A BOOK of essays on prophecy, showing the exact fulfillment of some of the predictions of the Bible, concerning Egypt, Tyre, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, also of the prophecies concerning the first advent of Christ, which prove the inspiration of the Bible, and give assurance that other prophecies which are noted will as surely and exactly be fulfilled. The book advances no theories, but deals with literal facts of Bible and history.
ELEGANTLY ILLUSTRATED.—The illustrations were designed especially for this work, and are a study in themselves. Everyone who has seen them pronounces them superb.
JUST THE BOOK FOR A HOLIDAY GIFT.—Nearly 200 large, octavo pages, printed on extra quality of paper, fine English cloth binding, with an emblematic design side stamp. Price $1.25.
The above-mentioned book in strong paper covers, with the SIGNS six months, for $1.50.
PROPHETIC LIGHTS, paper cover, and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for one year, for $2.25. Address the Secretary of any State Tract Society or send your orders to the publishers.
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., OAKLAND, CAL.
WHO CHANGED THE SABBATH?
A TRACT of 24 pages, which fully answers this question, and shows how Sunday displaced the Bible Sabbath. Extracts given from Catholic writers. Price, 3 cents.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
The Mission for California Wines
By Editor
Miss Kate Field has written to the California Viticultural Commission that she has commenced her "missionary" operations in behalf of California wines. She says that she has secured the commendation and co-operation of some prominent people, among them D. Hammond, the famous Philadelphia physician, but adds, rather sadly and in a sort of surprised way, that the temperance papers are opposing her efforts to enlighten the Eastern mind upon the benefits accruing from a "wise and well-regulated" use of California wines.
It seems really too bad that temperance papers should not be willing to surrender their principles at the behest of the California wine interests, especially when the will of the wine dealers is made known through the medium of a talented lady! But then there probably always will be people who will be influenced more or less by the words of Solomon: "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."
Miss Field is unfortunate in having to combat Scripture, human experience, and common sense; but then she has a powerful ally in depraved appetite, and will no doubt meet with much more success than she should, and very much more than will be for the good of those who are so unfortunate as to be deceived by her honeyed words in praise of "California's noblest industry."
Jewish Movements Toward Christianity
By Editor
SPEAKING of missionary operation the Christian at Work says:—
"No less than three different places have movements originated among the Jews that have led them toward Christ and the New Testament. It is all the more notable that these have been inaugurated entirely independent of each other. Of the Kishner agitation in Southern Russia, under the leadership of Rubinowitch, the papers have made repeated mention. Yet it seems not generally to be understood that this is a peculiarly Jewish-Christian movement, i.e., the converts do not want to cease to be Jews, but at the same time they want to become Christians. Their models are the Jewish-Christian churches of the apostolic age. They retain Jewish faith, and worship whatever they regard as reconcilable with the full acceptance of the fundamentals of Christianity. They practice circumcision, keep the Sabbath, celebrate the passover as heretofore, but they place all their trust and hope of salvation in Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Moses and the prophets. Accordingly none but Rubinowitch have been as yet baptized, although others are seeking baptism."
We suppose that the principal objection to the baptism of these believing Jews is the fact that they keep the Sabbath. Probably very few would object seriously to their keeping the passover and practicing circumcision, so long as they did not rely upon those things in any measure for salvation; but undoubtedly a large majority of so-called Christians of the present day would agree with the Council at Laodicea (A. D. 364), and forbid the keeping of the Sabbath under an anathema.
LOS ANGELES CAMP-MEETING.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE Los Angeles camp-meeting was preceded by a workers' meeting, commencing October 10. A fair representation of our people from different parts of the county attended this meeting, and shared its benefits. Brother G. K. Owen conducted a Bible-reading each day, and Brother S. N. Curtiss gave daily instruction in canvassing. This, with the early morning social meeting, and the evening preaching, made the occasion one of great profit.
When our campers for the regular meeting were assembled we had on the ground forty-six tents, including the meeting pavilion; and there was a little larger attendance of our people than last year. The laborers present were Elders Healey, McClure, Cook, Briggs, Owen, Sister Owen, and the writer. There were twenty-three public services. Besides these, there was a children's meeting each day for those under fourteen years of age, and a young people's meeting for those of fourteen and upwards.
Brother Cook had the pastoral oversight of the ground, and, with his force of special workers, much was done for the unconverted, and for those who wished to get nearer the Lord.
The camp-meeting Sabbath-school, on Sabbath, October 20, consisted of two hundred and sixteen persons, and the contributions amounted to $57.72. This collection is to be given to the London Mission. We were pleased to meet so many on the camp-ground from Los Angeles and from other parts of the county, who had embraced the truth during the last year.
The camp-meeting closed on the morning of the 23d. In one of the meetings for business it was voted, quite unanimously, that the camp-meeting for Southern California should be held next year in San Diego City.
After the camp-meeting closed, I remained one week in Los Angeles City, meeting with the church there on Sabbath and first-day. During the last year our people have completed a nice church building on a lot next to the mission house, which is located at 35 Carr Street, South Los Angeles. The meeting-room is carpeted and seated with perforated chairs. Back of this are two good-sized rooms for Sabbath-school purposes, and for day school, when a proper teacher can be secured. I was most agreeably surprised to find that the debt on this building and furniture was only $45, and that there were good pledges still unpaid which would more than make up this amount.
The mission house, which was built by our people in Southern California, has upon it a debt of about $2,300. A portion of this has been pledged, and there may be others who would esteem it a pleasure to assist from time to time in lifting the debt. Some steps should be taken to meet the interest on this debt until those who have promised can pay the pledges.
The good work that has been done by the mission, both in the city of Los Angeles and in the county, is a source of gratitude to our people, and, doubtless, they will gladly do what they can to hasten on the work. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
International Tract and Missionary Society.
A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
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Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
Twelfth and Castro Sts., OAKLAND, CAL., U. S. A.
The Presidential Election
The result of the election on the 6th inst. was a surprise alike to Democrats and Republicans. The former were confident of victory, while the latter, if they did not fear defeat, at most hoped only to secure a bare majority in the electoral college. As was expected, the South, with the exception of West Virginia, was solid for the Democratic ticket, but in only two of the Northern States were the Cleveland electors successful. The Republicans carried California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, thus securing 239 electoral votes, 38 more than are necessary to a choice. At the time of this writing the Republicans are confidently claiming a majority in the Fifty-first Congress. The Prohibition vote was not as large as was anticipated.
The Students' Workshop
By Editor
The October number of the Students' Workshop, published by the Healdsburg College Press, has been received. We notice many improvements in its appearance, indicative of ability and painstaking on the part of those having it in charge. Both in its literary and mechanical make-up, it is a credit to Healdsburg College, the educational principles of which it presents in a clear and forcible manner.
Fresno General Meeting
By Editor
We are requested by Elder J. H. Cook to announce a general meeting for Fresno, Cal., beginning Friday evening, November 16, at 6 o'clock, and continuing over Sabbath and Sunday. Brother Cook writes:
"We wish our brethren to get better acquainted with the wants of the cause and with each other. We want to have full representations from every church in this district, so we may know of their conditions and wants and provide for the same. Preparations will be made to entertain all who come to attend this meeting. Elders Loughborough, Bartlett and myself will be in attendance."
Meetings in Oakland
By Editor
Elder E. P. Daniels, who was for some weeks engaged in revival work in Fresno, is now conducting a series of meetings in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, corner of Twelfth and Brush Streets, in this city. These meetings opened Sabbath, November 10, and although it is too early to give results we are thankful to be able to say that everything points to the accomplishment of a good work for the Oakland church. A general invitation is extended to all who can do so to attend these meetings.
The Pope and German Politics
The Rome correspondent of the London Chronicle says that the Pope refused to comply with Count Herbert Bismarck's request to use his influence in behalf of the Government candidates in the election for the Landtag. Hence the coolness between Germany and the Vatican. The successor of Saint Peter (?) is evidently not in politics—at least he is not when he cannot get well paid for his influence.
Reports in the Next Issue
By Editor
We trust that the lack of the usual amount of editorial matter in the paper is compensated for by our synopsis of the proceedings of the General Conference and the minutes of the third and fourth meetings of the recent session of the International Sabbath-school Association. Next week we will give some account of the doings of the International Tract and Missionary Society.
Common Schools and Catholic Objections
Speaking of the American system of common schools, the Students' Workshop truthfully says: "It is true that the system has defects, but it has been and still is a mighty agency for good, and the only real objection that the Papists have against it is that it fails to make Catholics, whatever they may assert to the contrary."
Papers Sent Without Advance Pay
By Editor
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.
Illinois Sabbath Association Meeting
It is announced that the Sabbath (Sunday) Association of Illinois will hold its first annual meeting in the Methodist Church Block, Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 20 and 21, 1888. In connection with this meeting the National Committee of Sabbath (Sunday) Observance will hold its first meeting.
Among the speakers expected from abroad are Dr. John Hall, New York; Dr. Crafts, New York; Dr. Knowles, Newark; Col. Elliott F. Shepard, New York; Dr. Dorchester, Boston; Dr. J. M. King, New York; Dr. R. O. Post, Springfield, and others. "All persons interested," says the Union Signal, "in securing a Sabbath of rest for the hundreds now compelled to never-ending toil are urged to attend this meeting." It is understood that a strong and determined effort will be made in Illinois to secure the passage of a stringent Sunday law in that State, at the next session of the Legislature.