International.—Manuel Estrada Cabrera has been elected to the presidency of the republic of Guatemala for the next six years......Attacks upon foreign missionaries are becoming more frequent in China. On July 28 a party of missionaries were attacked in their house-boat on the Yuen River. The boat was smashed and burned, but the missionaries escaped on a Chinese gunboat......Conflicting reports are continually coming from the Orient in regard to the success or suppression of the rebellion in central China. It seems, however, that the rebellion is still alive, and is being joined by thousands of the literati, who are bitterly opposed to the present dynasty......The massacre of several hundred of the inhabitants of Crete (who are called Christians merely to distinguish them from the Mohammedans) has injected a new and irritating element into European affairs. The number of killed is variously estimated at from 400 to 800. All reports indicate that the Turkish troops did nothing to prevent the massacre, and some charge them with actual participation. The foreign admirals stationed at Candia have sent an identical note to their respective governments asking that the Turkish troops in Crete be deported and that the Bashi Bazouks be disarmed and expelled. On September 13 the British admiral in Cretan waters demanded that the leaders of the massacre be delivered within forty-eight hours and that the Mussulman troops be disarmed. Italy will send two regiments to assist in the international occupation of Crete......The Turkish Government has issued the following notice: “Entrance into Palestine is formally prohibited to foreign Israelites, and, consequently, the imperial Ottoman authorities have received orders to prevent the landing of immigrant Jews in that province.” This decree seems to be aimed at the carrying out of the ideas of the Zionist movement, the return of the Jews......England had no sooner learned of the great victory of General Sir Herbert Kitchener in the Soudan than she was made aware of the fact that a French expedition under Marchand, which had been marching north from near the head-waters of the Nile, had arrived at Fashoda, south of Khartoum, and captured the place. Fashoda is directly in the path of the English expedition, and its occupation by the French threatens the long-cherished plan of England in regard to a continuous empire from the Mediterranean to Cape Town. The English press is advocating the expulsion of Marchand’s expedition, while the French press asserts that Marchand’s brilliant achievement shall not be thrown away. This seems a more serious question than that which arose over the claims of these two powers in the vicinity of Benin......Elizabeth, empress of Austria, was stabbed by an Italian anarchist, at Geneva, Switzerland, on September 10, and died within two hours. This cowardly and utterly unprovoked attack has stirred all Europe, and there is a demand for strong measures to be taken against the anarchists. It is stated that the governments are planning a concerted move against them, and that wholesale arrests have been decided upon in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany......The Turkish Government has refused to withdraw or disarm the Turkish troops in Crete, and lays the blame for the massacre in Candia upon the British. The Port also protests against the threatened bombardment of Candia by the international fleet. The Mussulman authorities in that city have arrested twenty of the leaders in the massacre, and the Bashi Bazouks have consented to disarm upon condition that their arms are turned over to the Turkish Government......Diplomatic relations have been broken off between Italy and Colombia, on account of the latter government refusing to recognize the British minister there as the representative of Italy during the absence of the Italian minister......Anti-Italian riots are taking place in different parts of Austria, as a result of the murder of the Austrian empress by an Italian anarchist......The Dreyfus agitation in France shows no signs of subsiding, and it is the opinion of many high in the councils of the government that France is nearing the gravest crisis experienced since the birth of the third republic......The recent efforts of a portion of the inhabitants of the island of Jamaica to bring about annexation to the United States have now been turned toward annexation to Canada, and there seems to be a good prospect of the success of the movement.
Domestic.—The three generals appointed to investigate the conditions of the army camp hospitals have reported that the conditions of these hospitals were very unsatisfactory; that they lacked the proper necessities of hospitals, were badly located, and provided with an insufficient number of attendants......The transport Missouri arrived at Montauk Point, from Santiago, on September 10, bringing 261 soldiers from the hospitals there. Thirteen of the men died on the voyage......The President has decided to appoint a committee of eight to investigate the conduct of the various departments of the army against which complaints have been made......The steamship City of Rome sailed from Portsmouth, N. H., on September 12, bound for Santander, Spain, with 1,700 Spanish prisoners captured after the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. The vessel carried Admiral Cervera, with his full staff of officers......The revenue cutter Bear, which had been sent into Arctic waters to rescue the imprisoned whalers, returned to St. Michael, Alaska, on August 25, with 116 of the rescued sailors......It is reported that the contracts for building the three new battle-ships have been awarded one to each of the following firms: Cramps, Philadelphia; Newport News, Virginia; and the Union Iron Works, San Francisco. These are to have a speed of eighteen and one-quarter knots......A little over 96,000 of the volunteers have been mustered out of the service, but it is the intention of the government to muster out no more for the present.
Casualties and Calamities.—Advices from Australia state that terrible storms have been raging along the coast, wrecking a number of vessels, and damaging property on shore as well. A number of lives have been lost both on sea and land......A disastrous storm recently swept through the central provinces of Japan, doing much damage to property, and destroying, it is reported, 500 lives......A report from Guatemala states that at the election which closed there on September 7, 300 persons were killed. A riot was started by followers of Prospero Morales, the dead revolutionist, and the soldiers fired upon the mobs. The acting president, Cabrera, was elected by a large majority......One thousand disappointed miners are camped on the shores of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, waiting for an opportunity to return to civilization......The island of St. Vincent, 100 miles west of Barbadoes, has experienced the most destructive cyclone ever known there. It is estimated that 300 lives have been lost in that island. The bodies of the dead have been buried in trenches. Kingston, the capital of St. Vincent, is reported totally destroyed. The same storm visited St. Lucia and Guadaloupe, destroying twelve lives in the former island and nineteen in the latter. It is also reported that 200 persons were injured in Barbadoes, and 40,000 rendered homeless.
Spanish Affairs.—The war between Spain and the United States has cost the former country over $400,000,000, besides the loss of Cuba and Porto Rico, and possibly the Philippines......On September 13 the chamber of deputies adopted the American-Spanish protocol by a vote of 151 to 48. Stormy scenes have been witnessed in the sessions of the Cortes during the week, while serious charges were being made against government officials, the generals of the army, and Admiral Cervera. A cabinet crisis is imminent......The stormy scenes in the Spanish Cortes were brought to an end on September 14 by a decree from the queen regent closing the session. The Cortes will be next convoked to ratify the final treaty of peace with the United States. The government feared complications would arise on account of the publicity which a continuance of the session would give to the acts of the Spanish generals.
Fires.—The city of New Westminster, B. C., experienced a disastrous fire on the morning of September 11, which burned a number of blocks in the business part of the town. The loss is placed at from one million to three million dollars. The fire is believed to have been started by convicts recently released......Jerome, Arizona, one of the largest copper camps in the world, was destroyed by fire on September 11. Eleven bodies were taken from the ruins, and it is believed that as many as fifteen others perished. The loss is placed at $500,000......The town of Wrangel, Alaska, was visited by a fire on September 5, which burned up the larger part of the Indian quarter. The famed totem poles of these Indians, which give their family history, and which the Indians of to-day have not the skill to reproduce, were totally destroyed.
Cuba and Porto Rico.—The two evacuation commissions at Havana and Porto Rico have entered upon their work of laying plans for the evacuation of those islands by the Spanish troops. The sessions of the committees in both places are being held behind closed doors, and the date when the actual work of evacuating the islands will begin is not known......During the month the death rate in Santiago de Cuba has been reduced two-thirds through the energetic work of the American military governor in instituting sanitary regulations and compelling more cleanly habits on the part of the people.
‘The Philippines.—The condition of affairs in these islands is still unsettled. The insurgents have received supplies of arms and ammunition, have captured all the Spanish posts in the island of Luzon, and are inciting a revival of the rebellion in the other islands. They are strengthening their position around Manila, ostensibly for the purpose of being prepared to meet the Spanish if the Americans should evacuate the islands. The insurgents have been ordered by the American commander at Manila to evacuate the suburbs of that city, and have partially obeyed.
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Political Speeches and Debates of Lincoln and Douglas, 1854–1861
Men act as if they had a foreknowledge that in the creeds of the political sky of the future, portentous events were hanging which would demand from them an armament of Lincoln argument. They will find it, and find it easily, in this new collection.
By M. C. Wilcox. This tract of 40 pages sets forth in brief some of the more important events of the Great Day of God Almighty. It discusses the character of that day, shows when it begins, the coming of the Lord, the events in connection with that coming, the Millennium, the Saints in Judgment, when the Day of the Lord Ends, and the Eternal Home of the Redeemed. Bible Students' Library No. 65. Price, 5 cents.
DO YOU GROW FRUIT?
THE AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS' JOURNAL, Chicago, offers $50 in Gold for the five best short, concise articles on “Culture, Packing, Shipping Marketing.” The first prize is $20, second and third $10, and so on. The contest is open only to subscribers. If you are not a subscriber you should be anyway. Only publication in America devoted exclusively to the interest of the fruit grower. Official organ of the American Fruit Growers' Union. Send $1.00 for a year's subscription and the article for the prize. Pictures of the successful authors will be published in the Christmas issue. Every issue of the American Fruit Growers' Journal worth a year's subscription to you. Address AMERICAN FRUIT GROWERS' JOURNAL, San Diego Building, CHICAGO, ILL.
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Testimonies for the Church
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TO CONTRIBUTORS.
By Editor
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a purely missionary enterprise. For this reason it has felt free to ask for contributions from its friends. It pays nothing for contributions, either prose or poetry, unless solicited by the editor, and then the fact is stated when the articles are asked for. This is a plan rarely followed, but sometimes deemed expedient.
Articles Desired.—Those which set forth in the Spirit of Christ the great saving truths of God, short and to the point. It is better to treat one important truth clearly, in a short article, than many points vaguely in a long one. We desire no caustic, critical productions, which might minister to personal pride or pleasure, but can not save souls.
How Prepared.—Write plainly, with typewriter or ink, with wide space between the lines, to freely admit of editing, writing of subheads, etc. Write on one side of the sheet only. Sign the name to the manuscript, as it becomes oftentimes separated from accompanying letter. Anonymous contributions are not used, whatever their merit. If the writer does not wish his name to appear, let him furnish a pseudonym for the public. But we wish the name.
Manuscript Returned.—We will return all unused manuscript desired if stamp and directions are inclosed. We are forced sometimes to return good manuscript mainly for three reasons: (a) Sometimes the articles are too long; (b) sometimes we have a number on the same subject; (c) sometimes our plans are such that an article can not be used till it is out of date. We therefore hope that no offense will be taken by those who have freely contributed their best thought if their productions are returned. When we receive so much matter, we can not use all.
A CARD.
To ALL interested in carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of other lands, and who desire to assist in supporting missionaries already there and others who may engage in the work, the opportunity is given to make an offering to the Foreign Mission Board of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Such donations should be sent to W. H. Edwards, the Treasurer of the Board, 1730 North Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
THE TALENTS.
By M. C. Wilcox
By M. C. Wilcox. A brief essay on “The Parable of the Talents,” showing that the talents represent the various gifts of the Spirit which God bestows as he will upon those who are consecrated to him, with the duties and blessed privileges involved therein. Bible Students’ Library, No. 77; 16 pp., price 2 cents.
The Prospectus
For the “Desire of Ages” is now ready; price, $1.25 post-paid. Complete book will not be ready until about October 15th. For terms, territory, and other information, address your State Tract Society.
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THE TABERNACLE AND THE COURT
The Connection
Between the earthly sanctuary built by Moses in the wilderness, and the heavenly sanctuary seen by John in vision, is very close and extremely interesting. It is all told in Elder M. H. Brown’s pamphlet, “Christ Our Advocate.” It is illustrated and contains 112 pages. Price, 10 cents.
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The New Number
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A Dainty Booklet
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LANGUAGE LESSONS
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THIS SERIES GIVES AN OUTLINE STUDY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ADAPTED TO THE TRAINING OF THE CHILD FROM THE NURSERY TILL HE GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE
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“WILL A MAN ROB GOD” is an important pamphlet on the tithing system. It treats every phase of this great question, and deserves especial attention in these days, when the Lord’s means of supporting His cause is almost lost sight of. Price, 10c each.
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“He Is a Liar, and the Father of It.”
The Ventura Signal, of this State, in its issue of August 25, tells us of the burial of a man two years ago, some of the relatives of whom were Spiritualists. One of these, who lives in Los Angeles, wrote the widow of the deceased that it was useless to keep the grave green, as the body was not there, in fact, had never been there, but had been dissected by a medical institution. The Spiritualists, headed by a gentleman (named by the Signal) who had also received spirit messages to the same effect, yet at the same time telling him to open the grave, proceeded to publicly open the grave in the presence of five named men, newspaper correspondents among them. The body was found as it had been placed, and identified. The Spiritualist who headed the affair remarked, “The power—whatever it is—has deceived us.” And that is what the father of ancient necromancy and Modern Spiritualism always does. It is worth while to believe the Bible. Jesus declares that “he is a liar, and the father of it,” and that he “abode not in the truth.” He “deceiveth the whole world.” He made our first parents believe that they would not die, contrary to God’s word, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” He has made men believe ever since that the dead are not dead, and upon this false belief he builded the great pagan ancestral worship, belief in a multitude of gods, transmigration of souls, demon and saint worship, purgatory, eternal torment, Modern Spiritualism, and many other things. He promises life without God’s righteousness, and deceives in many ways. Believe him not; believe the Word.
Regarding Unordered Copies
By Editor
We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.
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 to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.
We Take It All Back
By Editor
We take it all back; there has such a storm of requests come in from all over the field, that the publication of the Sabbath-school lessons will be continued.
Read the Articles on Nature’s Meaning
We earnestly hope that the beautiful articles on “Nature’s Meaning,” appearing in our Home department, will not be overlooked. Parents and teachers should read them.
Two Articles of Interest.—
(1) “An Astronomer’s View of Our Father’s House,” by a noted observer. Illustrated. This will run through two numbers, and will be of great interest. (2) “Plagues of Palestine,” by W. H. Maxson, illustrated by a cut from a photograph of lepers, taken by the doctor himself in Palestine. The first of these will appear in the SIGNS of October 13.
Fashion Plates and Wasp Waists
“Reproduction prohibited,” we read the other day under a Paris fashion-plate, in which tall women of wasp waists were the principal things in evidence. We wished that it were true: that a reproduction of like garments and like figures might be prohibited forever. Of course if the model were strictly followed in all the world by all the women whom God has wisely made otherwise, the race would soon run out, and the law would exact its own penalty. Anyhow, we thought it a better motto than the publisher designed.
“Honor” and “Honor.”
It is stated that Colonel Henry, the man who forged the document which bore such a part in convicting Dreyfus, repeatedly denied having had anything to do with it. Finally it was asked him on “his military honor” if he did not forge the document, and his reply was, “Since you appeal to my military honor, I did.” That is, a man’s military honor is greater and holier than common honor and honesty! Honor which must be specially named is not worth possessing. Genuine honor does not need a military nor a patriotic backbone. It has one in common, every-day honesty.
The Battle Hymn of the Kingdom Booklet
By Editor
There will soon be issued from this office one of the finest little gems of art, in a twofold sense, ever given to the public. It is entitled “The Battle Hymn of the Kingdom,” by Frances Eugenia Bolton. It was at first contributed to this paper by the author, but we felt that the poem, every verse of which was a picture, was worthy of a more permanent form than even appearance in as good paper as the SIGNS; and on fuller consideration the Pacific Press are publishing it in a booklet, illustrated with fifteen beautiful half-tone engravings, prepared for the poem under the direction of our art director in New York, Mr. W. A. Reaser. The price will be wonderfully cheap—in board covers, with special cover design, only 25 cents.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE?
By Editor
1. A SERIES of studies on the Epistle to the Galatians, by E. J. Waggoner. These are a precious presentation of the Gospel of Christ.
2. A series of articles on the book of Daniel from a new point of view. Each one independent of the others.
3. A “Mystery Series,” by John Orr:
“The Mystery of the Beginning.”
“The Mystery of the Unseen.”
“The Mystery of God’s Eternal Purpose.”
“The Mystery of Evil.”
“The Mystery of Love.”
“The Expression of God’s Love.”
“The Personification of God’s Love.”
“The very meat of the Gospel is found in these articles.”
4. A continuation of the articles on the Spirit, the Life of God, including the Gifts of the Spirit.
5. Articles on many other Bible subjects built upon Bible grounds, articles on the ominous times in which we live, and current events.
The above will be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES during the next few months. Can you afford not to take it? Is your neighbor without a good religious paper? Ask him to take the SIGNS. It has done you good; it will him. Its home department is elevating and helpful in every family. Its Bible studies of every week in its S. S. lessons will prove a great help to students of the Word.
Think of these things, and many other equally important, and help us to circulate the SIGNS. It is only $1.00 a year.
OUR QUARTER-CENTENNIAL NUMBER WILL CONTAIN
By Editor
1. An article by the world-famed Oriental scholar and archæologist, the Rev. A. H. Sayce, LL.D., of Oxford, England, on God’s witnesses in stone, or the testimony of the monuments as revealed during the last quarter century to the truthfulness of God’s Word. This is written specially for this paper.
2. An article from the pen of Alonzo T. Jones, author of “The Two Republics,” “Rights of the People,” etc., on the progress which has been made toward State-and-Church union in this country during the last quarter century.
3. “Important Inventions for Twenty-five Years,” by Uriah Smith, author of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Here and Hereafter,” etc., and for many years editor of the Review and Herald. Elder Smith is himself an inventor, and his article will be of interest.
4. The “Rise and Development of False Religions and Isms” during the last quarter century, by L. A. Phippeny, an article of special interest.
5. A story for our Home department by Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, for many years at the head of evangelical work among the W. C. T. U.
These are about one-seventh of the specially good things which the SIGNS of Jan. 5, 1899, will contain. It will have thirty-two pages of reading matter, with tinted cover, printed in colors. We will give the names of other writers next week.
The Missionaries’ Dependence.
By W. N. G.
One of the pleas for the war with Spain, and especially as a pretext for acquiring foreign territory, was that it would open the way for missionary work. During the first thirty years of missionary effort after the disciples were “endued with power from on high,” they carried or sent the Gospel to the then known world. But they never mentioned the desirability of having some republican government conquer the countries by force of arms in advance of the missionaries. That idea is apparently born of the assumption that the “power from on high” is no longer available. And it surely will not accompany the missionary that does not go in entire dependence upon it. “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations; . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 18–20. Then shall the missionary wait for any particular human government to conquer any given country or island in order to make the way easy for him? Under what earthly jurisdiction should he choose to serve, when all “the powers that be are ordained of God”? Rom. 13: 1.
W. N. G.
The On-Timer’s Tribe and Punctuality
By Editor
“The On-Timer’s Tribe” is the name of a new organization formed for the express purpose of promoting punctuality, a virtue which every Christian ought to possess. The “Tribe” publishes a monthly by the same name at Denver, Colorado, at the price of 25 cents a year. We seriously question the necessity of an organization for every good reform. The multitude of these societies, clubs, guilds, etc., are constant demonstrations that the church is not living to her privilege; she is a recruiting ground, rather than an army; yet God in the richness of His largesse has given to her every necessary virtue and gift and grace, and all power for doing His work and making of life what it ought to be, if she will but accept them. “The On-Timer’s Tribe” will gather many who are already punctual, will help a few perhaps who need only a little stimulation to stir up what lies dormant within, and will discover many others who are destined to be left behind. But to be on time is a good thing. May its tribe never grow less.
Catholic Interests in the Peace Commission
It is worthy of note that involved in the questions between Spain and the United States the Roman Catholic Church has large interests, many of which under true American principles would be wholly ignored as not belonging to civil questions. It is also worthy of note that of the peace commissioners, the five Spanish are all Roman Catholics; and Justice White, of Louisiana, one of the American commissioners, is also a Catholic, the appointment of whom, “it is freely declared,” says the New York Examiner, “was due to the efforts of Archbishop Ireland.” “The fact that his appointment so quickly followed Archbishop Ireland’s trip to the capital, is, however, unpleasantly suggestive.” It is safe to say that the Catholic Church will not be made to suffer.
The “Groves” or Ashera.
The Ashera, rendered in our common version “groves,” is held by some to refer to a sacred pillar, and only erroneously, at a later time, to Astarte, the consort of the Phoenician sun-god Baal. Prof. Dr. Peter Jensen clearly shows in an article in The Sunday School Times of September 3, that the pillars, or groves, were symbols of the feminine of Baal known as Ashratu, or Ashrat, the Ashera of the Old Testament, against the licentious worship of which God warned His people. Dr. Jensen traces this same Babylonian god and goddess among the Egyptians, the Philistines, the Amorites, the Hittites (from whom descended the Armenians), and from there to Europe.
