Earlier text: IFA LOCAL camp-meeting will be held at Spencer, Iowa, September 14-20. THE tent work at Wilson, Kansas, has resulted encouragingly. Twenty have decided to obey the Lord and walk in the light of his commandments. At Milwaukee, Wis., Elder H. W. Reed and the Bible workers are much encouraged by an increasing interest. Since the camp-meeting ten have been added to the church, and others are soon to be baptized. FROM a report in the Review of Elder Wm. Covert, president of Wisconsin Conference, we note that Elder J. B. Scott has been having encouraging experience. At La Grange, three were added to the church; at Neillsville, seven; at Shamrock, fourteen. A RECENT special effort to raise the subscription list of the American Sentinel resulted in the addition of 4,000 names to the list. The Sentinel is the able organ of the International Religious Liberty Association, and is published at 39 Bond Street, New York City. Weekly, 16 pp., $1.00 a year. BROTHER H. A. PARROTT writes from Fort Worth, Texas, concerning the late camp-meeting held at that place, as follows: “The meeting was the largest ever held in this State, many coming in their wagons between two and three hundred miles. A good spirit was present from the beginning, and lasted to the end. Nothing but the drawing Spirit of God can be made to account for the interest shown by outsiders. The interest was so great that a tent-meeting is being held in the city for the purpose of following up the work. Several are keeping the commandments of God already, and the prospect is fair for many others to follow.” AT People's Valley, A. T., where Elders G. O. States and W. L. Iles have been holding meetings, eleven persons have come out on the side of the Lord's cause. MEETINGS held at Barnesville, Ohio, had resulted at last report in the baptism of nine persons and the organization of a Sabbath school of eighteen members. The meetings are conducted by Elder C. P. Haskell and Brother A. R. Ogden. At the recent camp-meeting in Springfield, Ohio, on the last Sunday of the meeting, Mr. S. Sherin (Methodist), from Chicago, gave a stirring address on Christian help work in the way of lifting up the fallen. A large assembly of people were present from the city. UNDER the direction of the American Medical Missionary Association, there are several branches of work in progress in Chicago: The Workingmen's Home, at 42 and 44 Custom House Place; Star of Hope Mission, 33 W. Madison Street; Nurses' Home, at 744 Forty-seventh Street; and Rescue Home, Thirty-third Street and Rhodes Avenue. ELDER G. B. THOMPSON, of West Virginia Conference, says in the Review: “The Lord has blessed the canvassing work in this State the past summer, and all the workers are of good courage. In one place several have embraced the truth from reading, and, while they have heard only a few sermons, they are talking of erecting a small church building.” REPORTS from the camp-meeting held at Elizabeth, Ky., indicate a profitable meeting. A large number of copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES were placed in the homes of the people. There were present Elders G. A. Irwin, N. W. Allee, F. D. Starr, J. E. Evans, J. W. Collie, and Prof. W. T. Bland of Graysville Academy. Four were baptized, the brethren in that scattered field were greatly strengthened, and some in the city began the observance of the Lord's Sabbath.12 SPEAKING of the work for colored people, Brother M. L. Ivory says: “The colored people of the south are hungering and thirsting for righteousness; but having been so often snared and baffled in the past, few have the courage to stand for the truth, even when they see, hear, and understand it. They are generally poor, and can seldom speak fully the sentiments of their hearts, altho quite a majority of those who, through my feeble efforts directed by the Lord, were brought into the truth, have stood firm in the faith during the past five years.” Leisure Is the Devil’s Tempting-Time
“OUR leisure is the devil’s tempting-time.” LESSON I.—SABBATH, OCTOBER 2, 1897. 4 “They therefore that were scattered abroad went about 5 preaching the Word. And Philip went down to the city of 6 Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs 7 which he did. For from many of those which had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many 8 that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. And there was much joy in that city.” 9 “But there was a certain man, Simon by name, which beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of 10 Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one; to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This 11 man is that power of God which is called Great. And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed 12 them with his sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and 13 women. And Simon also himself believed; and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.” 14 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto 15 them Peter and John; who, when they were come down, 16 prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they had been 17 baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they 18 their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, 19 Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto 20 him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part 21 nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For 23 I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of 24 iniquity. And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken shall come upon me.” 1. What did those do who were scattered abroad by persecution after the death of Stephen? 2. Where did Philip go? What did he do there? 3. How was his preaching received? What manifestation accompanied his words? 4. What showed the work to be of God? 5. What did the Gospel cause in that city? 6. What noted character was there at that time? What had he been doing? For whom were all his efforts put forth? 7. How great had his influence been? How had the people regarded him? 8. Why did they thus run after him? 9. When Philip preached, to what did he direct their attention? Whom did he announce as the great one? When the people believed Philip’s preaching, what followed? 10. When all the people believed and were baptized, what did Simon do? 11. What tidings came to the apostles in Jerusalem? What did they do? 12. What did they do when they came to Samaria? 13. What was yet lacking in the experience of these Samaritans? 14. What did the apostles do, that they might receive the Holy Ghost? 15. What desire did this awaken on the part of Simon? What did he do? 16. Why did he desire this power? 17. What was Peter’s reply? 18. What did he say that Simon did not have? What was the condition of his heart? 19. What exhortation did Peter give him? 20. What did Peter say was his condition? 21. How was Simon affected by these solemn words? 1. Whom did Philip preach? 2. Whom did Simon preach? 3. When men preach the Word, to whom do they draw disciples? 4. When they teach perverse things, to whom do they draw disciples? Cite a text showing this. 5. Did Simon desire the Holy Spirit? What was it that he asked for? Is it possible for one to impart to others that which he does not himself possess? Of whom does the Holy Spirit testify? Of whom did Simon desire that the Spirit should testify? Why was Simon’s heart not right with God? See Hab. 2:4. 6. For what did Simon ask Peter to pray? Of what does a truly penitent man think rather than of personal consequences to himself? The Sunday School International Series.
Lesson I.—Sunday, October 3, 1897. PAUL’S LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
NOTE.— In this lesson we go with Paul on his last journey back to his old home. Trace the journey on the map, and note the places named in the narrative. It will help to fix the lesson in the mind. There are three principal topics in the section, which might be named as follows: Sympathy with God’s workers; the work of women in the church; faithfulness to duty in the face of obstacles and dangers. The lesson section includes verse 17. 1 “And when it came to pass that we were parted from them, and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and 2 the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara; and having found a ship crossing over unto Phenicia, we went 3 aboard, and set sail. And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days; and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. And when it came to pass that we had 5 accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way, till we were out of the city; and kneeling down on the beach, 6 we prayed, and bade each other farewell; and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again. 7 “And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode 8 with them one day. And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him. 9 Now this man had four daughters, virgins, which did 10 prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came 11 down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And coming to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and 12 shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the 14 Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 15 “And after these days we took up our baggage, and went up to Jerusalem.” Golden Text.—“I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13. (1) After parting with the elders, to what island did the apostles sail? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) At what other places did they touch? Same verse. (3) To what place did they next sail? Verse 2. Note 2. (4) After passing Cyprus, at what place did they land? Verse 3. Note 3. (5) What occasioned the stop at this place? Same verse. (6) Whom did the apostles meet at this place? Verse 4. (7) What message did they have from Paul? Same verse. Note 4. (8) How long did they remain in this place? Same verse. (9) How did the converts in this city show their interest in the work of the apostles? (10) With what simple and appropriate ceremony did Paul take leave of these disciples? Same verse. (11) What followed this parting? Verse 6. (12) At what place did they next touch? Verse 7. (13) In what respect was this stop like that recorded in verse 4? Same verse. (14) Having left Ptolemais, to what place did Paul’s company journey? Verse 8. (15) With whom did they abide? Same verse. (16) Who was this Philip? Same verse. Note 5. (17) What is recorded of the family of Philip? Verse 9. Note 6. (18) What prophet came to them while they were at this place? Verse 10. (19) What did the prophet do? Verse 11. (20) What message did he have from the Lord? Same verse. (21) Hearing this, what did the apostles and disciples urge upon Paul? Verse 12. (22) What reply did Paul make to these entreaties? Verse 13. (23) Seeing that they could not move Paul, what did the disciples do and say? Verse 14. (24) For what place did they then take up their journey? Verse 15. 1. We were parted from them.—The “we” here refers to Paul, Trophimus (verse 29), Aristarchus (27:2), and Luke. It seems that Timothy was not with them at this time, but had gone back to the church at Ephesus. Some render the expression “parted from them” as “having torn ourselves away from” them, the original word indicating considerable grief and reluctance at the parting. 2. Phenicia.—This was a part of Syria along the northern coast of Palestine. 3. Landed at Tyre.—This city of Phenicia was celebrated for its commerce, so much so indeed that it is frequently mentioned in the Bible on account of its merchandise with the kings of the earth, and it is used in Eze. 28:11-19 to represent the exaltation of Satan and his fall. It was Hiram, king of Tyre, who helped Solomon in building the temple at Jerusalem. King Ahab, of Israel, married a daughter of a king of Tyre, Jezebel. Christ, during his earthly ministry, visited the vicinity of Tyre. Mark 7:24. 4. That he should not set foot in Jerusalem.—This testimony, it is said, was from the Spirit. The Spirit had revealed to them that Paul was to suffer persecution at Jerusalem, and indeed Paul had had many such warnings as this, as is shown by Acts 20:23: “The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” The disciples had taken these prophecies as an indication that the Spirit would counsel Paul not to go to Jerusalem. This is shown from the 11th and 12th verses; but Paul knew his mission, and was ready to die, if need be, that the cause of Christ might be advanced. 5. Philip, the evangelist.—This Philip was one of the deacons whose choosing is mentioned in Acts 6. He was not Philip the apostle. 6. Daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.—“The English word ‘prophesy’ has come to have, since about the beginning of the seventeenth century, only the one sense of ‘to predict what is to come.’ In the time of Queen Elizabeth, ‘prophesying’ meant ‘preachings,’ and Jeremy Taylor’s famous work on the ‘Liberty of Prophesying,’ was written to uphold the freedom of preaching.”—Cambridge Bible. The records of the Bible show that women as well as men have been inspired and will be inspired to give God’s message to the world. See Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28, 29. Ten acres under cultivation, one mile from S. D. A. church and Sabbath-school, and one mile from Hagerman, New Mexico; also a homestead right and improvements. For terms address John Sweeney, Hagerman, N. M. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY LIBRARY.—These books are published by the Religious Tract Society, of London, and recommended by the International Tract Society. 192 pages, 18mo. 25c each. Canadian Life and Scenery. Adventures in New Guinea. Olive's Story. By Mrs. Walton. Outlines of the Life of Christ. The Orphans of Glen Elder. Cowper's Letters. With a Memoir. Great Revival of the eighteenth Century. Philosophy of Plan of Salvation. Romance of Modern Missions. The Manuscript Man; or, The Bible in Ireland. By Miss Walshe. Livingstone Anecdotes. By Dr. Macaulay. Peter, the Apprentice. A Tale of the Reformation. By Emma Leslie. WOOD'S NATURAL HISTORY.—This is the popular “Aldine Edition” in 12mo size. Describes birds, animals, fishes, reptiles, and insects, gives sketches of their habits, etc. Cloth, 321 pages, illustrated, each 50c. BLACK BEAUTY.—By Anna Sewell. This “Autobiography of a Horse” has become popular and well known both in this country and England. It portrays in the form of a narrative the need of kindness in the treatment of that noble animal, the horse. Every child should read it, and it should be placed in the hands of all horse owners. Paper, 25c.; cloth, $1.00. ONE SYLLABLE HISTORIES.—These histories, written for the most part in words of one syllable, will be a valuable addition to any young person's library. They are histories, not romances, and still are written in a style to interest the young. Each book contains from 190 to 230 pages, size 6¾ x 8½ inches, is bound in boards with handsome lithographic covers. Price, $1.00 each. History of the United States. History of the Old Testament. Lives of the Presidents of the United States. Address, Pacific Press Publishing Company, Oakland, Cal. —It is stated that since 1842 Queen Victoria has traveled 2,000,000 miles. —Cecil Rhodes, of South Africa, recently laid the foundation stone of a new Methodist Church at Bulawayo. —Prince Alexander George, the brother of England's next queen, will visit the United States in the near future. —A report from Sydney, N. S. W., states that the governor of German New Guinea was killed by natives on August 21. —Advices from Cairo state that the Dervishes have evacuated Berber, at which place the gunboats had arrived. Berber is about 200 miles from Khartoum. —At the recent Hebrew congress in Switzerland favorable action was taken in regard to the plan of Theodore Herzel for the establishment of a Jewish kingdom. —The archbishops of Canterbury and York and the bishop of Chichester recently issued letters to all the clergymen in England, urging the necessity of temperance work in each parish. —A rumor is now abroad in official circles to the effect that the new Spanish Government will be replaced within two weeks by the liberal leaders, with Señor Sagasta as prime minister. —The failure of potatoes, corn, and hay in Ireland has resulted in a gloomy prospect for the coming winter. The price of bread is increasing in England and Ireland as well as in France. —The new minister of Spain, in a note to officials in Cuba, is reported to have made the declaration that the Spanish Government will brook no interference of the United States in Cuban affairs. —A despatch from Buenos Ayres says that the Uruguayan rebels were within two days' march of Montevideo, the capital, on the 8th inst. The city has no system of defense, and only 2,000 troops. —An explosion at the Chinese government barracks at Shanghai, on August 13, killed thirteen Chinese soldiers and officers, a number of horses and mules, and destroyed a large amount of government property. —A late despatch from Lima says that the government will adopt a financial policy like that of Holland—silver coin will be a legal tender with unlimited circulation, but its value will be fixed on a gold basis. —On September 3 an anarchist shot and seriously wounded the chief of police and his assistant, of Barcelona, Spain, in revenge for their part in the conviction of the bomb-throwers executed there some time ago. —General Lockhart, commander-in-chief of the Punjab district, India, has been recalled from England, where he has been on furlough, and will be placed in command of a large expedition to punish the rebellious Afridis. —The full text of the formal acceptance by Japan of the proposal to arbitrate the differences between that government and Hawaii has been received by the authorities at Washington. The king of Belgium is named as sole arbitrator. —A despatch from Constantinople states that the sultan is anxious to reopen the Cretan question, hoping thereby to check the European concert. It is proposed by the powers to end the blockade of Crete, which is now considered useless. —The Jackson-Harmsworth expedition, which has spent three years in and around Franz Josef Land, in the Arctic Ocean, has returned to civilization, having made a thorough survey of that region, and brought back much valuable information. —A Russian doctor has invented an electrical apparatus, which it is claimed will enable the totally blind to see to the extent of being able to distinguish both transparent and opaque objects; that is, we suppose, when the optic nerve is not destroyed. —Advices from Uganda say that a mutiny has occurred among the troops of the Kongo Free State, in the Toro district. The mutineers are said to have killed fifty-five Belgian officers and men, and destroyed all the forts, committing depredations everywhere. —The Mexican Government is now facing a crisis in financial matters, if reports from Mexican business centers are reliable. Mexican dollars are now worth only 39½ cents. Many American merchants in Mexico are giving up their business and returning to the States. —On account of the blame which has been heaped upon England in connection with the peace negotiations between Turkey and Greece, Lord Salisbury has put forward a new plan for bringing about a speedy settlement of the imbroglio. The plan is to have an international commission, composed of representatives of the six powers, which will have charge of the Greek finances, guaranteeing the interests of the bondholders, and providing for the payment of the indemnity to Turkey, that power to evacuate Thessaly as soon as the plan is adopted by the powers. —Eight Armenians, arrested in connection with the bomb-throwing incident, recently in Constantinople, have been sentenced to death. Three hundred Turks have been arrested, on the supposition of connection with the committee of the “Young Turkey” party. —The volcano of Mount Mayon, Philippine Islands, is again in a violent state of eruption, the streams of lava flowing a distance of twenty miles. Several villages have been completely destroyed, and it is reported that fully 500 persons have lost their lives in this eruption. —The president of Argentina, in a message to the congress of that government, specifies a number of American importations upon which a retaliatory tariff should be placed on account of the American tariff on wool and hides, which are two of the principal exports from Argentina. —As a result of the continued strike of the engineering trades in England, 6,000 mechanics at Newcastle, Sheffield, and other manufacturing centers, have been discharged, and it is the intention of the manufacturers to move their plants to the continent. The strikers are opposed to the introduction of new labor-saving machinery, and are trying artificially to check production. —European sentiment just now is centered in the dual alliance between France and Russia. The London Spectator remarks: “The closer we look into the details of the arrangements binding Europe, the clearer it becomes that no one of the various powers can move without Russia. In some way or other every power but Russia is bound, either by express agreement or by interests, not to alter the status quo.” —During the week General Weyler reports two engagements with the insurgents in Cuba, in which the latter were beaten with severe loss. General Arranguren has been surrounded by Weyler's soldiers in the Grille hills. But in attempting to carry Arranguren's position, the Spaniards were defeated, with considerable loss. They have, however, taken up such a position that it is believed Arranguren's force will be starved out. —King Humbert, of Italy, on September 4, visited the emperor of Germany at Hamburg. The toasts of the two rulers were important as indicating the attitude of the two powers which they represent. The toast of the emperor indicated a set purpose for the continuance of the dreibund. That of the king would seem to indicate that, while maintaining friendly relations with Germany, Italy would still seek to maintain friendly relations with all the other European governments. —Consul-General Lee has left Havana, on a thirty days' leave of absence, and it is expected that he will return to Cuba about October 1. —According to Rev. Ada C. Bowles, president of the Women's Ministerial Conference, there are now over 200 women preachers in the United States. —The national convention of letter-carriers is now in progress in San Francisco, with delegates in attendance from nearly all of the large cities in the east. —Seth Low, the prominent educator and college president, has been nominated for mayor of the city of Greater New York, and has accepted the nomination. —Prominent women of the United States are having prepared a bronze statue of Washington for presentation to France at her international exposition in 1900. —The United States gunboat Castine ran aground outside the harbor of Montevideo on September 5. She was pulled off the reef by two steamers, but the extent of her damage is not yet known. —It is reported that the Cuban League of the United States has ceased its operations upon advice from Washington that its work was not now necessary and its activity might embarrass the government. —John D. Rockefeller has recently paid over to the Baptist Missionary Union and Missionary Society the sum of $220,000, which, with the sum raised by the societies themselves, wipes out the indebtedness of these two societies. —A company has been incorporated with a capital of $75,000,000 for the purpose of building a ship canal across Florida, the eastern entrance to be at St. Augustine. This will shorten the route to Texas and Mexico about three days. —The most startling news from the Klondike by the steamer National is that the miners in that region will surely suffer the pangs of hunger before the winter is over. There is no doubt that much gold exists, but that will not take the place of food. —A terrible explosion of dynamite occurred at Cygnet, Ohio, on the 7th inst., causing the death of six persons whose names were known and several others who could not be recognized. Every building in the town was damaged, and several persons injured. —An epidemic of yellow fever has broken out at Ocean Springs, Miss., and a number of fatal cases are reported from there. Strict quarantine regulations are being enforced against the vicinity of the plague, and it is the belief of medical men that the scourge can be stamped out before it becomes in any sense widespread. —The Gulf passenger train was robbed on September 3 at Twin Mountains by four bandits, who secured about $13,000. A band of five outlaws, supposed to include the robbers, was captured in northern New Mexico two days after by a posse organized to hunt the robbers down. —The customs inspectors at Laredo, Texas, have found an unclaimed grip on a train containing $200,000 worth of diamonds, jewelry, and other valuables. The papers in the valise indicate that it belongs to a Spanish officer, and it is supposed to have been stolen, the thief being afraid to claim it. —A coal-dust explosion in the Sunshine mine near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on September 3, resulted in the instant killing of twelve miners. It is reported that the force of the explosion was so great that every bone in the twelve bodies was crushed and broken. Three of the miners left families. —A leaky gas main at Broad Ripple, Indiana, caused a terrible disaster at that place on September 4. The basements of several buildings were filled with gas, which was exploded by a lighted match, killing six persons and seriously injuring thirty, in addition to laying an entire block in ruins. —Twenty deputy sheriffs who attempted to evict the striking miners from the corporation houses at Finleyville, Penn., on September 6, were rather roughly handled by a crowd of miners, headed by 100 Polish women. The deputies were compelled to give up the attempt, and beat a retreat, many of them severely bruised and wounded. —The members of the Woman's Rescue League of Massachusetts have decided to publish a list of the names of bachelor politicians, and work against their election or re-election to offices of public trust, on the ground that they are ineligible to hold such offices, having shirked their duty to the human family. Only married men for public offices will be their watchword. —The American Bible Society has prepared a large folio Bible in the English language as a gift to the emperor of Japan. It will be presented in the name of the American Bible Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the National Bible Society of Scotland. The gift to the emperor was suggested by the favorable reception which the dowager empress of China gave to a beautiful New Testament in Chinese presented to her in 1894 in the name of 10,000 Protestant Christian women of China. —William F. Cochrane, of Yonkers, N. Y., has given to the laboring men of that city a club-house, which will be called the Hollywood Inn. The building itself was erected at a cost of $120,000 and the lot upon which it stands cost $30,000. This club-house will contain a library, reading-room, gymnasium, smoking-room, lunch-room, and dressing-room, an auditorium capable of seating 500 persons, plunge bath, bowling alleys, bicycle track, etc. On one evening of each week the building will be open to the wives and daughters of the members. —Among the names of men against whom injunctions were issued by the courts of West Virginia, prohibiting them from addressing the striking miners, is found that of Rev. Mr. Wiley, a Methodist, who had spoken twice to the men, counseling them to refrain from deeds of violence. If the preaching of the Word can be prohibited by injunction, it will be an easy matter for the members of one denomination hereafter to silence the preachers of another, if their preaching should chance to displease them. This is hardly freedom of speech—and certainly not religious freedom.