—London consumes 250,000 tons of coal weekly.
—Henry Ward Beecher died March 8, of apoplexy.
—Captain Eads, the great American engineer, died March 6.
—The Mormons are said to be again recruiting in the South.
—A widespread Nihilist plot has been discovered in Finland.
—The cholera has been officially declared epidemic at Montevideo.
—The dynamite factory at Barchester, L. I., exploded March 6.
—A $100,000 fire occurred in a flouring mill at Hudson, Wis., March 6.
—Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has abandoned his post of Chief Secretary for Ireland.
—The manuscript of a sermon of John Knox, preached in Edinburgh, 1565, has been sold for $1,046.
—It is reported that the Soudanese rebels are advancing in force from Dongola upon Wady Halfa, on the Nile.
—A severe shock of earthquake again visited Menton and Nice, March 11, causing dismay among the inhabitants.
—Two formidable cruisers have been launched by the British Government. One is named the Galatea and the other the Serpent.
—The steamer Yazoo Valley was burned on the Red River near Grand Ecore March 8. Three colored deck hands were burned to death.
—Some of the Silistrian rebels who were captured were punished by being whipped through the whole of one night; in the morning they died.
—An Atlanta liquor-seller, who was fined $50 in the Police Court, took an appeal to the City Court, was convicted in that tribunal, and his fine raised to $1,000.
—In the French arsenal at Belfort a serious accident occurred March 10 by an explosion of melinite, the new explosive. Six men were killed and eleven wounded.
—An agricultural paper figures it that "when land is worth $20 an acre, one glass of beer at 5 cents would represent a piece of land nine feet wide and twelve feet long."
—A very rich gold field has been discovered in the Transvaal, causing a great rush of capitalists, miners, and adventurers, and a city of 8,000 inhabitants has already sprung up.
—The present Arizona Legislature is said to be the most corrupt body that has ever been known there. We know of several States that make the same claim for their Legislatures.
—The Radical clubs of London are about to issue an address on the Queen's Jubilee, protesting against the cost of supporting royalty which they estimate reaches the sum of $4,000,000 a year.
—German photographers have succeeded in photographing a projectile in the course of its flight, and some of the photographers show the head of condensed air which precedes every shot.
—The Septennate bill passed without debate in the German Reichstag, March 11, by a vote of 227 to 31. This bill is to provide for an increase in the army and make appropriations for seven years.
—In five States thus far this season constitutional prohibitory amendments have been favorably voted upon by the Legislatures. The States are Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
—It is reported that Italy has made a treaty with Germany and Austria. If France and Russia attack Germany, Italy will move on France. If Austria and Russia have a conflict, Italy will aid Austria with her fleet.
—The Papal Nuncio at Paris has been summoned to Rome to be charged with a special mission from the Pope on the basis of the understanding already concluded with the French Bishops by the French Government.
—Professor Baird says that as a fish has no maturity there is nothing to prevent it from living indefinitely and growing continually. In the Royal Aquarium at St. Petersburg there are fish that have been there 140 years.
—The report from Shanghai that China has given the Chusan Islands to Germany has revived the dissatisfaction in Paris with the Government's colonial schemes. The late French exploits in China have cost 20,000,000 francs and 20,000 men, but Germany has taken the best picking at no cost, while France has little to show for her trouble.
—A remarkable railroad accident occurred on the Iron Mountain Railroad at Victoria, some thirty miles south of St. Louis, March 5. While the train was passing over a trestle the whole structure suddenly gave way, and the engine and baggage, mail, express, and smoking cars were precipitated into the raging torrent below, carrying with them all on board. The cars were carried down the stream some distance and most of the mail and express was lost, but only one life, although many persons were very badly bruised.
—A large tailoring establishment in New York was destroyed by fire March 8. The fire caused a blockade on the elevated railroad, and a number of the passengers left one of the trains and started to walk to the nearest station along a narrow foot-path at the side of the track. While doing so, the blockade was relieved and the train began to move. The motion shook the pathway to such an extent that a number of the passengers were thrown down into the street below. Three persons were killed and seven very badly injured.
Appointments.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The regular annual meeting of the Society of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Oakland, will be held at Hamilton Hall, southeast corner of Thirteenth and Jefferson Streets, Wednesday evening, April 6, 1887, at 7:30 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of electing a board of five trustees, and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. A general and punctual attendance is requested, in order that the proceedings may strictly conform to the law. By order of the president.
W. N. GLENN, Secretary.
Oakland
Oakland.—House of worship, southeast corner of Jefferson and Thirteenth Streets. Sabbath-School every Sabbath at 9:30 A. M. Preaching at 11. Prayer and missionary meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:15. Seats free.
Publishers' Department.
By Editor
OUR GENERAL AGENTS.
Alabama and Mississippi—Eld. C. W. Old, 520 S sixteenth Street North, Birmingham, Ala.
Australia—Echo Publishing House, North Fitzroy, Victoria.
Canada Tract Society—R. S. Owen, South Stukely, P. Q.
Colorado Tract Society—C. P. Haskell, Sec., 167 Clement St., Denver, Col.
Dakota Tract Society—A. H. Beaumont, Sec., Vilas, Miner Co., Dakota.
Delaware and Maryland—D. C. Babcock, Frederica, Del.
District of Columbia—International Tract Society, 1831 Vermont Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C.
England—The Present Truth, 72 Heneage St., Grimsby, Eng.
Florida Tract Society—502 West Monroe St., Jacksonville, Fla.
Georgia—G. W. Anglebarger, 628 Marietta St., Atlanta, Ga.
Hawaiian Islands—International Tract Society, Honolulu, H. I.
Illinois Tract Society—3652 Vincennes Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Indiana Tract Society—32 Cherry St., Indianapolis, Ind.
Iowa Tract Society—603 East Twelfth St., Des Moines, Iowa.
Kansas Tract Society—Box 160, Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kansas.
Kentucky Tract Society—Harry Rupert, Sec., West Clifty, Ky.
Louisiana Tract Society—321 Second St., New Orleans, La.
Maine—Mrs. A. J. Goodrich, South Lancaster, Mass.
Michigan Tract Society—Hattie House, Sec., Review and Herald Office, Battle Creek, Mich.
Minnesota Tract Society—336 Lake Street E., Minneapolis, Minn.
Missouri Tract Society—2339 Chestnut St., St. Louis, Mo.
Nebraska Tract Society—1505 E St., Lincoln, Neb.
New England—N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
New Mexico—Walter Harper, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
New York Tract Society—J. V. Willson, Sec., Box 113, Rome, New York.
New Zealand—International Tract Society, Turner St., off Upper Queen St., Auckland, N. Z.
North Pacific—N. P. Tract Society, Box 18, East Portland, Or.
Norway—Sundhedsbladet, Christiania, Norway.
Ohio Tract Society—L. T. Dysert, Sec., 178 Warren St., Toledo, Ohio.
Pennsylvania Tract Society—5 Madison St., Wellsville, N. Y.
Switzerland—Les Signes des Temps, 48 Weiherweg, Basel, Switz.
Tennessee Tract Society—J. H. Dortch, Sec., Springville, Henry Co., Tenn.
Texas Tract Society—Mrs. Lee Gregory, Sec., Denton, Texas.
Upper Columbia—U. C. Tract Society, Mrs. L. A. Fero, Sec., Walla Walla, W. T.
Vancouver Island—Bernard Robb, Victoria, B. C.
Vermont—Lizzie A. Stone, South Lancaster, Mass.
Virginia—Lillie D. Woods, Quicksburgh, Va.
Wisconsin Tract Society—1029 Jenifer St., Madison, Wis.
LABBERTON'S HISTORICAL ATLAS.
By A. H. Sayce
QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD, Nov. 22, 1886.
DEAR SIR: Allow me to thank you much for the copy of Dr. Labberton's "New Historical Atlas and General History," which you have been kind enough to send me. It cannot fail to be of great utility, and the earlier portion, which I have been examining, has been compiled with great judgment from the best and latest authorities. But I have been much struck by the maps, which give the work its distinctive character. They are admirable both in design, in accuracy, and in execution. Such geographical pictures are the best and surest way of teaching history.
Yours faithfully, A. H. SAYCE,
Prof. of History.
By mail or express, prepaid, $2.50. Address all orders to the PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
By Editor
ABOUT one person in every ten that writes to this office on business omits to give the name of the State in which he resides. Now as there are many post-offices in the United States bearing the same name, it is quite difficult and sometimes impossible for us to tell in what State the writer lives. He has sent his money for books or paper and in about two weeks we hear from him again complaining that he does not get what he ordered—but he still forgets to give the name of the State from which he writes; and if the postmark on the envelope is illegible, as is often the case, it is impossible for us to fill his order or answer his letter, and pretty soon we get another letter from him denouncing us as swindlers, etc.
By this time our careless correspondent is so much in earnest that he actually puts down his County and State after his name, but very likely leaves off his post-office. But by this time we have become familiar with his penmanship, and by comparing his letters we make out his correct address and fill his order. Is it any wonder that we take pleasure in returning to him his original letter (only we add the State in red ink) in explanation of why his order was not filled promptly.
For some time past a man at "Clio" has been trying to get the Pacific Health Journal. He has paid for it, and writes about it regularly every few weeks, but he does not succeed in getting it. Strange, isn't it! How can you account for it? He fails to give us the name of his County and State. There is a "Clio" in Barbour County, Ala.; in Wayne County, Iowa; in Livingston County, La.; in Genesee County, Mich.; in Iredell County, N. C.; in Marlborough County, S. C.; in Guernsey County, Ohio; in Brown County, Texas, and we don't know in how many other States. Certainly we cannot be expected to write to each of these places to ascertain in which State this man lives.
Then there are numerous individuals who send money to this office, and no letter of any kind with it. How are we to know the manner in which the sender wishes the money applied? We have no objection to receiving donations providing the sender will kindly inform us for what object he wishes the money used. Perhaps some of these persons desire books, tracts, or periodicals in return for the money sent to us, and are wondering why they do not get them. We now have on hand letters from Iowa, Missouri, Montana, and Nevada City, Cal., inclosing sums ranging from $1.00 to $100, with no hint of what the money is for.
The above-mentioned items are but samples of what we receive nearly every day. When you have finished your business letter, look it over carefully to see if it reads just as you wish it to; then be sure to sign your name and full address. For example: John Jay Smith, Jonesborough, Washington Co., Maine.
PACIFIC HEALTH JOURNAL
By Editor
AND TEMPERANCE ADVOCATE.
A THIRTY-TWO PAGE BI-MONTHLY, devoted to the dissemination of true temperance principles, and instruction in the art of preserving health. It is emphatically
A JOURNAL FOR THE PEOPLE,
Containing what everybody wants to know, and is thoroughly practical. Its range of subjects is unlimited, embracing everything that in any way affects the health. Its articles being short and pointed, it is specially adapted to farmers, mechanics, and housekeepers, who have but little leisure for reading. It is just the journal that every family needs, and may be read with profit by every member. Price, 50 cents per year.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
GOOD HEALTH.
By Editor
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
GOOD HEALTH is emphatically a Family Journal, being cheap, plain, and practical, qualities which have won for it the largest circulation of any Health Journal in America. It is devoted to all reforms, but is ultra in none. It is unpartisan and unsectarian. Its only creed is nature's laws. It treats of Health, Temperance, General Literature, Science, and many other interesting and practical subjects; it is a live journal, and every way adapted to the wants of the family. There is something in it for everybody. Price, $1.00 a year.
Address, GOOD HEALTH, Battle Creek, Mich.
RECEIPTS.
By Editor
NOTICE.—The change of figures on the address labels will be in all cases a sufficient receipt for money sent for the paper. If these changes do not appear in due time, and if books ordered by mail are not received, please notify us. All other business is acknowledged below.
AFRICAN MISSION.—Mrs M Richey $20.
RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.—Kansas T and M Society $150, Texas T and M Society $100.
CALIFORNIA T. AND M. SOCIETY.—Dist No 1 Lakeport $8.12, Dist No 3 Rivulet Society $8.55, Dist No 4 San Francisco $70.20, Dist No 6 Santa Maria $20.30, A friend $5.
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.—E S Brooks $4, A friend $500, M F Brown 80 cents, Mrs N E De Yoe $5, Andrew Spence $10, J M McElhany $28.54, Santa Ana $76.10, P Wamsley $8.10, F Colver $62.70, Los Angeles $22.50.
HOW TO REMIT.
By Editor
1. SEND Bank Draft, Money Order, or Express Order.
2. If Postal Notes or paper money is sent, register the letter, otherwise it is at your own risk.
3. Drafts should be made payable to PACIFIC PRESS, on New York or San Francisco banks. Those written on other banks cost us exchange.
4. Seal your letter and address it to Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
5. Be sure to give us your name, post-office, county, and State.
Satanic Omnipresence
By Editor
UNDER the heading of "Satanic Omnipresence," the Golden Gate attempts to ridicule our statement of the true theory of spiritual phenomena, by saying that there are thousands of persons being influenced at the same time, in different phases of mediumship, and that if there is a personal devil "he must be in thousands of places at one and the same instant of time; hence he must be omnipresent. There is no escaping this conclusion."
Those who are familiar with the Bible will readily see that there is no chance for any such conclusion. Says the revelator, when speaking of the phenomena of Spiritualism: "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles." Rev. 16:14. These devils are "the angels that sinned," and that "kept not their first estate;" and their name is "legion," for they "are many." Mark 5:9-13.
In our reference to Spiritualism we write with no great expectation that those who have been ensnared by it will see their error, although there is hope even that those who have been taken captive by the devil at his will, may be recovered from his snare (2 Tim. 2:25, 26); but we write for the purpose of putting the unwary on their guard against this most subtle and dangerous delusion of the arch-enemy of mankind. The Bible, and the Bible alone, forewarns and forearms us against it.
SABBATH OBSERVANCE BY LAW.
By Editor
A FRIEND in San Francisco, who has read with interest our appeal on the Sunday law, writes thus:—
"The seventh day being the day that God did command to be kept holy, what are the objections to making it the universal day of rest?"
We reply that there are no objections at all, provided all people are willing to regard it as a day of rest. On the contrary, it ought by all means to be universally regarded as the day of rest, because God has said, "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work;" and this commandment is addressed to all the inhabitants of the earth.
But, sad to say, all people do not regard the word of the Lord as of final authority, and they ignore his commandment for a way of their own devising. Someone will say, "Then why not pass a law compelling people to obey the commandment of the Lord?" That would not solve the difficulty, for it would be forced service, and there would be in it no love for God, nor regard for his word. So that if we once started out on the legal plan, we should have to pass another law compelling men to love the Lord! But though such a law might be passed, it would amount to nothing, for love is not love unless it comes spontaneously from the heart.
The obvious conclusion is that the keeping of the Sabbath is purely an act of religious worship of God, and is not within human jurisdiction. God wants all men to repent and come to the knowledge of the truth; and he has commissioned men as ambassadors to beg their fellow-men to be reconciled to God; but he has given no one the authority to attempt the impossibility of forcing men to repent. So he wants all men to acknowledge him, and to show their homage by keeping his Sabbath; and he has committed to men the preaching of the word; but he has given no one authority to try to compel men hypocritically to acknowledge him by a form of service. It would indeed be a glorious thing if all men would obey the Lord; but all will not. Our duty is simply to obey him for ourselves, and to use our influence to persuade others to do likewise. Those who will not obey are answerable alone to God, from whom they will at the Judgment day receive the punishment which their rebellion merits.
A SEASONABLE WARNING.
By Editor
"As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?" Prov. 26:18, 19. This applies to children as well as to men, and it has special application at the present day. We do not know whether or not the custom of perpetrating "April fool jokes" was in vogue in the days of Solomon; but if it was not, there were people who told lies in sport, and against all such this language is directed. What are called "April fool jokes" are nothing else but lies, and the one who indulges in them proclaims himself the fool. We have seen people professing godliness, who countenanced their children in such practices, doubtless thinking that it was "innocent sport." If a madman should come into a crowded assembly and begin to scatter firebrands, and shoot poisonous arrows, it would not be called innocent sport; but Solomon says he is just like one who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Am not I in sport?"
The first of April is just before us, and we write this in hope that the eyes of some thoughtless ones may be opened to see that a lie on the first day of April is just as sinful as one on any other day of the year; and that to tell a lie in sport is worse if possible than telling one in anger, because it indicates that the person's moral sensibilities are so blunted that he can deliberately lie without having a thought of its sinfulness.
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another." Eph. 4:25. Let parents see that they themselves are not blameworthy in this matter, and let them beware lest their children acquire, in sport, a disregard for truth, which will be difficult to overcome.
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING.
By C. H. Jones
THE twelfth annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association will be held in Oakland, Cal., Monday, April 25, 1887. Matters of great importance will be considered, and it is therefore desirable that as many stockholders as possible attend in person. In addition to the regular business, some changes in the by-laws are contemplated.
Those who cannot possibly attend the meeting in person, are requested to fill out the blank proxy which will be sent to each stockholder, and return the same as soon as possible. Do not think, because you sent a certificate of proxy last year, that therefore you need not send one this year, for the old proxies will not answer the purpose. We cannot hold a legal meeting unless a majority of the capital stock is represented. We speak of it thus early, so that all may have ample time to attend to the matter.
The past year has been one of marked prosperity, and it will be absolutely necessary to lay broader plans for the future. We trust that there will be a general rally of the friends of the cause from all parts of the State. C. H. JONES, Vice-president.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CAMP-MEETING.
By John Norton Loughborough
This meeting will be held in Selma, Fresno County, fifteen miles south of Fresno, commencing Wednesday evening, April 6, and closing with the morning meeting, Wednesday morning, April 13. We hope to see a full attendance of all our people in Fresno and Tulare Counties. Bring your friends and children with you to enjoy this meeting.
There will be a restaurant upon the ground, conducted on "the mutual benefit plan," which has given the greatest satisfaction in all our small meetings. There is a well fenced and watered alfalfa pasture within a mile of the ground, where horses will be pastured for seven cents per day, for each horse.
Tents can be rented at the usual prices: 10x12, $4.00; 12x16, $6.00. Those who have tents of their own will have free room to pitch them. Will all who wish tents, or who have tents of their own to pitch, who have not already reported, write at once to J. N. Loughborough, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., and above all, pray that the Lord may be with us in power by his Spirit at this meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
For Central Cal. Camp meeting Com.
The Signs of the Times.
By Editor
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, MARCH 17, 1887.
We send no papers from this office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read.
The Majority Rule Argument
Our friends who are so zealous for the civil Sunday law, tell us that the law ought to be enacted to meet the minds of the majority. How would they like it if they were in China, and a law should be enacted compelling all men to pay homage to heathen gods? They would speedily complain of the intolerance of the laws of China. But if their theory of the rights of majorities is correct in one place it must be correct everywhere; and therefore heathen countries actually ought to compel all people within their jurisdiction to worship heathen gods! In Turkey a law enforcing Mohammedanism would meet the minds of the majority, and so, according to the reasoning of our Sunday friends, such laws ought, of right, to prevail in Turkey. But no; that would not suit them. They don't believe in the rule of the majority unless they form part of the majority.
Methodist Summer School of Theology
By Editor
At the last session of the California Methodist Episcopal Conference, the establishment of a "Summer School of Theology" was recommended, and a committee was appointed to carry out the design. This committee has received the co-operation of the University of the Pacific, and the school will be held from May 23 to June 2. In their prospectus the committee say that "the numerous theological vagaries afloat, and the misleading tendency of some of the literature on the subject, emanating from respectable sources, render this a favorable opportunity to restate and emphasize the great doctrines of our common Christianity, as held by the Methodist Episcopal Church." We have seen of late so many vague and contradictory theories put forth by prominent members of the Methodist Church, that we shall be glad to have an authoritative declaration of just what that church does believe. We are anxious to see how far they will indorse the position of Wesley and Fletcher on the law of God.
Sunday Law and Conscience
By Editor
Mrs. Bateham says that the day that is observed as the Sabbath is one of the non-essentials. If that is so, we should like to know why she and her brethren and sisters of the National Reform party are making such frantic efforts to have the observance of Sunday established by law. If they believe that the particular day to be observed is a matter of no importance, why don't they let people do as they please in the matter. We can see in the movement nothing but a stubborn purpose on the part of the leaders to compel everybody to do just as they do. Because with them it is not a matter of conscience, but only of will, they are determined to believe that it is not a matter of conscience with others; or that if it is with any a matter of conscience, the conscience of the minority must submit to the will of the majority. Thus it was in the days of the Inquisition; and then, as now, all was done in the name of the Lord, and for his glory.