
☞ NOTICE the remarks on this page under the head of “Postage.”
Doing Business With the Office.
By Editor
1. REMEMBER that the business may be attended to by one who is a stranger to you, who does not know your residence. Give all the information necessary to a complete understanding of the business in hand.
2. In sending the name of a new subscriber, say, "Send the Signs," &c., and place the amount of money sent, if any, opposite the name. If money is sent for a paper already sent, say "credit to" the name.
3. If money is sent by or for any one, to be credited on papers sent to other persons, be sure to tell where and to whom they are sent, otherwise the business will not be correctly done.
We lately received an order to credit a certain sum to a certain person. Not finding the name we entered it on the books and gave the credit. Afterward we were informed that the money was to apply on papers sent to other persons, but we are not informed who those persons are, and of course there is no credit on the papers sent to those persons, and they are liable to be stopped.
We trust all will understand this, and see the necessity of doing business accurately. We are anxious that no mistakes shall occur.
J. H. W.
Modern Revivals.
By James White
MR. HAMMOND, the revivalist, is now operating in San Francisco. His efforts thus far seem to have been confined to the children, from four to fourteen years of age. So far as we can judge, the religion aimed at in these revivals is emotional, or rather sensational. A more thorough work is needed to reform sinners of this degenerate age.
The following from the Chronicle's report of one of the meetings, is one of the many of the same sort which Mr. Hammond relates for the amusement of the young:—
“THE STORY OF THE LITTLE DUCK.
And there was a little wee bit of a duck, only two days old, and its mother was a hen. As soon as the little duck saw some water, it began to toddle along to it just like this. [Here the reverend speaker imitated the waddling of a duck across the stage, amid loud laughter.] Now, children, the little duck knew what was good for him; and now, my dear children, you should take to Jesus like ducks to water.”
This may appear all right to some, but to us it looks rather like trifling with sacred things.
J. H. W.
The Liquor Business in the United States.
By James H. Waggoner
A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Evening Post furnishes the following statement. He says that he has obtained the figures from official documents, and that he has presented them in the following compact form so that even the casual reader may see how large, both absolutely and relatively, the traffic in intoxicating liquors is in this country:
Statistics showing the amount of money spent in the United States for intoxicating liquors during the year 1870, as taken from official records:
Imported and domestic distilled and spirituous liquors ... $1,344,000,000
Brewed and fermented liquors ... 123,000,000
Imported wines ... 15,000,000
Domestic wines ... 5,000,000
Total ... $1,487,000,000
The amount spent for liquor in each State is also given, and it appears that New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois have the unenviable precedence; the investment in the three last named being more than double that in any other, and in New York more than quadruple. The same writer makes a startling comparison deduced from the following figures. In the same year,
The cost of flour and meat was ... $530,000,000
The cost of cotton goods ... 115,000,000
The cost of boots and shoes ... 90,000,000
The cost of clothing ... 70,000,000
The cost of woolen goods ... 60,000,000
The cost of newspapers and job printing ... 40,000,000
Total ... $905,000,000
So that for the above staple articles scarcely two-thirds as much was spent as for intoxicating liquor. We are not, therefore, surprised to learn that there were 140,000 liquor-saloons in the United States, each having (estimated) 40 daily customers, making 5,600,000 drinkers; and that there were 400,000 more persons engaged in the liquor business in the United States than in preaching the Gospel and school-teaching; and from the effects of intoxicating drinks 100,000 are annually sent to prisons, 150,000 to drunkards' graves, and 200,000 children are reduced to want.
And yet liquor dealers insist that government has no right to interfere to prohibit such a nefarious and ruinous traffic. The proper office of government is the protection of its citizens. There are many thousands of helpless women and children, made helpless and suffering by the liquor business, who need to be protected, not to speak of the right of the citizens to cut off this enormous addition to taxation and the expenses of the government. J. H. W.
Business Department.
By Editor
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2 EACH. Mrs Van Every, E T Barlow, W E Lowry, $1 EACH. J H Waggoner.
MISCELLANEOUS. Eddie Bliss 10c, Richard J Tussey 20c, Mrs E R Wood 15c, Mrs M J Maguire 50c; Robert Whalin 50c, Lydia Williams 50c, Mrs Eva A Lee 50c, T O Smith 50c.
California Publishing Fund.
J L James $500, A Friend $400, Jane Rowland $170, J C— $40, S R Vincent $25, Mrs Sarah Vincent $25, M. Severens, $25, Mary R Stem, $10.
Appointments.
By John Norton Loughborough
Elder J. H. Waggoner will speak at the Santa Rosa quarterly meeting, March 6 and 7, at 11 A. M. and 7 P. M. of each day.
Elder James White and Mrs. E. G. White will speak at the San Francisco quarterly meeting, March 6 and 7. Sabbath meetings at 11 A. M. and 1 P. M.; Sunday evening as usual. It is thought best to have a short intermission on the Sabbath. Those who choose can bring lunch.
Quarterly Meetings.
The second State quarterly meeting of the Cal. T. & M. society will be held in district No. 3, with the Napa church, the first Sabbath and first-day in April.
The district quarterly meetings will be held as follows:
District No. 1, with the Petaluma church, March 27 and 28.
District No. 2, at Santa Rosa, March 6 and 7.
District No. 3, in connection with the State quarterly meeting, at Napa, April 3 and 4.
District No. 4, at Vallejo, March 13 and 14.
District No. 5, at Woodland, March 20 and 21.
District No. 6; time and place to be designated in the future.
District No. 7, at Oakland, March 27 and 28.
District No. 9, at San Francisco, March 6 and 7.
It is expected that reports of labor, as designated by the blanks, will be made by the churches in their respective districts. These should be summed up by the district secretary, and forwarded to our State T. & M. secretary, Sr. Lucie Bush, Woodland, so that she can make out her report of the workings of the society for the quarter, except district No. 3, before the State quarterly meeting. It is expected that each district, through its director, will balance all its indebtedness for periodicals, &c., at the time of the State quarterly meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. T. and M. Society.
English Bibles.
By Editor
We will send any of the following English Reference Bibles, by mail, post. paid, at their respective prices:
In ordering, designate the number of the Bible, in the left hand column of this list that you want. Please send in your orders.
☞ ALL money sent by mail to the Signs' office should be in drafts or postal orders, payable to the Signs of the Times, if the sum exceeds $2.00. Sums less than $2.00 can be in currency or postage stamps.
☞ ALL letters on business for the Signs should be addressed "Signs of the Times, Oakland, Cal." Business sent in letters to individuals will be sure to be delayed.
Postage.
By John Norton Loughborough
COMMENCING with January 1, 1875, new regulations were made by the P. O. department relative to newspaper postage. The postage on the papers of all regular subscribers must be paid, by the publishers, at the office where they mail the papers. Many of our trial subscribers have said in ordering the paper that they would "pay the postage." There is no way they can do it now but to remit us a sum equivalent to the postage, as it must be paid here. Some are doing this, as you will notice by the receipts of small sums in this number. Others may do the same, if they choose to do so. J. N. L.
A Call for Correspondents
By Editor
We ask correspondents to remember us. Let those in whose hearts the love of God and of his truth are burning, write for the SIGNS. It is our desire, and shall be our effort, to make every number worthy of our times and cause.
Books! Books!! Books!!!
By Editor
Our Book List.—Any persons on the Pacific Coast wishing any of the publications named in our book list can obtain them by mail or express by writing to the Signs of the Times, Oakland, California, enclosing the published price of the same. When sent by mail, books will be post paid; when by express, at the expense of the one ordering the books; but in this case a liberal discount will be made when ten dollars worth or more are paid for with any one order.