THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.—A native Christian near Allahabad, India, made over his farm to his son, bought a camel, loaded it with Christian books, and started at his own charges for the wild deserts of Rajpootna, to spread the gospel among people who had never seen a Christian.
An army officer, just returned to the Texas frontier from a trip in the interior of Mexico, writes that the Mexican people are almost unanimous in favor of annexation to the United States, they believing that annexation is the only certain cure for their perpetual distresses by revolution, brigandage, etc.
TROUBLES IN AUSTRIA.—There is a prospect of serious troubles in Austria, arising from the composite character of its population, the empire being a confederation of Hungarians, Bohemians, Germans, Poles, Croats, and Sclaves, each retaining its language and national traditions, and resisting all efforts for centralization. Since the Hungarians were allowed to retain their own organizations, other nationalities demand the same privilege, and there is confusion in the national councils. What seems unfortunate for the empire, Count Beust, the enlightened Protestant statesman, who, during its great trials has been its prime minister, has resigned his position.
IMPROVEMENTS IN JAPAN.—The Japanese authorities continue to show their appreciation of the institutions of this country. They have recently engaged, at a high salary, Gen. Geo. B. Williams, who has been connected with the Internal Revenue Department at Washington since its organization, to introduce a similar system in Japan. They have also sent a member of their Board of Education here to procure information about our common school system, and to purchase school books in English and Russian. A Pennsylvania firm has shipped 41 cases of school slates to Japan.
A new religious sect has sprung up in the congenial soil of Russia, the birthplace already of innumerable mushroom creeds as short-lived as their tenets are extravagant. If an additional proof is required to impress upon the new faith the stamp of insanity, it is to be found in the poetical turn of the reformer now startling the neighborhood of Tcheranoslaff, and attracting, as we hear, thousands of converts. He scorns to speak in prose, but expresses himself invariably in rhyme, and an approach to meter. The founder of the sect preaches polygamy, abrogation of all denominational creeds, and utter religious license, and gives himself out for the Saviour.
HARDLY any more fearful calamity is recorded in history, than the present famine in Persia. It threatens to exterminate a whole nation. A traveler in Teheran about two months ago gives the following account:
“In the crowds which swarm in the barrack-square to receive a dole of small silver from the Shah, hundreds, men and women, are literally stark naked, worn to the bone, and covered with sores. The people follow the visitor, howling for bread; two men lie upon the ground quite dead, a third is laid upon one side of the bazaar, covered with a piece of dirty cotton. A naked women lies in the agony of death, surrounded by a crowd of beings almost as badly off as herself. The next form is that of a woman, who scrapes from the ground a handful of melon-seed and filth, which she divides between her two children. The people kill each other in the rush for the English rice that is distributed to them.”
The whole world has an interest in this famine because of the extreme probability that, as is almost invariably the case, pestilence will arise as its fruit, and sweep once more around the world.
The Woman Suffragists have, at length, succeeded in boring an opinion out of the Senate on their foolish assumption that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the National Constitution confer the suffrage upon women, contrary to the design of Congress, of the State legislatures, and of the people, in proposing and ratifying these amendments. The Senate Judiciary Committee have squelched that foolishness by reporting unanimously that the amendments not only do not confer suffrage upon women, but that the Fifteenth Amendment actually recognizes the right of the several State governments to deny women the right of suffrage. This is not the entertainment the Woman Suffragists invited themselves to; but there is little doubt that it is a sound exposition of the Constitution, the more particularly because it not only tallies with the intent of Congress, the State legislatures, and the people in framing and adopting the amendments, but it also agrees with the common-sense meaning of the language of the amendments; and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are the ablest lawyers in the Senate or in the Republic, perhaps, having for chairman Senator Trumbull, who, though he has what we regard as great faults and weaknesses of character, is, nevertheless, acknowledged by all as a great, clear, and careful constitutional lawyer.—Det. Tribune.
—Bismarck, the real ruler of the German Empire, is represented to have spoken recently as follows concerning American affairs:—
“I always read a great deal about the United States. Their current history is a most attractive kaleidoscope. The colors may be sometimes repulsive, but they are always clear and well defined. And no matter how strangely distorted the picture may sometimes look, the last turn of the kaleidoscope always brings public opinion to the top. As everybody is allowed to say there what he pleases, it is sometimes difficult to discern there what a true expression of public opinion is. But it is sure to make itself felt truly and courageously in the end. Think of the strange things which occurred in New York. Dishonest officials were plundering the people’s money with astounding coolness. They relied on public suffrage to sustain their iniquities, and on bad judges to screen them. I hardly trusted my eyes when I read the details of the robberies that had been committed. Americans with whom I conversed confirmed everything, and they seemed hopeless about the future of their largest city. But their despondency was groundless, and honesty triumphed even there. There is a great deal of food for thought in those American events.”
Appointments: Church Meetings and Conferences, February 1872
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
MONTHLY meeting with the church in Canaan, Me., Feb. 17 and 18, 1872, commencing Friday evening at six o’clock. By order of Committee.
QUARTERLY meeting at Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio, Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 17 and 18. It is earnestly requested that all the members of the church attend the meeting. Wm. CINNOCK.
QUARTERLY meeting of the S. D. A. church at Liberty Pole, Vernon Co., Wis., Feb. 24 and 25, 1872. Will Bro. D. Downer meet with us, if possible? Come one, come all. H. Van Vleck.
MEETINGS will be held at Tamarack school-house, Sabbath and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11. We hope there will be a general attendance.
Also quarterly meeting of the Dell Prairie church at Dell Prairie, Wis., school-house, Sabbath and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18. We hope all who can will come, to get nearer to God. Preaching may be expected by the writer. DAVID DOWNER.
A GENERAL MEETING will be held in the S. D. A. meeting-house at Bordoville, Feb. 18, 1872, commencing at 9½ o’clock, A. M., for the purpose of organizing a Missionary and Tract Society for the Seventh-day Adventist State Conference of the State of Vermont, according to the plan and Constitution as set forth and recommended in REVIEW, No. 6, present volume. It is requested that all the churches in Vermont and Canada East will be represented by delegates, or by letter, at this meeting.
Come, praying that the special blessing of God may attend us as we engage in this work.
For Vermont Conference Committee. LEWIS BEAN.
Bordoville, Vt., Jan. 31, 1872.
A New Work.
By James White
We design soon to publish a general appeal to our people in reference to Tract Societies, Systematic Benevolence, the Publishing Association, Health Institute, Book Fund, Missionary Work, Wills, and Personal Effort of the entire church.
In this work we shall give the names of the stockholders of the Publishing Association with the amounts of stock taken, the stockholders of the Health Institute with the amounts, and state who have, and who have not, assigned their stock. Those wishing to be represented in this work as holding stock, and those who wish to have it appear that their stock has been assigned, must improve the present opportunity to pay pledges, take stock, and those who hold stock not assigned should report immediately.
This work will assist our churches in seeing that all their members pay Systematic Benevolence, and hold stock in our institutions, according to their ability.
J. W.
White to Visit Wright, Michigan Church
Bro. and sister White will meet with the church in Wright, Mich., Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 10 and 11.
Religious Amendment Movement and Its Possible Consequences
By Editor
We give in another column a communication from the Corresponding Secretary of the National Association for securing the Religious Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The views he expresses are no doubt those entertained by many who are engaged in the movement. But, if we mistake not, history gives many examples of movements breaking over the bounds at first set for them, and reaching to results not contemplated by their originators. We look for a similar result in this matter. Our relation to the anti-temperance and anti-Sunday movements is set forth in last week's Review, in the article headed, “Agitation of the Sunday Question.”
Tract Distribution and Meeting Notice in San Francisco
Bro. Cornell reports from California that the battle goes well. He states an item in relation to their tract distribution which contains a suggestion, on which some others may be able to act with advantage. In all the books distributed in San Francisco, they paste the following notice:—
“Meetings in the interest of these subjects at the Church on Harrison St., between 5th and 6th Sts., Saturday at 11 o’clock A. M., and Sunday at 11 A. M., and 7½ P. M. Books and Tracts kept at the Church. Seats free. Hear, then judge. Read and circulate.”
Claimed Telegraph Breakthrough: Sixty Thousand Words an Hour
We find the following paragraph going the rounds of the papers:—
“WONDERS NEVER CEASE.—It is said that Mr. D. H. Craig has made such improvements in telegraphy that it will be practicable to transmit 60,000 words an hour over a single wire; a speed ten times greater than is now possible. The cost can then be reduced to about the ordinary rates of postage.”
This would be a wonder indeed. Sixty thousand words an hour would be one thousand words a minute. But the most rapid speakers are able to utter only from two hundred to two hundred and fifty words per minute. So this new system of telegraphing, it seems, is able to transmit words four times as fast as they can possibly be uttered by human lips! It should at once take the place of the art of phonography which requires to be very skillfully handled to secure in full the words of the most rapid speakers.
A Good Example.
Bro. Cornell writes from San Francisco that a sister there has just sold a diamond ring for one hundred dollars, and put it all into their tract society. That ring now, instead of being an instrument for vain show, and fostering pride, which the Bible so strongly condemns, will go about doing service for the Master. And, perhaps, by means of some of the tracts which it sends forth, some soul may be saved; and in comparison with the value of one soul, the whole world is as nothing. This is putting out money to the exchangers with a prospect of a mighty increase. In time of war it is a most gratifying victory to be able to seize the enemy’s guns and turn them against their owners. So let us take the very means and instruments with which the devil designs that we shall serve him, and turn them against him, by using these very things in the service of God.
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, &c.,
ISSUED BY THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, AND FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE.
Hymn Book. This is a book of 320 pp. of Hymns, and 96 pp. of Music. In plain morocco, $1.00; in extra binding, $1.50.
Thoughts on the Revelation, critical and practical. By Uriah Smith. This is a work of 328 pp., of great value to the student of prophecy. $1.00.
History of the Sabbath and the First Day of the Week. By J. N. Andrews. 342 pp., $1.00.
Life Incidents, in connection with the great Advent Movement. By Eld. James White. 373 pp., $1.00.
The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. By Ellen G. White; 416 pp. Vol. II, will be ready soon. Each $1.00.
Autobiography of Eld. Joseph Bates, embracing a long life on shipboard, &c., with a brief account of the author's experience in the great Advent Movement of 1840–44, with author's portrait. 318 pp., $1.00.
How to Live; comprising a series of articles on Health, and how to preserve it, with various recipes for cooking healthful food, &c. 400 pp., $1.00.
Sabbath Readings; or Moral and Religious Reading for Youth and Children. 400 pp., 60 cts. The same in five pamphlets, 50 cts.
Appeal to Youth; Address at the Funeral of Henry N. White; also a brief narrative of his life, experience, and last sickness, with his mother's letters, &c. 96 pp., muslin, 40 cts. Paper covers, 10 cts.
The Game of Life Illustrated, with Explanatory Notes, and Introduction by Eld. James White. This is one of the most instructive and impressive little works ever published. It has three illustrations, 5x8 inches each, representing Satan playing with man for his soul; 1. The game in progress; 2. The game lost; 3. The game won. In board, 50 cts.; in paper, 30 cts.
The Advent Keepsake; comprising a text of Scripture for each day of the year, on the Second Advent, the Resurrection, &c. Muslin, 25 cts.; do., gilt, 40 cts.
A Solemn Appeal relative to Solitary Vice, and the Abuses and Excesses of the Marriage Relation. Edited by Eld. James White. Muslin, 50 cts.; paper, 30 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law; embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular History of the Sabbath for 6000 years, and a refutation of the Sunday-seventh-day theories of Mede, Jennings, Akers, and Fuller. By J. N. Andrews. 25 cts.
Our Faith and Hope, No. 1. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary, and Saving Faith. No. 2 will be ready soon. 20 cts. each.
The Atonement; an Examination of a Remedial System in the light of Nature and Revelation. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Bible from Heaven; or, a Dissertation on the Evidences of Christianity. 25 cts.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. By D. M. Canright. 25 cts.
Review of Objections to the Visions. 20 cts.
Discussion on the Sabbath Question, between Elds. Grant and Cornell. 20 cts.
The Ministration of Angels: and the Origin, History, and Destiny, of Satan. By D. M. Canright. 15 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-Horned Beast. By J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
Which? Mortal or Immortal? an Inquiry into the Present Constitution and Future Condition of Man. By Uriah Smith. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. By J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
The Seventh Part of Time; a Sermon on the Sabbath Question. By W. H. Littlejohn. 10 cts.
The Truth Found; the Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment. By J. H. Waggoner. 10 cts.
Review of Gillfillan, and other authors, on the Sabbath. By T. B. Brown. 10 cts.
Vindication of the True Sabbath. By J. W. Morton. 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9; an Explanation of the Commandment to Restore and Build Jerusalem. By J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Seven Trumpets; an Exposition of Rev. 8 and 9. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-Four; a full Exposition of the chapter. By James White. 10 cts.
Key to Prophetic Chart. The symbols of Daniel and John explained, and the periods determined. 10 cts.
The Position and Work of the True People of God under the Third Angel's Message. By W. H. Littlejohn. 10 cts.
An Appeal to the Baptists, from the Seventh-day Baptists, for the Restoration of the Bible Sabbath. 5 cts.
Milton on the State of the Dead. 5 cts.
Three-Cent Tracts: The Second Advent—The Millennium—The Kingdom—The Law and the Gospel—The Seventh Part of Time—Much in Little—The Sin of Witchcraft—Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts—Celestial Railroad—Scripture References.
Two-Cent Tracts: The Sufferings of Christ—Seven Reasons for Sunday-Keeping Examined—Who Changed the Sabbath?—Sabbath by Elihu—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Institution of the Sabbath—Popular Objections to the Resurrection of the Body—Positive Institutions.
One-Cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Brief Thoughts on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Judson on Dress—Personality of God—Sign of the Day of God—Time Lost; Old and New Style—The Two Laws—What is Truth?
Half-Cent Tracts: God's Answers to Man's Excuses for not Keeping His Sabbath—The Heavenly Meeting—Some Features of our Times—Which Day do You Keep, and Why?
CHARTS: The Prophetic and Law of God Charts, the size used by our preachers; varnished and mounted, each $2.00.
The two Charts, on cloth, by mail, with Key, without rollers, $2.50.