p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 6. (2/11/1889)

AGENTS WANTED.

By Editor

To canvass for the weekly American Sentinel, at $1. per year, to whom liberal cash commissions will be paid. Send now for sample copy, terms to agents, etc.

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THE ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD.

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A RELIGIOUS JOURNAL FOR ALL CLASSES.

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Established in 1850 as the organ of the S. D. Adventist denomination, and now in its sixty-sixth volume with a stronger corps of contributors, and a wider circle of readers than ever before.

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ELEGANTLY ILLUSTRATED

By Editor

As its title indicates, it treats of some of the leading prophecies of both the Old and New Testaments, showing the exact fulfillment of the predictions of the Bible, concerning Egypt, Tyre, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, also of the prophecies concerning the first advent of Christ, which prove the inspiration of the Bible, and give assurance that other prophecies which are noted will as surely and exactly be fulfilled.

ELEGANTLY ILLUSTRATED.

All the illustrations in this book, except one, were designed and engraved especially for this work, at great expense, and are a study in themselves. Nothing like them has ever appeared in any of our publications before, and they are sure to attract general attention. Everyone who has seen the illustrations pronounces them superb.

PROPHETIC LIGHTS contains nearly 200 large octavo pages and is printed on an extra quality of heavy calendered paper. The special object of the publishers in issuing this book is to furnish it as a premium with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It is also designed for general circulation, therefore it will be issued in two styles of binding, as follows:—

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THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

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A 16-PAGE RELIGIOUS FAMILY JOURNAL, PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR THE International Tract and Missionary Society, AT OAKLAND, CAL. DEVOTED TO EXPOSITIONS OF PROPHECY AND THE DISSEMINATION OF GENERAL BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE. Its contents are of the most varied kind, the Departments embracing | Editorial and General Articles, | Temperance, Home Circle, | Sabbath-School, The Missionary, | Secular and Religious News. |

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And is full every week of fresh, new matter. Among expository journals it takes the lead, both in quality and quantity of matter. It has proved of unusual interest to its tens of thousands of readers, who everywhere pronounce it a live, religious paper; a reliable expositor of Scripture; and a household journal, the contents of which are pure and elevating. Each number contains a characteristic article from the pen of MRS. E. G. WHITE. All who see it agree in pronouncing it first-class in every respect.

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The Restoration of the Papacy

By Editor

THE Catholic Monitor (San Francisco), of January 9, gives a prominent place to an article from the Irish Catholic World, written by Bernard O'Reilly, on the restoration of the Papacy, from which we quote the following, which shows how Catholics view the matter:—

“We speak now not merely to our own countrymen, but to our friends and readers of other lands as well, when we say that, knowing what the authoritative teaching of the pontiff and the church on this point is, it is our bounden duty to manfully resolve to exert ourselves to the utmost limits of our power to secure the speedy and splendid vindication of that teaching. After all, as we said but recently, Catholics are stronger than the Freemasons or Atheists, if we will but join hands in the work before us. What a noble sight it would be to see the Catholics of Germany, of Ireland, of France, of Spain, and of America, demanding the restoration of Papal independence. In this way, truly Ireland would take her place among the nations, while a great step would be taken towards securing European peace. There is nothing impossible in this. If the Catholic manhood of the Continent, bearing arms as they do, were only in earnest in sustaining such work as this, one week would find missives from every Christian Power on Signor Crispi's desk,

warning him and his master to depart without delay from the eternal city. This is the duty of the hour for Catholic people; Irishmen will be no laggards in discharging their share of it.”

When it is remembered that Catholics hold the balance of political influence in nearly every country, such appeals as the above are not to be considered as mere vapor.

The Inaugural Ball by Another Name

By Editor

WHAT would many ministers do without "Robert Elsmere," or "John Ward, Preacher," to talk about. Sermon after sermon has been preached on these novels, till they are now getting somewhat stale; controversies have raged till people are becoming weary; and now some of the political Christians wish to prevent the inaugural ball of General Harrison, the President-elect. Finding that not easy, they are proposing the same principles as National Reformers use concerning our Government. It is not Christian now, but if it will only adopt our proposed Constitution, and call itself Christian, it will be all right. So if this inaugural ball can only be given another name, it will not be so bad after all; for it is, say they, "only a reception." To such we commend the following, from the N. Y. Weekly World of Jan. 23:—

"A number of Methodist ministers of Boston, Mass., will request the Committee in charge of the inaugural ceremonies at Washington to change the name of the evening entertainment from 'inaugural ball,' to 'inaugural reception.' Just how this substitution would make any difference as regards the moral tone of the affair, is hard to understand. Even if the festivities were called the 'Inaugural Prayer-Meeting,' or the 'Inaugural Aid to an Upright Life,' nothing would be gained thereby. It is the thing itself, not its name, which counts in the long run. The Lord cannot be fooled by euphemism."

New York’s Liquor Saloons

By Editor

According to the report of the Board of Excise, there are in New York city 8,780 places licensed to sell intoxicating liquors. Of these 7,391 are saloons, 5,862 of which sell distilled liquors. Commenting on this report, the Christian at Work says that "there are just 5,862 more liquor saloons in that city than there should be." We think that there are 7,361 more saloons than there ought to be, and just 8,780 more places where liquor is sold than is for the good of the city. The sale of intoxicating liquors, to be used as beverages ought to be absolutely prohibited, not only in New York, but in every city and village in the land.

The Samoan Difficulty

The Samoan difficulty seems to be growing more serious each week, and fears are expressed in some quarters that war between the United States and Germany may result from the present condition of affairs in those islands. Certain it is, that there is considerable bad feeling between the two countries over the affair. It seems that Germany is determined to establish a protectorate in Samoa. The United States is under some treaty obligation to the Samoans, but just how far those obligations extend is an open question. Aside from that, however, it is contended that it would be bad policy to allow Germany to gain control in Samoa. Whether or not this Government will take any decided action, remains to be seen. Latest advices state that Germany has declared war against Samoa.

Vice in Alaska

The Junean (Alaska) Free Press, prints some most heart-sickening facts relative to vice in that Territory. For the most part the native women are abject slaves, and many of them are bought and sold for the basest purposes. The Press charges that Dr. Jackson, the educational agent, is largely responsible for the existing state of affairs. It says:—

"Sheldon Jackson, the educational agent, instead of suppressing the sale of these Indian girls to miners and Indians, has put no obstacle in the way of the traffic. His school has been mainly used for teaching the girls housework and English, accomplishments which serve to increase their price in the 'matrimonial' market." Again the Press says: "The innocent are now suffering simply through the neglect of duty on the part of those placed here at salaries to religiously instruct a people who were heathens when the territory was purchased from Russia, and who are heathens still."

Knowledge and Love

KNOWLEDGE alone of the word of God is of no real benefit. It will never build a character. It may "set off" the individual, and bring him worldly admiration and honor; but it will not honor Christ. Divinity is hidden by the human. The individual will find his chief delight in what he knows and what his knowledge brings. But love for God, while it delights in what it knows, finds greater delight in what it is able to do for the Master. Knowledge is profitable only when united with love. Love in itself implies knowledge; for one cannot love that which he does not know. The difference between the two is expressed by the apostle in 1 Cor. 8:1: "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth;" or better rendered, "Knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up." The difference is that between an inflated bag and a well-built edifice of stone. "Love never faileth."

The Number of Christians

By Editor

A CORRESPONDENT sends us the following statement, which is credited to Rev. Judson Smith, D. D. and asks if it is true:—

"The adherents of the religion of Jesus Christ to-day outnumber the followers of any other faith in the world. Christian missions number more than 2,000,000 adherents on heathen soil, and at the present rate of increase will include 20,000,000 before this century closes."

We wish we could say that it is true; but unfortunately it is not. "Cram's Universal Atlas" gives the number of professed Christians, including Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Churches, as 388,000,000; Buddhists, 400,000,000 to 600,000,000. The entire Protestant church membership—and it is here that the real "adherents of the religion of Jesus" are to be found—number only about 17,000,000. Cram places the number at 16,500,000—a long way from a converted world, even nominally so.

Sabbath-Keepers at Pitcairn

By Editor

THE following item, from the San Francisco Chronicle of January 30, will be of interest to many of our readers:—

"The American ship John R. Kelly has arrived at Havre from this port. On the passage she called in at the Pitcairn islands. Captain Gibbons, in speaking of the matter, said that he anchored off the island on October 13th. A boat commanded by I. Russel McCoy put off, loaded with fruit. The occupants refused to take anything in exchange but medicine and an old mail which Gibbons had brought for the island. The reason for this, they explained, was because the day was their Sabbath (our Saturday), and they did not bargain or contract on that day. They said that there were 115 inhabitants then on the island, all of whom were well. They inquired for friends in San Francisco and said that the Louis Walsh, from New York, had called in, and also the British Amyone, the latter for water, her tanks having burst."

Pitcairn is the only community in the world composed entirely of Sabbath-keepers.

The Gathering of True Israel

A MISCONCEPTION of the meaning of the term "Israel," leads many to suppose that the Scriptures teach that the Jews will yet be gathered into their own land. We do read of the Root of Jesse (Isa. 11:10, 12), that "he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth," but this has no reference whatever to those who are now called Jews. "For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; . . . but he is a Jew which is one inwardly." Rom. 2:28, 29. "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; that is, 'they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.' Rom. 9:6, 7. Or as the apostle elsewhere expresses it: "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:19.

There will be a glorious gathering, not of the Jews—literal Israel,—but of those who are Christ's—the true Israel,—for "they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." Luke 13:29. And this is the only gathering of Israel yet future, of which the Scriptures speak.

The Transubstantiation Controversy

The Church Times (Episcopal), and the Catholic Times, of Liverpool, have been having a bout on the question of transubstantiation. The Church Times asserts that this doctrine "is not now believed in the Roman Church, though the name is kept up." To which the Catholic Times retorts that "it appears that it is believed and taught in the Church of England." And in proof of the assertion, quotes as follows from "Severs' Mass Book," written by an Anglican clergyman: "Every crumb on the paten, every drop in the chalice, has now [that is, after consecration] become the whole body, blood, soul, spirit, and divinity of Jesus."

After giving the quotation, the Catholic paper dismisses the matter with this parting thrust at its Anglican neighbor:—

"It is manifest that not only is the Church of England hopelessly divided against herself, but that even the Ritualists are split into two parties, one believing and teaching what the other declares to be false, and not only false, but impossible of belief, insomuch that if a man says he does believe it he is not to be credited."

Another thing is also manifest, namely, that the principal difference between the Roman and the English Church is not in faith, but in paying allegiance to the Pope.

THE S. S. WORKER.

By Editor

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By Editor

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