WALKING briskly, with an exciting object of pleasant interest ahead, is the most healthful of all forms of exercise except that of encouragingly remunerative, steady labor in the open air; and yet multitudes in the city, whose health urgently requires exercise, seldom walk when they can ride, if the distance is a mile or more. It is worse in the country, especially with the well-to-do; a horse or carriage must be brought to the door even if less distances have to be passed. Under the conditions first named, walking is a bliss; it gives animation to the mind, it vivifies the circulation, it paints the cheeks and sparkles the eye, and wakes up the whole being, physical, mental and moral.
We know a family of children in this city who, from the age of seven, had to walk nearly two miles to school, winter and summer; weather sleet, or storm, or rain, or burning sun, they made it an ambition never to stay away from school on account of the weather, and never to be “late;” and one of them was heard to boast that in seven years it had never been necessary for him to give an “excuse” for being one minute behind time, even although in winter it was necessary to dress by gaslight. They did not average two days’ sickness in a year, and later they thought nothing of walking twelve miles at a time in the Swiss mountains. Some times they would be caught in drenching rains and wet to the skin; on such occasions they made it a point to do one thing—let it rain, and trudged on more vigorously until every thread was dry before they reached home.
There is no unmedicinal remedy known to men of more value in the prevention of consumption than a few miles’ joyous walking: let one follow it up a week—a walk of two or three miles in the forenoon, as much in the afternoon—and, except in rare cases, when a longer continuance may be made, the result will be triumphant; and yet nine persons out of ten would rather give a dollar a bottle for some nauseous drops or poisonous pills than take the trouble to put in practice the natural remedy of walking. Nor is there any anodyne among all the drugs in the world which is the hundredth part so efficacious, in securing refreshing, healthful, delicious, glorious sleep, as a judicious walk.—Hall’s Journal of Health.
Don't Worry About Yourself.
To regain or recover health, persons should be relieved from all anxiety concerning diseases. The mind has power over the body. For a person to think he has a disease will often produce that disease. This we see effected when the mind is intensely concentrated upon the disease of another. It is found in the hospital that surgeons and physicians who make a specialty of certain diseases are liable to die of it themselves; and the mental power is so great that sometimes people die of diseases which they only have in imagination. We have seen a person sick in anticipation of a voyage before reaching the vessel. We have known a person to die of cancer in the stomach when he had no cancer or any other mortal disease. A blindfolded man, slightly pricked in the arm, has fainted and died from believing that he was bleeding to death. Therefore, well persons, to remain well, should be cheerful and happy; and sick persons should have their attention drawn as much as possible from themselves. It is by their faith men are saved, and it is by their faith men die. If he wills not to die, he can often live in spite of disease; and if he has little or no attachment to life he will slip away as easily as a child will fall asleep.
Men live by their souls and not by their bodies. Their bodies have no life by themselves; they are only resources of life—tenements of their souls. The will has much to do in continuing the physical occupancy or giving it up.—Journal of Health.
SECULAR NEWS.
—The Russian losses to January 10 are officially stated at 82,195.
—Flattering accounts of oil discoveries in Dakota continue to be received.
—There were 1,890 failures in Canada last year; the liabilities, $250,510,147.
—It is calculated that six persons die every hour of the day in the city of London.
—The cost to Pennsylvania of suppressing the riots last summer foots up to about half a million.
—About 1,000 feet of Sterns' wharf at Santa Barbara was carried away recently by the waves.
—The public debt of Russia is about 1,193,809,956 roubles. A rouble is about seventy-five cents of our money.
—Aliens to the number of 45,536 arrived at New York last year—a decrease of 16,192 compared with the previous year.
—The State of Wisconsin has nine distilleries, two hundred and sixty-six breweries, eighty-one wholesale liquor houses, and 4,777 saloons.
—The mail between Green River and Sweetwater, Utah, was recently robbed of letters containing drafts amounting to about $500,000.
—A site has been chosen for the Cleopatra obelisk on the Thames embankment at the top of Adelphi steps, between Charing Cross and Waterloo bridge.
—Nine millions of people are reported as being destitute on account of the famine in China, and it is stated that children are daily sold in the market for food.
—New England is having the warmest winter known to old inhabitants. With the exception of one snow storm and cold "snap" the weather has been like that of October or April.
—Victor Emmanuel leaves four lawful children—Clotilde, married to Prince Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte; Humbert, now king of Italy; Amadeus, ex-king of Spain; and Princess Pia, married to King Luis I, of Portugal.
—The loss of property on the Western rivers during the past year is set down at $5,330,000. This includes ice and coal boat disasters on the Ohio river amounting to $4,000. The number of lives lost during the time was seventy, more than two-thirds by explosions and burning of steamers.
—The value of the grain and flour imported into France in the last nine months of last year, was $26,200,000, as compared with $34,000,000 in the corresponding period of 1876. On the other hand, the value of the grain and flour exported from France in the first nine months of this year, was $20,400,000, as compared with $19,200,000 in the corresponding period of 1876.
—A Rome dispatch says: The Pope is preparing an allocution against Russia for the persecution of the Church in Poland, and against King Humbert and his accession to the throne for the assumption of the title of king of Italy. The queen of Portugal, daughter of the late King Victor Emmanuel and the Pope's god-daughter, is refused admission to the Pope because she is residing at the Quirinal.
San Francisco and Oakland.
By John Norton Loughborough
BEING permitted to spend a few days with these two churches about the time of our State quarterly meeting, I am happy to report that the work at head quarters of our work on the Pacific coast is onward. District No. 7 has disposed of 3,200 Health Annuals, of these 3,000 were taken by the church of Oakland. San Francisco made arrangments during my last meeting there to dispose of 580, the last of her quota of 3,000 Annuals.
The Vigilant Missionary Society in Oakland is doing a good work, not only in circulating the SIGNS, and others of our publications, but also in corresponding with individuals in various parts of the country. Much good might be done by other of our California churches, were our sisters prepared to take hold of, and prosecute the matter as the Oakland Vigilant Missionary Society is doing.
Our State quarterly meeting was interesting, but not so much so as it would have been could we have had a more full attendance of the directors. Nothing serves more to give life and importance to the work than to have all parts of the field represented in our State quarterly meetings. In those districts whose directors have been the most prompt to attend the State quarterly meetings, the work seems to go with the greatest zeal. If all directors are there, they more quickly understand the full import of any measures decided to be acted upon. Perhaps all our districts do not understand yet, although acted upon by vote of State quarterly meeting, and reported in the SIGNS, that the traveling expenses of those directors who do attend the State quarterly meeting is apportioned among all the districts in the State according to their financial strength. We hope by the next quarterly meeting to see all the directors present. It will be a very important meeting, being held just before the opening up of our summer's tent campaign in California.
The missionary work in Oakland has created considerable outside interest there, and it was deemed advisable to have Brother Healey immediately give a course of lectures and follow up the work there.
In San Francisco, Brother Andrew Brorsen is to follow up the interest that has been awakened there among the Scandinavians, assisting at the same time in the work among the Americans until the tent shall be placed there with the opening spring. San Francisco and Oakland are important points. Pray the Lord to open the way and bless our efforts in these places. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
The Vacaville Baptists.
By James White
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE BAPTIST HYMN BOOK.
In our pamphlet entitled, Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New, we stated that one of the beautiful pages of the Baptist Hymn Book was devoted to the ten commandments, word for word as we teach and observe them. We made the statement from what we saw of the book about one year since while selecting several excellent hymns and tunes from that book when we revised our hymn book, and publishd the last edition of it. The statement we made in the pamphlet, we know to be correct.
The statement we made in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES a few weeks since that the Vacaville Baptists had torn the ten commandments from their hymn book was made on the following evidence. We state it here and leave the public to judge.
1. We knew the ten commandments to be in the Baptist hymn book.
2. Our son, J. E. White, of Oakland, when attending the late discussion there, conducted by Elders Healey and Johnson, says that he examined all the books in sight, and saw that a leaf had been removed from every one.
3. Mr. Taft of the Baptist College of Vacaville, does acknowledge that the leaf was out of the book.
Now if Mr. Taft and his Baptist friends say that they did not remove the ten commandment leaf from their hymn book about the time of the discussion of the Sabbath question at Vacaville, their testimony should be received. God knows that their position is heaven daring enough without such an act. In reference to this matter, Elder Healey makes the following candid statement:—
"Brother White : The report that the Baptists of Vacaville have torn the ten commandments out of their hymn books is denied by Prof. Taft, President of their college there. The story was generally believed in Vacaville at the time of the debate. Just before the discussion Prof. Taft preached a sermon in which he said 'The ten commandments were abolished,' and 'I ignore every one of them, and hope my church will have the stamina to do the same.'
"Elder Stephens borrowed of Elder Barnes, Baptist minister of Vacaville, his hymn book, and read from the first page the ten commandments in his review of Prof. Taft's sermon. When the report was started that they had torn the commandments out of the hymn books used in the college, several persons examined the books, and found the first leaf gone. I examined six or eight of them, and saw they were thus mutilated, and knowing that the professor had ignored the commandments, I, with others, supposed his people were trying to show they had the same 'stamina.'
"I do not know who gave you the information, but you can see by the above that there was good circumstantial evidence for it. Prof. Taft explains by saying that the books used in the college never had the commandments in them, and says the leaves that are gone were torn out before he took charge of the school. He does not care so much about the commandments themselves, as he regards them as being of no consequence, but does not want it believed that they would tear their books to get rid of them, or any thing else."
Those who have the truth can afford to be fair. Far from us to be willing to do injustice to any one. We are glad to hear that the cause of Bible truth has gained a victory at Vacaville.
J. W.
Hard Times.
By James White
THESE are confessedly hard times. Almost all classes feel that times are hard. But no class feels them more than publishers. At present this Office is greatly in need of all dues. If subscribers will pay promptly they will confer a great benefit. And we ask Tract and Missionary societies to pay promptly.
The entire business done with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES by the Tract and Missionary societies for one year, ending January 31, 1878, is as follows:—
There is still due on this account the handsome sum of $2,786.31. This amount is much needed at this time. Will the officers of these societies see that these sums are paid as fast as they become due.
It will be gratifying to the friends of the SIGNS to learn that the sum total received for the paper during the year 1877 is $12,533.93.
J. W.
Heavy Rains.
By James White
CALIFORNIA has recently been visited with heavy rains, greatly to the joy of both farmers and miners. The past two dry years brought a depression in business, and a general gloom over the State. The change to the much desired rains will favorably effect all branches of business. The ground is perfectly saturated. The rains came gently at first and the ground drank it in as it fell, so the creeks and streams did not rise. But the rain finally came in torrents, swelling the creeks and streams, and sweeping the bridges and fences into the Pacific ocean. From our new home there were two roads to railroad connection, one by fording a creek, the other by passing over bridges. The past week the creek has risen to a depth of twenty feet, cutting off communication that way, and carrying off bridges the other way, obliging us to drive over the mountain and across one remaining bridge so doubtful that no person has ventured to ride across it for nearly a week. In a few days, however, if the rain subsides we shall be able to ford the creek, when we expect to return to Healdsburg.
J. W.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
District No. 5.
This district is now composed of the churches of Woodland, Sacramento, and Vacaville. Those who did meet at Dixon, in this district, are now reckoned with the Vacaville church. A good work has been accomplished in district No. 5, during the last fourteen months. At that time there was only the Woodland church in the district. Since meetings were held at Sacramento, and a company raised up there who have hired a humble hall in which they meet regularly for worship, a series of meetings have been held at Elmira, Benhampton, Udel, Dixon and Vacaville. As the result of the labors of Brethren Healey and Stephens at these several points in Solano county there are not much less than forty who have embraced the truth. Some have moved to other places, but a goodly company meet each Sabbath at their hired hall in Vacaville. I had the privilege of holding a meeting with the company at Sacramento, and two meetings at Vacaville—one, a business meeting. We were prevented by severe rain from holding more meetings. I was especially encouraged to see so much stability and permanence in the work in these places. I had not met with them in Woodland for about thirteen months and could clearly see marked progress in the cause there. The storm prevented the completion of our business organization in this district, so I am not prepared to give the definite figures on S. B. and missionary one third now, but can do so before long, if I am permitted to meet with some of these companies on my return from Nevada. The figures are much increased from what they were last year; and the spirit of zeal and good cheer on the part of the older members in this district has greatly increased.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
New Singing Book.
By Editor
WE have commenced the compilation of a Sabbath-school singing book. Any having good music or hymns to suggest will please send them to the address of SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Appointment.
By Editor
Mrs. E. G. White will speak to the church in Oakland, Sabbath, February 9, at 10:30 A. M.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.
By Editor
Received for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. Joseph Stover 5-6, Wm Lawton 5-1, Isaac Groves 5-1, W L Johnson 5-1, Mary L Meeker 4-45, E R Powers 5-1, Anna Matthews 5-1, J B Carpenter 5-1, Stephen Norton 5-1, Maria M Buckland 5-5, Mrs M M Andrews 5-1; Simeon Lehman 5-1, Mrs Susie A Angelo 5-7, Mrs M Borland 5-1, E A Dickenson 5-1, A Geary 5-1, J V Wible 4-16.
$1.50 EACH. H W Collis 5-1, Alfred Disney 5-1, Daniel B Grindrod 5-1, J S Mac Key 5-1, Jerome Brown 5-1, A J Traves 5-1, L L Cavender 5-1, Wm Cook 5-1, John W De Balt 5-1, Sarah E Donderville 5-1, Elizabeth Hupp 5-1, James Hibbon 5-1, J T Elliott 5-1, Benjamin Henderson 5-1, W W Enck 5-1, A Pitman 5-1, Peter Palmer 5-4, Mrs Sarah Ann Johnson 5-1, Julius Brown 5-1, S Anderson 5-1, C Thompson 5-1, O R Brown 5-1, Rebecca A Davis 5-1, Chas Parker 5-1, Robert Marshall 5-1, D H Hollenbeck 5-1, Mrs M J Jones 5-1, Mrs Sarah Magrainis 5-1, Mrs M A E Shotwell 5-1, R B Toal 5-1, J P Henderson 5-1, Mrs F Yerxta 4-36, E F Canfield 5-1, Thos P Clark 5-1, Mrs L Austin 5-1.
$1.00 EACH. Thomas Brown 4-26, Isaac Zirkle 4-24, Susan Vincent 4-24, H H Brunsteter 4-24, M U Jenkins 4-29, Joseph Shields 5-4, Elizabeth Locke 4-32, R H Beck 4-44, H H Perry 4-32.
MISCELLANEOUS. Geo Simpson 50c 4-16, J L Marter 75c 4-24, Fannie Morel (41 copies) 61.50 5-1, Geo Fereman (4 copies) 6.00 5-1, Fred Walter 4.00 5-1, Mrs T C Everts 2.25 4-48, Mrs G W Colcord (4 copies) 6.00 5-1, A A Stanford (4 copies) 3.00 4-24, Albert Litchfield 50c 4-16, Chas Dexter 50c 4-16, E J Potter (20 copies) 30.00 5-2, D S Himstreet (2 copies) 3.00 5-1, J H Disher (4 copies) 6.00 5-1, C R Austin (2 copies) 3.00 5-1, Isaac H Thomson 2.25 5-39, C P Whitford (50 copies) 3.00 4-7, Mrs Linda Whitford (2 copies) 3.00 5-1, Prudence Yates (2 copies) 3.00 5-1.
California Conference Fund.
Green Valley church $19.00, Red Bluff church 22.00, J H Disher 10.00.
California Tent Fund.
Red Bluff church 75c.
Received on Account.
North Pacific T and M Society $50.00, Cal T and M Society 46.75.
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 Urgos. $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. 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.
History of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul. D. M. Canright. 25 cts.
Facts for the Times. 30 cts.
The State of the Dead. U. Smith. 25 cts.
The Nature and tendency of Modern Spiritualism. J. H. Waggoner. 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.
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 Sufferings 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—Elihu 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—The Law and the Gospel—God's Memorial.
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?—A Dialogue. Address, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.
Meetings at Oakland.
By James White
Elder W. M. Healey commenced a course of lectures in our house of worship at Oakland, on the evening following first-day, February 3. The lectures had been very extensively advertised and the attendance was large; not less than three hundred and fifty persons were present at the first lecture.
The house has been improved by putting in a gallery that will seat about seventy-five persons.
A becoming interest in this effort is felt by the church, and success is expected as the fruits of judicious missionary and public labor.
Mrs. White and the writer are on the ground to give what assistance we can. We decide to spend a week or ten days in Oakland. J. W.