The camp-meeting at Los Angeles, Cal., will begin October 26, and will continue twelve days.
A Roman Catholic See in Dakota
By Editor
We read in an exchange that "Yankton has been selected as the Roman Catholic sea for Dakota." We suppose it is called a sea because the errors which will be propagated there will drown men in destruction and perdition.
Central European Mission Report
By Editor
On page 634 will be found an interesting report from the Central European Mission, by the former editor of the SIGNS, who is now connected with that mission. The laborers in that field have difficulties to contend with of which we in this country realize but little.
Infant Baptism in Apostolic Times
In the Independent of August 25, Professor Norman Fox has a review of Dr. Armitage's "History of the Baptists," in which he says: "As to infant baptism, scores of the ablest Pedobaptist scholars admit that it was unknown in apostolic times, while all know that it was not universal till some centuries after the death of the apostles."
Paper Delayed by Camp-Meeting
By Editor
This number of the paper is one day late, owing to the fact that nearly all the work done upon it was done during the camp-meeting, which editors, proof-readers, and compositors attended. It was gotten out under high pressure, much of the work being done in the night after meeting; so we beg the indulgence of our readers if it is not up to the usual standard.
Iowa and Prison Labor
Something must be done for Iowa. Why? Because since the prohibition amendment was adopted, the supply of convicts for the penitentiary is diminishing, and the contractors of prison labor at Fort Madison are much embarrassed; they don't know how to fill their contracts. There's nothing like an unlimited supply of whisky to keep State prisons full, and to make prison labor contractors happy.
Kneeling During Prayer
A CORRESPONDENT of the California Christian Advocate writes to know if the rule of the church requiring members to kneel during prayer in church cannot be changed so as to allow them to sit. He says that only a few old Puritans kneel before the congregation and that he supposes they do so only out of respect to the rule; also that kneeling has been found to be a great deal of trouble, and there is often more or less damage to valuable clothing. The tendency seems to be to make even the form of worship which is retained as easy as possible.
Conference of Evangelical Christians
A CALL is being circulated for a conference of all evangelical Christians, at Washington, D. C., December 7, 8, 9, 1887, to study principally the following propositions:—
"1. What are the present perils and opportunities of the Christian church, and of the country?
"2. Can any of them be met by a hearty co-operation of all evangelical Christians, which, without detriment to any denominational interests, will serve the interests of the whole church?
"3. What are the best means to secure such co-operation, and to awaken the whole church to its responsibility?"
The call is signed by William E. Dodge, John Jay, C. A. Stoddard, Philip Schaff, Josiah Strong, James McCosh, R. S. Storrs, D. C. Gilman, Timothy Dwight, Howard Crosby, Gen. O. O. Howard, J. H. Vincent, Lyman Abbott, W. M. Taylor, and about seventy other ministers and representative laymen. It is expected that at least two thousand delegates will be present.
Sunday Laws Not Temperance Laws
By Editor
WE have frequently been accused of a lack of charity, because we have said that Sunday laws are in no sense temperance laws; that the enactment of such laws is solely in the interest of somebody's special religion, and not at all in the interest of temperance; and that, in fact, they tacitly admit that the liquor traffic is all right except on Sunday. The following, which is a portion of a much lauded address recently made before the Young Men's Christian Association of Oakland, by the Rev. J. H. Hector, pastor of the African M. E. Church of San Francisco, shows that we have not overstated the case in the least:—
"There is need to tune up the gospel trumpet so that its tones shall sound unmistakably to the world. One thing, and I have noticed it particularly since I came to California, that this gospel trumpet should proclaim is that we must have Sabbath, and a holy Sabbath. We want you Jews to stop selling second-hand clothing on Sunday. We want you Germans to stop selling your beer and running your beer gardens and picnics on Sunday. We want you Frenchmen to stop selling your wine and strong drink on Sunday. We want all of you who are now raising the devil and destroying our children on Sunday to stop it right off. We want to say to you, that while you may raise the devil and destroy our children six days in the week, you've got to rest on the seventh day [first day] and keep it holy."
We have always known that Sunday laws were not in the interest of morality or good order, but solely to gratify prejudice and bigotry; but we never before saw it so directly admitted.
Christ the Only Model
By Editor
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul said: "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1:22-24. And again he said: "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Chap. 2:2. These words were brought very forcibly to our mind, by contrast, when we read that two ministers in Oakland, who have the largest congregations of any in the city, preached on a recent Sunday evening to young men upon the "Lessons to be drawn from the life of Governor Bartlett." We do not know anything about the private life of Governor Bartlett; but we do know that if he had been the best man that has lived in the United States since it became a nation, he would not have been good enough to warrant a minister of the gospel in holding him up as a model for young men. Jesus Christ is the only being who ever lived on this earth, whose life is worthy to be taken as a model for men, either young or old, and "Jesus Christ, and him crucified," is the only thing that can draw men to a nobler life. But the trouble is, that the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified is not the kind that "takes" with the people, and fills the churches on Sunday nights.
A Chosen Generation
"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:9, 10.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
International Tract and Missionary Society.
A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, post-paid, - - - - $2.00
In clubs of five or more copies to one name and address, to be used in Missionary work, each, - - $1.50
To foreign countries, single subscription, post-paid, 10s
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Twelfth and Castro Sts., OAKLAND, CAL., U. S. A.