p. 158 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 10. (3/11/1889)

SECULAR.

—Brazil last year acquired 136,000 European immigrants.

—Sir Julian Pauncefort has been appointed British Minister to the United States.

—It is said that nine-tenths of the telegraphic errors are due to poor handwriting.

—The German missionaries held captive by the Arabs were liberated on the 27th ult.

—The 150,000 miles of railroad in the United States furnish employment to 800,000 men, about 5 men per mile.

—Avalanches have destroyed the village of Nivollet, and killed four persons and injured many others in St. Michel, Savoy, France.

—A statistician asserts that twenty princes and princesses of the reigning families of Europe have been treated for mental disorders.

—Statistics show more oranges, lemons, bananas, figs, and raisins consumed in the United States than in any other country in the world.

—Two explosions of natural gas near Pittsburg, Pa., on the 27th ult., wrecked five buildings, and seriously, if not fatally, injured several persons.

—An estimate of the population of New Mexico states the figures as follows: Native Mexicans, 108,000; Pueblo Indians, 10,000; Americans (from the East), 67,000.

—The lantern of Tillamook Light, off the coast of Oregon, is 130 feet above the sea level, yet several times the glass has been broken and the light extinguished by severe storms.

—March 2 Secretary Whitney accepted, on behalf of the Government, the new cruiser Yorktown, built by Cramp Sons, of Philadelphia. In all respects the vessel comes up to the requirements.

—On the 2d inst., Secretary Endicott issued orders placing General Rosecrans on the retired list with the rank of brigadier-general, and Major Wm. F. Smith with the rank of major of engineers.

—February 24 ten girls and one man were killed by an explosion of blasting powder in a squib factory at Plymouth, a few miles from Wilkesbarre, Pa. Squibs are cartridges used by miners in blasting.

—Recent advices from Afghanistan, via London, say that the Ameer is marching upon the Russian frontier, and that a collision with the Russians is imminent. The Ameer persists in committing cruelties.

—According to statistics given in The Engineering and Mining Journal, the output of minerals in the United States during the year 1888 exceeded in value the combined mineral output of the whole of Europe.

—A movement has been started in Norway, says Nature, for the dispatch in the summer of 1890 of an expedition which will try to reach the north pole, and it is proposed that the leadership shall be offered to Dr. Nansen.

—The most remarkable collection of photographs in the world is that now on exhibition at St. Petersburg. One Krassowski has had himself photographed once a month for twenty-two years, in order to note the ravages of age.

—Recent statistics show that the number of steamers existing in the world in 1886, was estimated at 9,969, of an aggregate burden of 10,531,843 tons. In the previous year the number was stated at 6,042, of an aggregate burden of 10,391,241 tons.

—The number of births annually to 1,000 population is 38.7 in the Southern States, 25.7 in New York, 22.1 in New England, 34.2 in England. It appears further that there were 708,061 births in the South, and only 869,112 in the North and Territories.

—Mayor Grant, of New York, gave notice on the 25th ult. that all telegraph and telephone wires in that city must be buried, and all poles removed within thirty days. If the work is not done by the companies it will be by the city at their expense.

—Great success has attended the labors of piano manufacturers on this coast. Over 20,000 instruments made by one firm in San Francisco are now in use. This firm is about to establish agencies in London, Paris, Vienna, and other foreign cities.

—White Caps attempted to murder a Minneapolis editor by shooting, on the 28th ult. The editor, whose name is Smith, had received a number of letters signed "White Caps," threatening him with death unless he left the city. This he failed to do, hence the attempt to murder him.

—Nine persons were killed and several injured by a railroad accident near St. George, Ontario, on the 27th ult. A broken tire on one of the engine wheels caused the rails to spread, and the first passenger car, a Pullman car, and a dining-car went through the middle section of a bridge.

—The Kansas Legislature has enacted a law which provides that all arrangements, contracts, agreements, trusts, or combinations which tend to prevent competition or advance cost to consumers, are declared to be against public policy, unlawful and void. Heavy penalties for violation of the law are provided.

—Robert Sigel, the son and clerk of General Franz Sigel, Pension Agent of New York City, has been arrested by United States Treasury agents from Washington for the defalcation of money obtained by forging pension certificates, and locked up in the Ludlow Street Jail. Young Sigel has confessed his crime.

—Canada is to adopt a policy of hostility toward immigration. All alien laborers, except British, will be prohibited from coming to Canada, and the funds which the Dominion Government has hitherto granted in aid of immigration, amounting in the aggregate to a quarter of a million sterling, will be withdrawn.

—It is stated from Ottawa, that the amendment to the extradition act introduced in Parliament will be supported by the Government. It is a liberal measure, and, if carried, promises to carry dismay into the ranks of the "boodlers," as its provisions will probably make it retro-active, so as to affect American fugitives already in Canada.

—The Railway Age says: "Persia is one of the foreign lands that is attracting the attention of American railway builders. The Legislature of Maine has been asked to charter "The Persian Railway Company," and it is said that citizens of that State have contracted with the Shah to build a road extending from Teheran to the Persian Gulf, 500 miles or more.

—The present population of the United States is estimated at 64,300,000. The total increase is now 100,000 per month, exclusive of immigration, while the total number of immigrants last year was 518,000. If immigration continues at the same rate, and the natural increase is retained, the next census, which will be taken July 1, 1890, will show about 67,000,000 inhabitants.

—A recent cyclone in Banks County, Ga., destroyed a large amount of property, killed considerable stock, and killed and injured some twenty persons. The track of the cyclone extended seventeen miles, and books and papers belonging to one family were found ten miles away. The force of the wind was so great that a horse and buggy were lifted bodily in the air and blown into an adjoining field. Large trees were wrenched off two feet above the ground and a cow was found with a piece of plank driven into her body.

—The ravages of phylloxera are constantly becoming more serious in the European vine-growing regions. A report from Elba states that the whole island is infected, while the efforts to check the plague in Toscana have thus far proved unsuccessful. The dreaded insect has also made its appearance at Parmi, in Calabria, at Novara, and at Cervo in Liguria. Reports from the neighborhood of San Remo and Lombardy are also very discouraging.

—According to the report of the director of the mint the production of gold in the United States for 1888 was 1,644,927 ounces, of the value of $33,175,000. The product of silver for the same time was 45,783,632 fine ounces, having a commercial value of about $43,000,000, and a coining value of $59,195,000. The coinage of the mints for the year was as follows: Gold, $31,380,808; silver, $31,990,833; subsidiary silver, $1,084,773; minor, $912,201; total, $65,518,615.

—Eiffel's tower in Paris will be finished about the last of March. The arrangements for hoisting people to its top—1,000 feet above the earth—are to consist of two lifts to carry fifty to one hundred persons each to the first platform. Two others will ascend from the ground floor to the second platform, 112 meters high, in a minute. They will stop at the first platform to take up or leave passengers. The complete ascent will take four minutes, and it will be possible to take to the top 750 visitors an hour.

—During the coming six months, in three leading States of the Union, the question of prohibition is to be submitted to a vote of the people. In New Hampshire the election will take place on March 12, and in Pennsylvania on June 18. In Massachusetts the date has not been fixed. It is said that the present indications in all of these States are favorable to the success of prohibition. A prohibitory amendment has also been submitted in Nebraska, but a year and a half must elapse before the vote can be taken.

—A walking delegate of the Brooklyn, N. Y., Cab Drivers' Union, recently stopped a funeral procession in the street because one of the carriages was driven by a non-union man. In vain the undertaker expostulated, and entreated, and explained that the carriage was not hired by him, but by its occupants, and that he had no control over it. His reasoning had no effect on the haughty delegate. After half an hour of delay the obnoxious driver solved the problem by withdrawing from the scene, and then the autocrat raised his left hand and the procession went on its way.

—Some months since the London Times made the charge that Parnell, the great Irish leader, was privy to the Phoenix Park murders, and to other crimes which had been committed presumably in the interests of the Irish cause. Parliament created a special commission to investigate the matter, with the result that the whole case against Parnell has collapsed. A man named Pigott, who was the principal witness for the Times, after confessing that he forged the letters published to show Parnell's complicity with the crimes, fled to Madrid, where he was arrested a few days since, and immediately committed suicide.

—The Commissioner of the Department of Labor has given to the public some interesting statistics relative to divorces in the United States. The report shows that the number of divorces granted in the United States increased from 9,937 in 1867 to 25,535 in 1886. The total for twenty years was 328,716. During the last five years of the period of twenty years, the States of Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont are the only ones showing a decrease in divorces. Dakota shows the largest increase of divorces granted; 216,738, or 65 per cent. of the whole, were granted to wives, and 111,983 were granted to husbands. The cause for which the greatest number of divorces were granted is that of desertion, being 126,557, or 38 per cent. of the whole number. The Commissioner says that it is apparent that the divorces granted for drunkenness, 13,843, cannot in any sense of the word represent the total number in which drunkenness or intemperance is a serious factor.

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—The first Young Men's Christian Association was founded in June, 1844, by George Williams.

—It is stated that in five years, from 1883 to 1887 inclusive, Boston sent over 3,500,000 gallons of liquor to Africa to debauch, degrade, and destroy the natives.

—The first Swede ordained to the Catholic priesthood since Sweden went over to Lutheranism, three centuries ago, is Rev. Anthony Swensson, now rector of St. Elizabeth's, Detroit, Mich.

—It is stated in the Roman Catholic papers that there are now in their church 865 exclusively German parishes in the United States, and 1,063 "mixed" parishes under German priests.

—It is stated that the Baptists propose to establish a university in New York City on a financial basis of $20,000,000, and that Mr. Rockefeller, the millionaire of the Standard Oil Company, has offered to contribute one million toward it.

—The Paris Figaro asserts that Queen Victoria is a convert to the Romish faith, and the Empress Victoria has a strong leaning in the same direction. The queen has long been a Presbyterian in Scotland and an Episcopalian in England, but where will she be a Romanist?

—The Y. M. C. A. in America has property valued at $6,708,230. There are 77 railroad associations, 273 colleges, 40 colored and 15 Indian. Sixty-three associations report special work among commercial travelers; 158 have organized boys' departments, and 435 have woman's auxiliaries.

—It is stated that the slaves were freed in Brazil by the efforts of the American missionaries, and that they now greatly need schools and teachers for their instruction in Christianity. There are now twelve self-supporting churches there, and the 3,000 converts contributed £2,500 last year.

Obituary.

By William C. Ward

NUTBROWN.—Died of old age, at Vancouver, W. T., January 16, 1889, Sister Nutbrown, aged 78 years, 10 months, and 14 days. Sister Nutbrown began the observance of the Sabbath the fall of 1884. The following spring Brother F. D. Starr held tent-meetings at Vancouver, at which Sister Nutbrown became more fully established in the present truth. She was baptized in the fall of 1885, and united with the Vancouver church at the time of its organization, and remained a faithful and consistent member until her death. She fell asleep rejoicing in the hope of the soon-coming Saviour, in whom she trusted.

The funeral services were conducted by the writer in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vancouver. W. C. WARD.

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THE GREAT CONTROVERSY

By Editor

BETWEEN CHRIST AND SATAN

DURING THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION.

By MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Author of "The Life of Christ," "Sketches from the Life of Paul," "Bible Sanctification," and Other Popular Works.

THIS volume presents the most wonderful and intensely interesting history that has ever been written of the great conflict between Christianity and the Powers of Darkness, as illustrated in the lives of Christian martyrs and reformers on the one hand, and wicked men and persecuting powers on the other. Beginning with our Lord's great prophecy given while viewing Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, this book outlines the history of the whole dispensation down to the time when "Sin and sinners are no more; God's entire universe is clean; and the great controversy is forever ended."

Below we give a brief synopsis of the subjects considered—Destruction of Jerusalem; Persecutions in the First Centuries; The Roman Church; The Waldenses; Early Reformers; Luther's Separation from Rome; Luther before the Diet; Progress of the Reformation; Protest of the Princes; Later Reformers; The Two Witnesses; God Honors the Humble; William Miller and His Work; The First, Second, and Third Angels' Messages; The Tarrying Time; The Midnight Cry; The Sanctuary and 2300 Days; An Open and a Shut Door; Modern Revivals; The Investigative Judgment; Origin of Evil; Enmity between Man and Satan; Agency of Evil Spirits; The Snares of Satan; The First Great Deception; Ancient and Modern Spiritualism; Character and Aims of the Papacy; The Coming Conflict; The Scriptures a Safeguard; The Loud Cry of Rev. 18; The Time of Trouble; God's People Delivered; Desolation of the Earth; The Controversy Ended.

The period of history covered by this volume, is one of the deepest interest to all classes of readers. The style of the author is clear, forcible, and often sublime, and, although simple enough in its statements to be understood and appreciated by a child, its eloquence calls forth the admiration of all.

The demand for this popular book is so great that we have had to print ten editions of it, and as we have hundreds of agents in the field canvassing we expect to sell many thousand copies of this valuable book during the next few months. If there is no agent in your town please send us your address and we will send you descriptive circulars or have an agent call upon you.

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BY ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

THIS pamphlet gives the Bible evidence upon the interesting topic of the earth made new, as the inheritance of the saints. It contains 82 pages. Price, 10 cents.

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The Largest Sanitarium in the World.

THIS Institution, one of the buildings of which is shown in the cut, STANDS WITHOUT A RIVAL in the perfection and completeness of its appointments. The following are a few of the methods employed:—

Turkish, Russian, Roman, Thermo-Electric, Electro-Vapor, Electro-Hydric, Electro-Chemical, Hot Air, Vapor, and Every Form of Water Bath; Electricity in Every Form; Swedish Movements—Manual and Mechanical—Massage, Pneumatic Treatment, Vacuum Treatment, Sun Baths. All other agents of known curative value employed.

The Signs of the Times.

By Editor

OAKLAND, CAL., SECOND-DAY, MARCH 11, 1889.

We send no papers from this office without pay in advance unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read.

THE annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company will be held on Monday, April 22. A general State meeting will be held in connection with this meeting, and will begin Thursday, April 18. Further particulars will be given next week.

AMONG the good things in this number of the SIGNS, we call the attention of our readers to the article on "Inspiration," from the Occident. It is unusually healthful reading for these days, when "sound doctrine" in so many places is not loved nor endured.

IT is stated that fifty thousand foreign paupers and lunatics have entered the United States during the past six months through Canada. Perhaps such immigration as this may explain the fact that while from 1850 to 1880 our population only doubled, the defective classes, including blind, deaf, and dumb, idiotic and insane, increased 400 per cent. The increase of the blind was from about 9,000 in 1850 to about 50,000 in 1880; of deaf and dumb, from 10,000 to nearly 35,000; of idiots from 15,000 to over 75,000; of insane, from 15,000 to over 90,000. It is highly probable that the increase since 1880 has been even more rapid than prior to that date.

REFERRING to the wine interests of California in a recent address before a committee of the Legislature, Charles A. Wetmore, Viticultural Commissioner of this State, said:—

"The people must be educated to understand the wine question. Just now the wine men are feeling a little blue. A great industry has been built up here, but the people will have to be educated to drink wine."

And why must the people be so educated? Simply that the coffers of the wine growers and wine dealers may be filled with the price of that which "at the last biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."

THE following from the Christian at Work, we commend to the readers of the SIGNS, not as censure for the past, however, but as counsel for the future:—

"When you see a paragraph in your favorite paper that you don't like, before you punish yourself for your impulsiveness by stopping a paper which your family want, sleep on it one night. It is the best way. If you are still dissatisfied, write a line to the editor and you may find the trouble lies all in your misdirected imagination, and not in the newspaper at all."

We are at all times glad to hear from our readers, whether it be in the line of profitable questions, personal work, or items of interest. If you do not understand us, let us know.

A CORRESPONDENT wants some explanation of the words of Nathan to David. He writes:—

"Surely David's sin was the greatest sin man could commit, and yet the Lord put away his sin, and said that he should not die. Could he have meant the second death? since all men must die once. Please explain."

When Nathan went to David and spake to him the parable which the Lord had commanded him (2 Sam. 12:1-4), "David's anger was greatly kindled against the man" who had so terribly wronged his neighbor, "and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die." "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man."

Thus David had unwittingly pronounced sentence against himself. But when he confessed his sin, and expressed sorrow for it, Nathan said unto him, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die;" or the text might be paraphrased thus: "Since you have repented of your sin, the Lord has forgiven you, and your own sentence shall not be carried out against you." The words, "Thou shalt not die," meant only that he should not die for that sin, and evidently had no reference to total exemption from either the first or the second death.

EVIDENTLY the editor of the Christian at Work uses tobacco; else what does he mean in the following, clipped from that paper of February 21:—

"Next to the use of intoxicating liquors, the habit of using tobacco in any form stands at the front as the most damaging."—Independent.

"Oh, no! strike out 'tobacco' and insert 'opium,' and then go ahead."

It is a sad thing when editors of Christian newspapers become apologists for tobacco; for this is certainly a plea for the vile weed. If it were not, the editor would be willing to have it remain and place opium in connection with it; he would not ask to have it struck out. Both are bad; it is difficult to say which is worse. Happy is he who is under the bondage of neither.

THE Baptist Standard, of Chicago, says:—

"The voice of God on baptism is all we need to know on the subject. The simple word of Scripture ought often to be put before the eye without a word of comment, and Baptists can afford on this matter to let the Bible speak for itself. We saw, or rather heard, a Bible-reading of this sort (Dr. Bailey's) given in one of our suburban churches; the leader quietly issuing the references and diligently refraining from application or inference. The effect of the whole was overwhelming. There was indeed nothing left to be said save this: 'Is there anyone who, reading these passages over one by one, would think of anything else than of immersion as the original and approved mode?' To this query there was no answer, and the Bible-reading adjourned."

Would the Standard be willing to have the Sabbath question settled in the same manner? And if not, why not?

THE SIGNS only desires credit for what belongs to it; this, however, it does not always get. Nevertheless we find no fault with this. If our neighbor "Feels the want of powers And plume himself from ours, Why, then, we shall not be losers by the theft."

We are glad if the truth is thereby extended. What we wish to say is this: When the SIGNS has made some choice selection and given due credit therefor, we object to its being reprinted and credited to the SIGNS. It is not ours, and while it might do us honor if it were, we wish only such honor as rightfully belongs to us. We shall give credit for all articles or extracts of any length if we only know their source. Right wrongs no one. "Honor to whom honor is due." Selections are credited in italics; original articles, in SMALL CAPITALS.

A WRITER for the Carrier Dove (Spiritualist), refers to a report of a Spiritualist meeting in which, after the close of the remarks of the medium, the audience burst forth into singing, "All hail the power of Jesus' name," and says that it must have been because they did not realize the full meaning of what they sang. The writer then adds:—

"I say it with all seriousness, there is no name under heaven, the power of which we as a progressive people have greater reason to fear, than the name of Jesus, as used by religious people."

We believe this; but it is an additional evidence that Spiritualism is of the devil. We read that the devils believe and tremble. When Christ was on earth he did much in the line of casting out devils, and on one occasion, the devils cried out saying, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" And then they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the "deep," the abyss, thus showing their fear of him and their knowledge that his power was greater than theirs, and was against them. No; there is no name that Spiritualists who are bound to persevere in their ways, have more reason to fear than the name of Jesus. But still he is willing to receive even them if they will accept his offer of salvation; for unto all he says with gentle voice, "Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

SAYS the Examiner (Baptist) of January 24, in referring to baptism other than by an ordained minister:—

"But it seems equally clear that to say baptism can never be performed by any but an ordained minister, is to go beyond the authority of the Scriptures, to which Baptists profess obedience in preference to any human authority. If any Baptist rule or tradition or usage is contrary to Scripture, so much the worse for the rule."

And so we say, be the rule Baptist or anything else. But if the Scriptures are above any human authority to Baptists, why do they still hold to the man-made institution of the Sunday, or so-called Lord's day. Is not the evidence of the Scriptures sufficient for the Sabbath? Is there any evidence for Sunday to be found in the sacred record? Yes; it is so much worse for the denominational rule which is contrary to Scripture, and it is so much worse for he who will blindly and stubbornly to such rule. The Bible is just as safe concerning the Sabbath as any other question.

THE Catholic Mirror of February 23 has an article on "Bonfires of Bibles," in which it ridicules reports which have been circulated by Protestant newspapers about the burning of Bibles in Spain by Catholics. It speaks of those "ignorant enough to accept these statements," "of the gullibility of American Protestants," and tries to throw discredit on the Bible societies by sneeringly asking, "Where are the Protestants made in Catholic countries by the distribution of Bibles?" But it is a noticeable fact that in the whole article, of about a column's length, not one word of denial of the reports is uttered. If the Protestant press has lied, why cannot the Mirror say so. Its beating about the bush is no evidence of the truthfulness of the report that Catholics in Spain have burned Bibles.

But one glaring exaggeration, to use a mild term, occurs in the Mirror's attempt to hide the intolerant spirit of its church. It refers to the reports of Protestant missionaries in Catholic countries as "provender of highly seasoned stories about the delight of the poor wretches who escape the notice of the terrible priests long enough to peep into the Bible and discover the truth. This is the sort of stuff and rubbish that fills the columns of the average Protestant newspaper."

It is not so. We are sorry to say that the average Protestant newspaper is often found apologizing for the Church of Rome, lauding her progress, or pleading for her co-operation. All such things as the Mirror charges them with is the exception, not the rule. Would to God that professed Protestants were Protestants in truth, to protest against the Romish error, which is eating out, like a gangrene, the very vitals of Protestant nations.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

By Editor

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International Tract and Missionary Society.

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