THERE was a time when he who spent his day in the cell of the hermit had his name written in the calendar, his praises chanted in the churches, and his bones carefully gathered after death and laid up in golden altars, whither mitred bishops and high officials came kneeling to touch them in solemn devotion. But God does not mean that we should be morose and misanthropic eremites, but bold and active confronters of the trials and evils of life—men and women who shall act well our parts in the common relations in which he has created man, and earnest copyists of the example of that Holy One “who went about doing good.” Jesus did not flee to the solitudes and keep aloof from intercourse with men. He remained among his fellows. He visited their habitations; he gave attention to their tears and distress; he wept with them when they wept, and rejoiced with them when they rejoiced. His whole life was one ever-blooming charity. And the Spirit that was in the Master is that which constitutes the most heavenly goodness in his followers: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” “As ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.”—Dr. Seiss.
Keep a Guard Over Your Lips.
ALAS, how many hearts are to-day bleeding and lacerated because of utterances which have fallen from unguarded lips! Sleepless nights, days of anguish, sighs, tears, and heart-aches are often the result of a hasty, unkind remark.
Reader, you may be neither cruel nor malignant—you may be too gentle to use harsh phrases or bitter epithets—but are you as careful as you ought to be in regard to what you say of others; or do you not, in some unhappy mood, some unguarded moment, speak lightly or disparagingly of some one? Do you, at times, question the motives, and complain of the actions, and exhibit the weak points, even of those you love and respect? Be careful! Be careful! Ten to one your remark will be repeated. Every time it is told it will gather a little strength. By-and-by it will reach the ears of the one of whom it was spoken, and, oh, how it will wound! How the sensitive heart will ache, and what bitter tears will fall!
The injured one may grieve in secret, may shed her tears alone, may suffer in silence, and even treat you as before; but her love has been chilled, her confidence in your friendship shaken, and never, never again will you have quite the same place in her heart.
And remember, too, that Jesus sees those tears, and understands the sigh of that poor, burdened soul, and, think you, He will hold you guiltless? “Inasmuch as ye did it unto these,” has a more general application than many seem to think. O, reader, if you love Jesus, be careful how you speak of those who bear His name! Better be injured than to injure. Keep a guard over your lips. Ask Jesus to help you. And if you can’t say pleasant things about your acquaintances, don’t speak of them at all.—Christian Woman.
OBITUARY
By A. Brorsen
DIED, of inflammation of the bowels, in San Francisco, October 11, Willie Julian Wilson, youngest son of Brother and Sister Olaf Wilson, aged one year, one month and seventeen days. Funeral took place Sabbath, October 14, at 2 o'clock P. M. Remarks were made from 1 Thess. 4, by the writer. A. BRORSEN.
APPOINTMENTS
OAKLAND—Services at the new church, on the corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 10:30 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:30. Sabbath-school at 9 o'clock Sabbath morning.
SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the house of worship, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and first-day evening at 7:45. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:45. The Hayes Valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central R. R. cross Laguna street near the church.
ELDER and Mrs. White will meet with the church at Oakland, Sabbath, October 20, at 10:30 A. M. Mrs. White will also speak Sunday evening at 7:30.
Sabbath-School Organization.
In accordance with the resolution passed at the Yountville camp-meeting, the organization of the Sabbath-schools of California will be considered at the State Quarterly Meeting to be held at Oakland, October 20 and 21. It is hoped that the superintendents and officers throughout the State will endeavor to be present. J. E. WHITE, Sec. Cal. State Conf.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently.) Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. Mrs Emily Cook 4-39, Mrs Solomon Sheffield 4-40, H H Reynolds 4-40, Catherine J Clarke 4-40, A G S Briggs 5-1, D W Millk 4-1, A J Despelder 4-40, L M Griggs 4-40, Polly Holcomb 4-40, Mrs R J Fanno 4-20, J G Starbuck (2 copies) 3-33, Wm R Slade 4-40. $1.50 EACH. Mrs Mary Dean 4-40, Mrs Crowe 4-40, Ealing Deane 4-40, Mrs E E Edwards 4-40, John Taylor 4-38, A Read 4-40, Lewis C Webb 4-40, Nettie Henderson 4-40, Mrs N Roberts 4-40, Chas Hushaw 4-40. MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs Kate Searls $1.00 4-16, C E Cole 60c 3-15, James H Carey 75c 4-16, Rev J W Henderson 75c 4-16, Rev S C Smith 75c 4-16, Rev J H Rideout 75c 4-16, George Hinkle 75c 4-16, Mrs L A Bramhall (8 copies) 3.50 4-1, H D Banks (10 copies) 15.00 4-34.
Received on Account.
D M Canright $11.52, New England T and M Society 95, Cal T and M Society 30.60.
California Publishing Fund.
T M Chapman $500.
The Financial Question.
By W. W. G.
THIS is one of the most important questions of our time, one that interests everybody. The subject of finance is now engaging the minds of the great statesmen of the world more than any other topic. The greatest financiers are puzzled over it; in fact it is at the bottom of the great perplexity of nations. Verily, money, or the love of it, is the “root of all evil.” The truth of this saying is evidenced in the unsettled condition of the world to-day.
What makes men thieves and robbers? The love of money. What prompts embezzlement, forgery, breach of trust, and kindred offenses? The love of money. What actuates men to engage in rum-selling, gambling, and all attendant vices? The love of gain. Whence come official corruption, the oppressions by great corporations, international complications, with their long trains of consequent evils and perplexity? From the universal desire for the accumulation of wealth.
But the particular feature of the financial question that has led directly to much of the perplexity of nations, is debt. There is a growing disposition on the part of nations to run into debt on almost any pretext. And the infection is raging down through States, counties, municipalities, corporations, firms, and even to individuals. The universal idea seems to be to buy all that is purchasable on credit, and borrow all that can be obtained on promise to pay. There is not specie enough in existence to pay the national debt of the United States, and the liabilities of European countries are far greater in proportion to territory or population. It has been the boast of one of the great powers east of the Atlantic, that her great strength lay in her debt, yet she never expects to be able to pay the principal of that debt. What would be thought of a business man or firm whose financial strength was measured by debts so great that there was no probability that the creditors would ever get more than the interest on their investment?
So deeply rooted and grounded in the present generation is this disposition to purchase everything that can be obtained on credit, that it has come to be considered perfectly legitimate to go on and on in this way until a grand crash closes the scene. Luxurious capitals, expensive armies and navies, and hordes of non-producing aristocrats and public-crib leeches are gnawing at the financial vitals of many prominent governments in a most destructive manner; and the dread of old creditors and uncertainty of obtaining new ones are perplexing several crowned heads in the world to-day. As with individuals, so with nations, it is the exchequer that commands respect—at home and abroad.
But individuals, as well as nations, are suffering great financial perplexity; some are largely the creditors of tottering thrones; some have been led away into the labyrinth of financial distress by the temptation to swell their credit, while others have been weak enough to risk their substance in the beguiling meshes of chance—all coming out victims of misplaced confidence. This result brings us to consider the matter of investment.
How shall we invest? What shall we invest in? By “we,” I mean Seventh-day Adventists. Shall we place the means God has given us in the hands of unscrupulous stock manipulators, there to run a short season of probable prosperity, and then be swallowed up at one gulp? Shall we join with the professors of Christianity who are vainly attempting to make gambling profitable and respectable? Or, shall we put our available means out of the reach of usefulness by planting it in alkali lands, of doubtful title and uncertain fertility, there to lie dormant till the judgment flames shall consume it? Or, shall we of small means invest our all as a partial payment in some large worldly speculation, thereby tying back our hands from good works, and virtually giving a life lease of our time and energies to the purpose of keeping up future payments?
We all claim to be disciples of Jesus. What good will it do us to be disciples unless we follow the instructions of the Teacher. His all-wise counsel on the financial question was: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” This last sentence is the gist of the whole matter. You who so often testify your desire to draw near to God and have your hearts more and more consecrated to his work, think of this. Give him your treasure, and your hearts will follow; for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Now, brethren, when we talk of money to carry on the cause of the Lord on this coast, are you going to meet us with the old cry, “Oh, you are going too fast; you are all the time talking money?” Take one look backward, and ask yourselves, Where would this cause have been to-day had it not have been for the judicious use of money? When zealous, spiritual-minded, far-seeing brethren urged you to give to the publishing fund, to the tent fund, to the missionary fund, to the church, to systematic benevolence, are you prepared to say to-day that they urged too ardently? Do you regret the little amounts paid in systematic benevolence, to enable a few preachers to sow the seeds of truth upon this coast? Was it too much? Do you wish to take it back? Then there’s the tent fund. Do you regret your little donations to this cause? This fund has furnished a few cheap portable houses, in which our poorly paid ministers have been enabled to preach free truth and free salvation to a perishing people. Has it been done too soon? Are you ready to say, These tents will be needed some time, but it is too soon yet?
Again, a narrow belt about from the 34th to the 46th parallels of latitude, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, embraces the bulk of the territory that has been evangelized by the ministers of the third angel’s message, and that only skimmed over, although the work has been going on about thirty years. Consider that “the field is the world;” that the last act in the drama of redemption—the cleansing of the sanctuary—is fast drawing to a close; that there are but two publishing houses owned by the believers in present truth, and one of these encumbered with debt till its capacity is but half available. Now, do you think the publishing work is going too fast? Do you regret the amounts you have given to this cause? Are you still ready to say, We will need a paper some time, but it is too soon yet; we will need a publishing house upon this coast sometime, but it is premature yet; we are not able to sustain it?
Who will look at the results of the labors of our preachers, at the good work done in the tents, at what has been accomplished by the tract and missionary societies, or read of the scores who have embraced the truth through reading the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and our pointed tracts, and then say that any of these enterprises have been prematurely inaugurated? O Lord, grant that more of our brethren and sisters may realize the extent of the work to be done, and not faint at the contemplation of the means necessary to carry it on. It is only the murmurers, the faint-hearted and unbelieving, that complain of the energy with which the last message of mercy is being carried to the world. Let all such put their treasures into the cause, then their hearts will be there also, and we will hear no more complaint of the message going too fast, or its ministers pushing the cause too zealously.
W. W. G.
J. W
By James White
Oakland.
We are very happy to find ourselves again in beautiful Oakland, with improving health. Mrs. W. is very well, and labors with more power and the blessing of God than ever before. We meet the friends in this our former field of labor with great pleasure. The work in the Pacific Coast States and Territories is great and moves forward gloriously. Elder Loughborough is on a tour to the North Pacific Mission. We think it would be well for him to remain there until near New Years, and labor to establish the work there well before he shall leave that field. Truth triumphs in this field. God is with his people. Let the good work move forward.
J. W
Arrival.
By L. M. HALL
With pleasure we announce the return of Elder White and wife, and their niece, Miss M. L. Clough, to their Oakland home. They arrived the evening of the 14th. Elder W. is in poor health, yet he endured the journey well; he is now improving under the influence of our mild climate and enjoys riding out in the open air. We are very grateful to again be favored with his counsel and judgment in preparing matter for the Signs. This will greatly increase the interest of its readers. L. M. HALL.
The Reform Movement.
The following extract taken from the San Francisco Evening Post of October 16, under the caption of “A Bombshell in the Episcopal Convention,” shows the favor in which the National Reform movement is held. At their convention held at Boston, the 16th, an exceedingly animated scene was created by Livermore, of Minnesota, who introduced the following resolution:—
“Resolved, That the union of the church and State is prejudicial to the best interests of religion, and the House of Deputies expresses its sympathy with the efforts now being made for severing the church from the State in England.”
“As soon as read, a hundred delegates, at least, were on their feet and called upon the chairman to lay the resolution on the table. It was promptly done. The amendment to the constitution for the organization of a constitutional commission came up shortly before noon. Dr. De Koven, of Wisconsin, who presented the memorial from the diocesan convention of that State, opened the discussion and made an eloquent speech in support of the amendment, as also did Dr. Beers, of California. Dr. Norton, of Virginia, had the floor when the convention took a recess.”
Vacaville, Cal.
By B. A. Stephens
Nineteen lectures have now been given here. The advent and immortality questions have been presented. Considerable opposition is manifested, and everything possible is being done to keep people from attending the meetings. Several have expressed themselves as “Adventized” as far as they have heard. May God help them to be more so, until the “blessed hope” is realized. B. A. Stephens.
Time for Orders.
By W. N. G.
THE time is at hand for issuing our Almanac for 1878, and T. and M. societies, churches and individuals should immediately send in their orders. First, we wish to estimate how large an edition is necessary to supply the demand; secondly, it is important that orders should be filled and the books offered to the public as soon as printed. Do not wait till the market is glutted with inferior trash, before administering a wholesome article. W. N. G.
Medical and Surgical Sanitarium at Rutherford
Dr. M. G. KELLOGG, known to most of the readers of the Signs as author of the “Hygienic Family Physician,” has taken charge of the Medical and Surgical Sanitarium at Rutherford, Napa county, Cal., as Attending Physician, where he is prepared to receive and treat invalids, suffering from acute or chronic ailment, after the system adopted at the “Battle Creek Sanitarium.” This is the only Hygienic Institute on this coast.
The Way of Life; a beautiful engraving 19x24 inches, with key of explanations. $1.00.
The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. J. N. Andrews. 528 pp, $1.25.
Thrilling Life Sketches. Incidents in the life of an Italian of noble birth. By Francesco Lug? $1.25, post-paid.
Thoughts on Daniel. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed paper edition, 35 cts.
Thoughts on the Revelation. U. Smith. $1.00.
The Sanctuary and its Cleansing. U. Smith. $1.00. Condensed edition in paper, 30 cts.
Life of William Miller, with likeness. $1.00.
Life of Joseph Bates, with Likeness. Revised. Edited by James White. $1.00.
The Nature and Destiny of Man. U. Smith. 384 pp. $1.00. Paper, 40 cts.
The Constitutional Amendment. A discussion between W. H. Littlejohn and the Editor of the “Christian Statesman.” Bound, $1.00. Paper, 40 cts. First part, 10 cts.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I. Mrs. E. G. White. 416 pp. $1.00.
Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. II. Mrs. E. G. White. 400 pp. $1.00.
Life of Christ, in four Pamphlets, by Mrs. Ellen G. White:—
No. 1. His First Advent and Ministry 10 cts
No. 2. His Temptation in the Wilderness 10 cts
No. 3. His Teachings and Parables 15 cts
No. 4. His Mighty Miracles 15 cts
The Game of Life (illustrated). Satan playing with man for his soul. In Board, 50 cts; in paper 30 cts.
Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle. 60 cts.
The United States in Prophecy. U. Smith. Bound, 40 cts. Paper, 25 cts.
A Word for the Sabbath, or False Theories Exposed. (Poem.) U. Smith. Muslin, 40 cts.
Advent Keepsake. Muslin, 25 cts. Gilt 40 cts.
Sermons on the Sabbath and Law, embracing an outline of the Biblical and Secular history of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. J. N. A. 30 cts.
Facts for the Times. 30 cts.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. D. M. Canright. 25 cts.
The State of the Dead. U. Smith. 25 cts.
Our Faith and Hope. Sermons on the Millennium, Second Advent, the Kingdom, the Judgment, the Time, the Sanctuary, and Saving Faith. 20 cts.
The Ministration of Angels, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. D. M. C. 20 cts.
The Atonement. J. H. Waggoner. 20 cts.
The Spirit of God. J. H. W. 20 cts.
The Nature and tendency of Modern Spiritualism. J. H. Waggoner. 25 cts.
Miraculous Powers. 20 cts.
The Complete Testimony of the Fathers concerning the Sabbath and First Day. J. N. Andrews. 15 cts.
The Three Messages of Rev. 14, and the Two-horned Beast. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Morality of the Sabbath. D. M. C. 15 cts.
The Resurrection of the Unjust; a Vindication of the Doctrine. J. H. Waggoner. 15 cts.
Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New. James White. 10 cts.
The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth made New. J. N. Loughborough. 10 cts.
Dangers and Duties of Our Times. An earnest appeal from the General Conference Committee. 10 cts.
The Conference Address. An earnest Appeal to Seventh-day Adventists. 10 cts.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Sunday Seventh-day. A Refutation of Mede, Jennings, Akers and Fuller. J. N. A. 10 cts.
The Truth Found. J. H. W. 10 cts.
The Two Covenants. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
The Hope of the Gospel. What it is, and when it will be consummated. J. N. L. 10 cts.
Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath. 10 cts.
Vindication of the Sabbath. Morton. 10 cts.
The Date of the Seventy Weeks of Dan. 9, established. J. N. Andrews. 10 cts.
Matthew Twenty-four. James White. 10 cts.
Four-cent Tracts: The Second Advent—The Seventh Part of Time—Celestial Railroad—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The Ten Commandments not Abolished—Address to the Baptists—Present Truth—The Suffering of Christ—The Two Thrones—The Third Message of Rev. 14—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion.
Three-cent Tracts: Much in Little—The Lost-Time Question—Argument on Sabbath—Infidel Cavils Considered—The End of the Wicked—Scripture Reference—Who Changed the Sabbath?—The First Message of Rev. 14—The Second Message of Rev. 14.
Two-cent Tracts: Christ in the Old Testament—The Sabbath in the New Testament—The Old Moral Code of Ten Commandments not Revised—Definite Seventh Day—Seven Reasons for Sunday Keeping Examined—Elijah on the Sabbath—The Rich Man and Lazarus—The Sanctuary of the Bible—The Millennium—Departing and Being with Christ—Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists—The Judgment; or the Waymarks of Daniel to the Holy City—The Two Laws—Spirit of Prophecy—One Hundred Bible Facts.
One-cent Tracts: Appeal on Immortality—Thoughts for the Candid—Nahum's Chariots—The perfection of the Ten Commandments—Coming of the Lord—Without Excuse—Which Day do You keep and Why?—Geology and the Bible—The Sleep of the Dead—The Sinner's Fate—Can We know?—Is the End Near?