—The National Council of Switzerland has passed resolutions for the suppression of Convents and Sisters of Charity.
—The Welch population of Virginia City intend soon to build a church in which the services will be conducted in their native tongue.
—The United Presbyterian Church has sent its first female missionary to China in the person of Miss Mary E. Galleraith, of Barnet, Vermont.
—The pamphlet of Gladstone has elicited a reply from Cardinal Manning, in which the latter says that the ex-premier is among the chief apostles of the revolution against the peace of the Christian Church.
—The Rev. Samuel I. I. Schereschewsky, missionary to China, has arrived at San Francisco from Peking. He has been translating the Bible into Chinese under the auspices of the American Bible Society.
—During the recent yearly meeting of the English Society of Friends in London one of the most striking usages of the Society was abolished, namely, the compulsory support of the poorer members by the society. Practically, the rule has been found to prevent the increase of membership. John Bright, M. P., took an active part in procuring the change. The statistics of the society in England are as follows: Regular members, 14,199, against 14,080 last year; attendants on worship, not members, 1,767, an increase of 517.
—An Italian newspaper gives some interesting information relative to the annual revenues of the cardinals. Each Prince of the church has an income of $6,000. Cardinal Patrizi has in addition $8,000 as Cardinal vicar of Rome, and an equal sum from his benefices. Cardinal Amat draws $22,000 from his enormous benefices. Cardinal di Pietro receives $12,000 as Bishop of Albano, and has an equal sum allowed him by Portugal. Cardinal Sacconi has about the same revenue. De Lucca receives $30,000, Bigarra $8,000, Bernardi $100,000, Franchi $12,000, and a large stipend from Spain, while Chigi belongs to a very rich family.
—There are now sustained by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions 134 ordained American missionaries. With these there are laboring 75 ordained native preachers and 31 licentiates. In the schools of the Board are employed 167 American teachers, 160 of them being women. The total number of the working force of the Board in foreign lands is thus before us, 301 Americans, 502 natives. These laborers are steadily maintaining the gospel light in at least 240 places throughout the heathen papal world. They have now under their care nearly 7,000 communicants in their churches, and more than 12,000 pupils in their schools.
—The Freemasons have just appeared in a new role as guardians of society against the intrusion of mischievous members. In Costa Rica, two thousand masons appeared in the hall of Congress, and petitioned for the expulsion of the Jesuits. The President, who is a mason, and several members, spoke against the Jesuits, and the result was that the Congress voted $1500 for their immediate wants and ordered them to leave the country. Many legislatures have done well in expelling the Jesuits, but that it should be done at the demand of the Freemasons, will strike many minds as singular.
—Not much more of an asylum would England be for the Jesuits than Germany if the former chose to enforce the law against them which stands still on her statute-books. According to that—an act of George IV.—every Jesuit who puts his foot upon English soil commits a misdemeanor and is liable to be brought up for his rashness. We ought to suppose however, that this law was long since dead beyond recovery; but not so, for Mr. Disraeli has just announced that while the Jesuits never have been or are likely to be disturbed as public offenders, he wished it to be understood “that the provisions of the act are not looked upon by the government as obsolete, but, on the contrary, as reserving powers of law of which they will be prepared to avail themselves if necessary.” This means, then that the presence of Jesuits is only tolerated in England, and by good rights they have no business there.”
—It is interesting to see how universally the custom of saying grace at meals is observed in England. The queen, in the absence of her chaplain reverently asks a blessing. The children do the same at their lunch. The very beggar on the curbstone, as he eats his crust looks up and says: “The Lord make us thankful.” The Lord Mayor has a lunch provided for him at noon at the expense of the city. He is joined by the two sheriffs, and any strangers who may happen to be present. In his magisterial garb his lordship, without cant or pretense, offers a brief grace before the food is touched. At the Lord Mayor’s dinner at Guildhall, grace is sung by the entire company rising to their feet, and singing the lines which have been sung for the same purpose since 1515. When the costermongers, street-sweepers, boys from the ragged schools, and street walkers, are brought together for tea, at each gathering grace is sung by the entire company; and thanks returned in the voice of song.
Neglecting our Bodies.
By Jennie E. Goff
"Ah," says one, there is little danger of our doing that in this fashionable era." We are neglecting our bodies in more ways than one. The wheels of truth move more slowly on toward conquest. Among the most common of these ways are, neglecting to clothe and feed our bodies properly, and denying them nature's most effective antidotes against disease—pure air and pure water.
Most of us wear clothing enough, but somehow we do not succeed in making our bodies comfortable. A tight waist, or a tight shoe, impedes the free circulation of the blood, and so torments us for the time, besides working all the while at nature's fortifications until some point is sufficiently weakened to be easily captured, and forever after held a prisoner by disease. If fashion so decrees, we expose our bodies to imminent danger and innumerable evils by wearing too much or too little clothing, and even if we avoid extremes, and try to dress sensibly, or as conscience requires, we do not dress as health and comfort demand.
With regard to eating, we are just as guilty, or ignorant, as the case may be. We turn away from simple, healthy, food, to gorge ourselves with unwholesome mixtures, invented by those who do not understand nature's laws, or the evils resulting from transgression; and then if our intellects are weak, our dispositions unpleasant, we lay the blame at nature's door, and attribute our bodily suffering to providence, instead of to the irritating, unhealthy food, with which we are crowding our stomachs.
We spend money for something to quench our thirst, and that something, if nothing worse than tea or coffee, is an injury to us, when pure cold water, the beverage God intended us to use, is, or might be, within the reach of all. Only those who use it freely and wisely know how to prize its invigorating, health-giving qualities.
We spend money too, some of us a great many dollars, in fitting up our homes, and we consider them comfortable only when we have succeeded in shutting out one of God's choicest blessings—pure, fresh air. We shut ourselves up, night after night, in poorly ventilated rooms, and when morning comes, we do not allow our lungs to throw out the foul, and drink in the pure air; and then we wonder why we feel so dull and weak. We see that we are growing old very fast, and somehow the world looks so dark, so full of trouble, that we feel discouraged, and we cannot help looking sober, and the young say, "Well if Christians have reason for looking so gloomy, I don't want to be one."
I tell you, friends, we are putting a great stumbling-block in the way of sinners, just by neglecting to care for our bodies properly. Who does not know that a healthy, happy Christian will do more good than a gloomy, sickly one?
Can we expect to reach the heights and depths of Christian joy and peace, unless we keep our bodies, the Holy Spirit's temple, as pure as God intended them to be?
By-and-by there will come a time when we shall see what we might have been, what we might have done, if we had only taken better care of our bodies. We shall see how many more souls we might have been instrumental in saving, how many more stars we might have won for our crown; but then it will be too late. It is not too late now. There is time to work, time to get more wisdom. Shall we improve it?—JENNIE E. GOFF, in Earnest Christian.
MANY who are troubled with weak eyes, by avoiding the use of them in reading, sewing, and the like until after breakfast, will be able to use them with greater comfort for the remainder of the day, the reason being that in the digestion of the food the blood is called in from all parts of the system, to a certain extent, to aid the stomach in that important process; besides, the food eaten gives general strength, imparts a stimulus to the whole man, and the eyes partake of their share.
News and Miscellany.
By Editor
—According to the latest accounts, the cholera seems to be on the increase at Antioch and Damascus.
—A gentleman from northwestern Missouri reports grasshoppers by the million just hatching out in the district visited by their ancestors in June last on their journey northward.
DUBLIN, August 31.—The Synod of Irish Archbishops of the Catholic Church, summoned under the express authority of the pope, met at Maynooth to-day, Cardinal Cullen presiding. It is understood the educational question will be the principal subject of deliberation.
PARIS, August 31.—A private letter from Egypt reports great confusion and excitement there in consequence of military preparations. Troops are being dispatched to the Abyssinian frontier. At the same time the Khedive expects a call from the Porte for aid in suppressing the Herzegovinian rebellion.
—The Catholics have uttered a warning to the New-York Herald. That paper is informed that if it does not change its tone on Catholicism, the priests will from the pulpit forbid its entrance into Catholic families. The experiment would be an interesting one to look upon—this attempt of the Catholics to muzzle the press.
—Of the progress of the Herzegovinian insurrection, a Times Berlin special says: "After the recent appointment of Mehemet Pasha as Grand Vizier there is less hope than ever of the insurgents coming to terms. He is regarded as champion of absolute government, and his very presence in the Cabinet is calculated to make the insurgents desperate. His appointment, unless from mere caprice, is proof that the Sultan is determined to maintain the system which produced the present outbreak."
—The Merchants-Shipping bill, introduced by Sir Charles Adderley after Mr. Plimsoll’s demonstration, and passed by the House of Commons, has finally passed the House of Lords. It give some very definite guarantees to seamen. A small proportion of any crew may, if they believe their ship to be in an unseaworthy condition, summon the proper officers to make an inspection without making themselves liable for the costs thereof. So long as the inspectors are competent and trustworthy, therefore, there is reasonable security for the seamen.
—The fact that thirteen hundred children died in two weeks in the tenement-house districts of New York, calls for immediate action on the part of the city authorities, to do something for the hundreds of mothers who through poverty are almost helpless to do anything for their dying babes. As a slight mitigation of their suffering, a new barge has been secured and fitted up expressly for the purpose of giving excursions tri-weekly on the river to thousands of mothers with sick children. It is hoped that fresh air, the change of surroundings, and the wholesome food provided on the boat, will do much for the health of the mothers and children.
—Russia has gone to work in good earnest for utilizing her Khanate of Khiva. Russia told England when she sent Gen. Kauffman into Khiva that all that was intended was to whip the Khan into good behavior and release some Russian prisoners whom he held, just as England did by Theodore of Abyssinia. That was done and now this refreshing paragraph is read by the English Government: "Gen. Ivanoff, the Governor of Russian Khiva, proposes to connect the Sir Darya and Amu Darya Rivers by means of the Yani Darya River. The proposed canal is to be made navigable for steamers, and also to serve as a means of creating arable lands to be colonized by Russian settlers." These "arable lands" are intended to bear iron mellons for the British India market.
The New York Camp-Meeting.
By James White
FOR several reasons Mrs. W. and ourself had decided not to attend the New York Camp-meeting; but go from Maine directly to the Kansas meeting, and on to California.
But brethren Whitney and Kinne met us at the New England meeting, and after a conference with them and others, we decide that it is our duty to attend the New York Camp-meeting, and pass by the brethren in Kansas this season.
This change involves pain on our part, and a great disappointment to a people who are extremely anxious to hear us, and will come, some of them, hundreds of miles to that meeting to to be disappointed. It will also put younger speakers in a hard place to meet a disappointed congregation. It grieves us to disappoint numerous friends in Kansas and Missouri, whom we have never met.
But we make the sacrifice, and run the risk of disappointing a very large body of brethren in that Conference, in order to meet a smaller one in New York. And under these circumstances we shall expect a general rally from all parts of New York and Pennsylvania at the camp-meeting to be held at Rome, N. Y., September 9-14. All should be on the ground the 8th without fail. The New York Conference needs help, and will have help if the brethren act promptly. We request a full meeting. Now is the time to act.
JAMES WHITE, Pres't. Gen. Conf.
California Conference.
By J. N. Loughborough
The next yearly session of the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Fairfax, Sept. 23-30, at such time as may be announced by the President after the opening of the camp-meeting.
We hope to see a full representation, by delegates from every company of Sabbath-keepers in the State. Each church of twenty members or less is entitled to one delegate, and to one additional delegate for every additional fifteen members over the first twenty. Each company which has organized Systematic Benevolence, and has a leader appointed, is entitled to delegates, and should choose them according to their respective numbers.
Churches that have completed their organization since the last conference was held should come prepared to unite with the conference.
The secretary of the conference will furnish to each church blanks for delegates, credentials, and reports of standing and finances. Let all church books and s. b. books be brought to the conference.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, } Cal.
JOHN JUDSON, } Conf.
J. W. BOND. } Com.
THERE are still two spaces for rooms in the camp-ground building not engaged, and two tents for sale or rent as before noticed.
Camp-Meeting Mail.
LETTERS for those attending Fairfax Camp-meeting should be addressed, San Rafael, Marin Co., (Camp-ground).
Conference Funds.
WE shall expect each church to be ready to square the s. b. and missionary accounts at the Conference. To this end let each individual see that their dues, under either head, are immediately paid to their respective churches.
J. N. L.
Funds.
WE trust all who pledged to the Publishing Fund and the Tent Fund, are making calculations to meet their pledges at camp-meeting. We have some heavy payments to make immediately after camp-meeting, and we need the means to meet these payments.
WE are happy to give a short but interesting report of the Vermont Camp-meeting, from Bro. Canright, also a synopsis of the sermons delivered during the meeting, as reported by Bro. Chas. Stone for the Burlington Free Press, which was glad to give that interested community a full account of the Essex meeting.
Campers, Read This!
LET it be understood by all coming to the camp-meeting that the Oakland Ferry-boats have recently moved their landing place in San Francisco from near Broadway wharf to the foot of Market St., and the San Quentin boats for Camp-ground leave at the same wharf near the landing place of Oakland boats.
See time table of trains for the Camp-ground, in this paper.
Camp-Meeting Time Table.
WEEK DAYS. — Leave San Francisco, via. San Quentin, foot of Market St., 9.15 A. M., 1.30 P. M., 4.45 P. M.
Returning leave Fairfax 10.28 A. M., 2.45 P. M.
SUNDAYS. — Leave San Francisco, via. Sauceleto to Ferry foot of Davis St., 8 A. M., and via. San Quentin Ferry, foot of Market St., 9:30 A. M., 12. A. M.
Returning leave Fairfax via. San Quentin 9:45 A. M., 4. 15 P. M.
Via. Sauceleto, 4.25 P. M.
Come to the Camp-Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
EARNEST efforts will be made on the part of the Committee to have all in readiness for the Camp-meeting in good season, if the churches, on their part, comply with requests published from time to time in the SIGNS relative to the meeting. Bro. and Sister White are to be at this meeting to aid by their testimony and deep experience in the work. This meeting will be a rare opportunity to get good in the Lord's work. We hope none of our people will excuse themselves from coming.
There will be an excellent opportunity for your friends to learn the truth at the camp-meeting. Bring on all your friends you can induce to come. Plead earnestly with the Lord to prepare all our hearts for this great annual gathering of his people, and to work in power for both saints and sinners. Come yourselves to work for God. Come in the name of the Lord. Come.
J. N. L.
California Camp-Meeting.
THE California Camp-meeting will be held at Fairfax station, Marin Co., from Sept. 23, at 9 A. M., to Sept. 30, 6 A. M. Bro. and sister White are expected to attend. We hope to see all our brethren and sisters in the State at this meeting, and as many of your friends as you can induce to come. Opportunity for pitching tents, or space for rooms in the building, will be granted to any interested parties who wish to enjoy the meeting. Food for man and beast will be furnished upon the ground at reasonable prices. All coming should provide themselves with bedding unless they have made special arrangements with some tent company to provide them beds. We can accommodate men who bring blankets and have no tent, in our large tent.
It is desired by the committee that, as far as consistent, tents, and cloth for rooms in the building, be shipped to the camp-ground, Sept. 15. No tents should arrive later than the morning of Sept. 22. All our tents should be up, and our campers be upon the grounds by Sept. 22, so that the opening of the meeting, on the morning of the 23d, shall not be disturbed by erecting and preparing tents.
The fare for the round trip, from San Francisco to Fairfax and return, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 inclusive, is $1.00. In buying your tickets to Fairfax, at S. F., state that you are going to the camp-meeting, and you will get your ticket for Fairfax, and a return ticket to San Francisco for the $1.00. Your return ticket is good until Oct. 1, the day after the meeting closes. Particulars about the time of trains from S. F., and the place of taking trains, will be given hereafter.
G. D. HAGER,
D. B. RICKEY,
WM. HARMON. } Camp-Meeting Com.
State Missionary Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE next yearly gathering of the California State T. and M. Society will be held in connection with the camp-meeting at Fairfax, Sept. 23 to 30, at such time as may be announced by the President of the society after the opening of the camp-meeting.
All who have paid one dollar into our State missionary funds for membership, are permanent members of the society, and are entitled to vote in all the meetings of the society. Those who have not yet become members of the society, will do well to come prepared to pay their $1.00 and become members.
We request the directors, district secretaries, business agents, and librarians of our churches, to bring all their account and record books of the society to the meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres.
LUCIE BUSH, Sec.
English Bibles.
By Editor
We will send any of the following English Reference Bibles, by mail, post-paid, at their respective prices:
☞ ALL letters or business for the Signs should be addressed "Signs of the Times, Oakland, Cal."
Appointments.
Oakland.—Regular services are conducted by the Seventh-day Adventists in their hall, corner of Twelfth and Broadway, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 11:30 A. M., and each Sunday evening.
San Francisco.—Seventh-day Adventist services each Sabbath (Saturday) at the A. P. A. Hall, Mission street near Third, at 11 A. M., and every Sunday evening.
The next quarterly meeting of the Seventh-day Adventists of the Walla Walla Valley, will be held at the City of Walla Walla, on Sabbath and Sunday, Oct. 16 and 17. All our friends are especially invited to be present. First meeting on Friday evening at the beginning of the Sabbath.
I. D. Van Horn.
Quarterly Meetings.
Quarterly Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
Our next State quarterly meeting will be held during the camp-meeting at Fairfax, in connection with our yearly State missionary meeting, at such time as may be announced by the President of the society after the opening of the camp-meeting.
Our district quarterly meetings will all be held at one time, Sabbath and First-day, September 11 and 12, as follows:—
District No. 1, at Petaluma, Bro. T. M. Chapman, director, presiding.
District No. 2, at Santa Rosa, Bro. Wm. Harmon, director, presiding.
District No. 3, at Napa, the vice president, J. W. Bond, director, presiding.
District No. 4, at Vallejo, the director, J. S. Howard, presiding, and Bro. Charles Jones preaching Sabbath, and officiating in the ordinances.
District No. 5, at Woodland, Bro. G. C. Martin, presiding.
District No. 6, at Red Banks, Tehama Co., Bro. J. H. Disher, director, presiding.
District No. 7, at Oakland, Bro. D. B. Rickey, director, presiding.
District No. 8, at San Jose, Bro. H. H. Stevenson, director, presiding, and J. H. Waggoner preaching and officiating in the ordinances.
District No. 9, at San Francisco, the President of the State Society, and the director in charge.
All dues to the Missionary Society should be paid to the respective directors at these quarterly meetings, furnishing an account of the same, so that they may be prepared to balance all their accounts with the society at the yearly State missionary meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres.
LUCIE BUSH, Sec.
Business Department.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. V P Terry 2-43, E L Collins 2-44, Rubin Loveland 2-44. H H Page 2-44, Mrs J C Borden 2-44. H Grotegnte 2-44, W S Vanderburg 2-44, Wm Smith 2-1, Miss Mary A Pickard 2-44, Jane W Clapson 3-1.
$1.00 EACH. Benton R Rowell 2-20. E S Mudgett 2-20, R F Barton 2-20, John Griffith 2-19, Richard Watters 2-19, Mattie E Logan 2-20.
MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs N A Goodwin 50c 2-8, Thomas Duncan $1.10 2-39, Philip S Craig $3.00 3-25, Mrs E B Shafer 50c, 2-8.