Earlier text: Early Apostasy in the ChurchSlave, or Master—Which?
By C. L. Hill
WHAT do you think of it, boys? Which would you prefer to be? Do you feel any desire to become a slave, and have a merciless tyrant for your master, whom you would be compelled to obey? Or is there not a spirit of true, manly pride within your breast that scorns such a thought? I know of many young men who have voluntarily taken upon themselves a lifetime of servitude under the most exacting of masters. I have a friend, a young merchant, in one of New England's thriving villages, who has a queer, filthy, black-looking thing for a master, which he calls tobacco. He is thirty-two years of age, and has passed over half of those years under this bondage. Many times during the day will he salute this master by affectionately placing him to his lips. You would suppose by this that he either loved or respected him, while the fact is, he despises him. He has often told me that he would give a thousand dollars to be completely out of his power. He has tried several times to break his fetters, but with no success. I dropped into his store one day, and found him all out of sorts, fidgety, nervous, and suffering from a severe headache. It was a time when he was trying to break from his bondage. He had refused obedience for two days, and the relentless little master was after him with whips and hounds. One seemed to be gnawing ferociously at his stomach, another was licking his throat as dry as a bone, while a host of them seemed scampering through his brain, and darting back and forth on every nerve. Boxes of cigars and tobacco stood on his shelves for sale, and whenever he went near them they seemed to give the command: "Come, sir, you must take a bite," or "It is time for you to have a smoke." And the poor fellow was goaded until he had to submit, and, by his actions, acknowledge himself in their power. This young man learned to use tobacco when a boy, thinking it would make a man of him to be able to smoke a cigar. Do you think he is more manly now on account of the habit? Boys, don't allow yourselves to be deceived in this matter. Tobacco will never make a man of you, but will make you its slave instead. If you commence its use, it is almost certain that you will regret it afterwards. If you doubt this, just test its truth by the experience of others. Ask every candid man among your acquaintances who has used it for ten or more years, and see if nine out of every ten will not advise you to let tobacco alone. They regret having formed the habit themselves, and would gladly break from it if they could easily do so. "I can do something that you can't," said a boy to his companion. "I can chew tobacco." "And I can do something you can't," was the quick reply. "I can let tobacco alone." Now that is the kind of boy we love to see. The boy who has the "backbone" to refuse when asked to do a foolish or wicked thing, is the one we are proud of. It is an easy matter to sail with the wind or float with the tide, and it is easy enough to form bad habits, so no one can boast over the power to do that. It is the one who can let them alone that is worthy of the praise. And the best time to let tobacco alone is before the appetite for it has been formed. There is nothing inviting about it then. Don't use it, boys. It is filthy, poisonous, disgusting stuff at its best. Be man enough to let it alone. Hold your head up proudly and say that you are its master, and never intend to become its slave.—C. L. Hill. While yet but a little girl, Mabel Downing had seen her father and mother pass away from her, and after the breaking up of the happy little family, she was sent to live with Grandma Downing, who lived all alone in a rambling old house, peopled more by memories than by living inmates. Of course it was very lonely and very sad, although there were some pleasent neighbors near, and grandma would gladly have made it a happy home for the pale, sorrowful little girl who had come to her; but it seemed as though Mabel could not, or would not, brighten up under her grandmother's kind efforts. It seemed to her that the old lady had such strange ideas of making people happy, and a strange way too, as she found, of dealing with their faults. She seemed really to believe that girls were happier for having regular duties for regular hours, and, to Mabel's way of thinking, many of these duties were not in the least amusing; but instead of wisely adopting grandma's views, the little girl clung obstinately to her own, and I need scarcely tell you that she was far from happy. There was but one thing in all the house which Mabel had found really to love or care for; this was nothing less than the old piano standing all alone in the old-fashioned parlor—a piano that years ago had sent forth beautiful strains, making melody in many hearts, but which, in the silence creeping gradually over the old home, had not been even opened for a long time. But on the very first day Mabel had found her way to it, and when grandma discovered her little visitor's love for music, and heard her play some sweet little airs caught by ear, she willingly gave Mabel permission to entertain herself thus whenever she wished. This was indeed a pleasure to Mabel; morning and evening found her continually in the dim-lighted parlor, not caring for listeners, preferring to be all alone, playing softly or gladly on the old instrument, never knowing when to leave it, and often not till grandma had called several times, reminding her of some forgotten duty, or to send her out in the fresh air. It is true, the old piano had long since seen its best days; many of the keys were quite mute, half were out of tune, and all jangled most unmusically, except a few chords, which Mabel soon learned to love and dwell upon; indeed, to the lonely little girl it seemed as though the old piano could understand her feelings, and could sympathize more fully with her than anything else; when accidentally touching a dumb note, and receiving no response, it seemed to remind her of loved voices now mute or silent; the long row of keys seemed to her like so many little friends, each in turn giving her all the pleasure in its power, regardless of discord. And little by little Mabel ceased to care for any other friends, finding comfort in the old piano at all hours, and telling out all her troubles through her idly wandering fingers, really believing that the instrument understood all, and responded as sympathetically as its cracked voice would permit. Don't you think it was time for grandma to insist upon more fresh air and busy duties for a little girl who could indulge such dreamy thoughts and fancies? But grandma insisted to little purpose, for Mabel only retreated the more persistently to her old friend for every unwelcome suggestion or command. One afternoon she was absent for more than an hour on an important errand for her grandmother, but when she returned found she had forgotten the full half the message she was to have delivered; now surely this was very careless; yet nevertheless Mabel thought grandma's reproof very unkind and unmerited, and, full of moody thoughts and with a sob in her throat, away she went to the darkened parlor to pour out her feelings in melancholy notes on the sympathetic old piano. Entering from the brilliant sunshine, Mabel had almost to grope her way, and had reached the center of the room before noticing anything unusual, when suddenly, with an overpowering sense of something missing, of a great vacancy about her, she stood motionless, and felt, more than she saw, that her one true, faithful friend was gone. For several moments she stood quite still, a mute, incredulous sorrow creeping over her, and then with a great choking sob away she flew to her grandmother. "O, grandma," she cried, "they have taken it away! Some one has carried off my piano! What has happened to it? Tell me where it has gone!" Grandma's face, that could be stern at times, turned now with gentle love and tenderness toward the distressed young countenance looking up to hers. "Mabel, dear," she said, "I was obliged to send the piano away for reasons I cannot explain now; I would have told you before it went, had I not believed it would only increase your pain in giving it up. I hope my little girl will try and be happy without it." "But, grandma, I never can be happy without it," sobbed poor Mabel; "I loved it better than anything in all the world, and I don't believe I can live without it!" "Not quite so bad as that, Mabel," said grandma soothingly. "We are very, very rarely required to give up anything which we really cannot live without; trust grandma for once, and try to learn, what she was long in learning, that, if we will but look for it, a truer happiness will often spring up to fill the place of one that has been taken from us." But those were sad days for a time that followed for Mabel; her first thought in the morning was of her great loss, and she could not go near the old parlor without a fresh burst of grief. There were so many hours that now seemed empty and joyless for her—hours which for a few days she spent mostly in sullen, repining thoughts, but which she gradually began to find so tedious that she was glad to shorten them by almost any device. Having no temptation now to hurry through her morning duties, one by one they were performed more thoroughly, thereby calling forth only praise and cheery words from grandma, instead of reproof, and this of itself drew the little girl's heart nearer to the one whose real love she could not doubt. And many a pleasant book, wholly discarded while the old piano stood waiting for her, did Mabel now find a true and entertaining friend, giving a double pleasure as she read aloud to grandma, while the latter sat knitting. The garden, too, seemed now to bloom with new and sweet attractions to Mabel, tempting her to remain longer each day, and sending her in at last with rosy cheeks and bright eyes. The little neighbors, who before had tried in vain to catch up with the change that had made Mabel so much more attractive and lovable—a change altogether more perceptible to others than to the little girl herself. For we must not suppose that she had quite forgotten her dear old friend that had been so great a treasure; no, far from it; she longed for it often with a yearning desire to pass her fingers over the sympathetic keys once more, but she had ceased to repine for the lost pleasure, learning the lesson that comes to us all in time, "The lesson of doing without." Three months had gone by, and one summer evening, after a long walk for grandma, Mabel wandered mechanically to the parlor in one of those wistful moods, thinking sadly but patiently of her lost delight. And once again, as on a well-remembered evening so long ago, she reached the center of the room before something caused her to pause and gaze incredulously before her. Could it have been a dream all this time, or could her eyes now be deceiving her; for there, in the same familiar spot, looking unchanged, except perhaps a little fresher and brighter, stood the dear old piano, every well-remembered line on its carved case greeting her astonished gaze. The next instant the top was raised, and forgetful of everything but her ecstasy of surprise and delight, Mabel passed her hand lovingly over the keys, but once more started back more delightedly astonished than ever. Could it be the same old instrument, so discordant, so defective, now sending forth such sweet, rich notes? Before she could again touch the soft chords, grandma stood beside her. "O, grandma, have you seen it, have you heard?" cried Mabel joyously. "It is the old piano with new life!" "That is indeed just it, my own little girl," answered grandma, "a new life that I hope is to be a pleasure to you for many years to come; and let me give you your first lesson. Do you not see these keys, that only a few months since did their work so imperfectly, some selfishly mute, giving forth no sweet response when called, others all out of tune, jangling together and producing no true music; now, who do you suppose must have wrought this change upon it, giving it a new, sweet life?" "It must have been the maker, grandma," said Mabel, a very thoughtful look stealing through her gladness. "That is rightly guessed," answered grandma; "the old piano, with all its imperfections, has been given into the keeping of its maker all this time, and to-day he has returned it to me renewed as you see it. I wonder if Mabel can think of something else that has grown sweeter and better during the same time? I know a young heart that three months ago was as much out of tune as the piano; though duties and pleasures lay straight before it each day like these white and black keys, yet when God listened for sweet music, as he does from every heart, these being his own loved instruments, his ear heard only discordant sounds, some of the keys remaining coldly mute, others harsh and unlovely, and all sadly out of tune. I have tried to send that poor little heart back to its Maker, and I believe he alone has made it the healthy, happy heart it now is, giving out sweet music to all." "Ah, grandma," said Mabel thoughtfully, "I never understood so well before what you have meant in telling me that we must all ask God for a new life, and a new heart through Jesus Christ." And Mabel never forgot that lesson, or, if inclined to forget, instead of tempting her to neglect its teachings, the old piano remained a continual reminder of her duties; and as she watched carefully to keep her dear instrument free from dust or injury, so did she watch over God's instrument within her, that it might ever send forth only sweet and pleasant music to his pure ear.—New York Observer. The Home Circle.
By Alexander Macaulay
WITHOUT the Master's house 'tis dark and cold,
Within are warmth, and light, and endless cheer;
Without 'tis dismal as a dead man's bier,
Within new glories evermore unfold. Without are demons terrible and bold,
Within angelic hosts in white appear;
Without men groan in agony and fear,
Within are rest, and peace, and joys untold. Without great storms seem ever imminent,
Within can only gentle zephyrs come;
Without men shudder as in dungeon pent,
Within are all secure in heavenly home. Without are Satan and his wretched crew,
Within stands Jesus to our welcome view. A TRAVELER in South Africa witnessed not long since a singular combat. He was musing one morning, with his eyes on the ground, when he noticed a caterpillar crawling along at a rapid pace. Pursuing him was a host of small ants. Being quicker in their movements, the ants would catch up with the caterpillar, and one would mount his back and bite him. Pausing, the caterpillar would turn his head, and bite and kill his tormentor. After slaughtering a dozen or more of his persecutors, the caterpillar showed signs of fatigue. The ants made a combined attack. Betaking himself to a stalk of grass, the caterpillar climbed up tail first, followed by the ants. As one approached, he seized it in his jaws and threw it off the stalk. The ants, seeing that the caterpillar had too strong a position for them to overcome, resorted to strategy. They began sawing through the grass stalk. In a few minutes the stalk fell, and hundreds of ants pounced upon the caterpillar. He was killed at once, and the victors marched off in triumph, leaving the foe's body on the field.—Sel. A God Who Can Shake the World
DURING an earthquake that occurred a few years since, the inhabitants of a small village were generally very much alarmed, but they were at the same time surprised at the calmness and apparent joy of an old lady whom they all knew. At length one of them, addressing the old lady, said:— "Mother, are you not afraid?" "No," said the mother in Israel; "I rejoice to know that I have a God that can shake the world." -Gustave Dore, the famous French artist, died in Paris, Jan. 23. -The production of beet-root sugar in Europe last year amounted to 1,920,000 tons. -Prince Frederick Charles, brother of Emperor William, died in Berlin, Jan. 22. -Differences in the French Cabinet have led to the resignation of all but three of the members. -Last year the New York Excise Commissioners granted 9,083 licenses, the fees amounting to $530,990. -The Japanese Government has introduced the electric light into the government buildings at Yokahama. -During the past five years, 2,400 divorces have been granted in Maine, a ratio of one divorce to ten marriages. -Dr. George M. Beard, of New York, of considerable note as a medical writer and electrician, died on the 24th ult. -Two stage stations in Esmeralda County, Nevada, were raided by robbers last week, and five men were murdered. -An insane woman murdered her three children at Milwaukee, last week, under the delusion that the Bible demanded the sacrifice. -Over 2,300 men are employed in the Vermont marble quarries and works, and the yield of marble last year was valued at more than $2,000,000. -There was an extensive cave-in Jan. 24, in a coal mine at Wilkesbarre, Pa. On the surface, cracks are visible for acres in either direction. A number of houses have settled from six inches to two feet. -The charge of murder against Frank James has been withdrawn, and his bail has been fixed at $3,500. The next act in the play will doubtless be to give him a pension, and pay him for the time lost while detained in jail. -The last steamer from Australia brings news of a terrible accident in a gold mine near Creswick, Victoria. The men at work unexpectedly broke into an old shaft, when the mine was instantly flooded, and twenty-two miners were drowned. -The queen of Madagascar has set an example that Christian rulers would do well to imitate. In a proclamation forbidding her subjects either to sell or drink rum, she says: "I cannot take a revenue from anything that will debase and degrade my people." -Messrs. Davitt, Healey, and Quinn, charged with incitement to lawlessness, have been ordered by the Court to give securities for good behavior, or to go to jail for six months. A week's time was allowed them to make their choice, but they refused to give bail, and it is thought that they will be sentenced to solitary confinement at hard labor. -The Coroner's jury in the case of the Tehachepi disaster, found the engineer and brakeman guilty of criminal carelessness, and they have been arrested. It seems that the engineer did not dare follow the runaway cars with his engine, until he received orders from head-quarters. This is equal to a man's refusing to rescue a drowning person, because he has not been introduced. -The loss of life on the water within two weeks past, has been fearful. First came the loss of the steamer Cimbria, with its 450 passengers. Then the brigantine Mariposa was sunk in Long Island Sound, only one man escaping. At Lisbon, Jan. 22, the ship Forwaerts sunk, and eight persons were drowned. And during a gale on the English Coast, Jan. 26, a schooner and crew were lost at Yarmouth. -Following the railroad accident in California comes the news of a terrible one in West Virginia. Three coal trains coupled together, consisting of three engines and sixty-nine loaded cars, started down the steep grade near Cumberland. The brakes proving unable to hold the train, it went flying down the hill. Coming to a curve it jumped from the track, landing in a mass in a ravine 100 feet below. Fifteen men are known to have been killed. -Secretary of the Treasury Folger, has addressed a letter to the Senate, showing the urgent necessity for providing additional vault room for storing silver, or for discontinuing the coinage of silver dollars. The San Francisco Sub-Treasury is full, having on hand $21,788,606, or about 628 tons. To transfer this to some sub-treasury in the East, would cost $100,000 for each million transferred, and there are none in a condition to receive that amount. The amount of silver in the several offices, Jan. 1, was $120,538,534, or about 3,500 tons of coin. -Paris telegrams are exciting intense interest and some anxiety. Bankers and merchants having business relations with France, say, as things stand now, it is impossible to tell what a day may bring forth, and some of the French financial houses are said to be acting with great caution. The Germans predict another revolution in Paris within thirty days. There are few observing Americans, however, who think that the situation has a sinister aspect. Private dispatches to financial houses from Berlin and Frankfort say there is also some uneasiness there. -On the morning of the 22d ult., a band of fifteen robbers attacked a train on the Central Pacific Railroad, near Montello, Utah. The engineer and fireman were captured, but the express messenger, armed with a shot gun, successfully resisted all their attempts to enter the express car. Although severely wounded he held his position for three hours. The robbers were about to drive him out by burning the car, when they were frightened away by the approach of another train. It is thought that they were part of an organized band, who have a strongly fortified place of concealment in the northern part of Utah. Religious Notes.
By Editor
- There are forty-five Catholic congregations in St. Louis.
- There are now two Methodist congregations of native Christians in Caunpore, India.
- The Catholic Monitor declares its principles thus: "As God is above the world, so must Catholics be Catholics first and patriots afterward."
- The city of Montreal has made a claim for taxes on a church on the ground that a fair was lately held in the building for profit, whereas, to be exempt from taxation, buildings must be used exclusively for divine purposes.
- A reader of the Examiner asks information in regard to the best books of devotion, and that paper very truly replies that the Bible is the best book of devotion in existence, and worth more than all the rest combined.
- The Golden Rule says: "Many a man who cannot get time to attend the church prayer-meeting, will, if he becomes the head of a secret society, give three evenings a week to lodge and committee meetings, and not complain in the least."
- Bishop McNamara, of the Independent Catholic Church, says there are about 50,000 people of Irish Catholic blood in Chicago who have lost faith in the Roman Church, and are accessible to gospel preaching. He is expecting to begin labors among them early this year.
- Bishop Ireland, of the Roman Catholic diocese of Minnesota, forbids members of the church from keeping saloons, tending bars, or furnishing liquor to the public in any manner whatever, under penalty of excommunication, and his action has caused quite a sensation among Catholics generally.
- Rev. David Gregg, of New York, in a lecture published in the Christian Statesman, says, "The doctrine of the Sabbath is republican," and then quotes, "The Sabbath was made by man." That is perfectly true of the sabbath which he keeps, but the Sabbath which we observe is of divine origin.
- The Michigan correspondent of the Examiner says that the Baptists are losing ground in Michigan. During the last five years the population has increased 12 per cent., and the number of Baptists only 5 per cent.; while in 1835-40, when the population increased 100 per cent., the number of Baptists increased 150 per cent.
- The Free Methodists at a recent conference at Burlington, Iowa, resolved that brewing beer, making cider, raising hops for brewing purposes, and growing, using, trafficking in tobacco, constitute a sin against God and our neighbor; and that persons guilty of any of the above practices are not worthy of membership in a Christian church.
- Rev. D. F. Leach of Latesville, Va., writing to the Examiner, says that while in very many individual instances, and in some communities and churches, there is great improvement in the moral and religious condition of the Freedmen, these are exceptions and not the rule. He says that most of them have no proper idea of God and Christ, and that their religion is simply fetichism, with the names of God and Christ incorporated. The idea of a change of heart, forgiveness of sins, or a desire for holiness, has never entered their minds. He says that a great many of the colored Baptists are involved in this gross darkness, and calls for enlightened Christians to pray and labor more for their spiritual emancipation.
LIVELY.—Died of consumption, in Oakland, Cal., Jan. 14, 1883, Sister Anne E. Lively, aged 28 years, 3 months, and 20 days. Funeral discourse at the Seventh-day Adventist house of worship, by Eld. M. C. Israel. ATWOOD.—Sarah R. Atwood, died of quick consumption, at St. Helena, January 24, aged 30 years, and 1 month. Sister Atwood embraced the "present truth" under the labors of Elders Loughborough and Cornell, in 1873, and her aim since then has been to discharge faithfully every Christian duty. Although not physically strong, she has been in the enjoyment of quite good health until a few weeks ago, from which time she has failed rapidly. She seemed to feel that it was her lot to sleep, and was resigned to trust in the hope of living again. Her last words were, "My heavenly Father. I die in peace." A large company of friends assembled at the last sad rite, and I presented to them the Christian's hope. W. M. HEALEY. Instruction given in Ancient and Modern Languages and the Physical Sciences. Common Branches Thoroughly Taught. Special Training for Teachers. This Institution has met with almost Unparalleled Success in the short time since its incorporation. - The Instruction is very Thorough and Practical.
- The Discipline is Rigid yet Parental.
- The Strong Moral and Religious Influence finds its equal in no other Institution of the kind.
- The Expenses of Students for Board, Tuition, etc., come within the ability of all.
- The Methods employed in the class-room, and the Professional Instruction, afford special advantages to those desiring to teach.
While its courses embrace all the higher Collegiate Branches, which are taught in the most thorough manner, especial attention is given to the Common Branches.One of the prominent features of Healdsburg College is the effort to impress upon its students the claims and benefits of morals and religion. Any one of known evil habits, who is exerting a pernicious influence upon his fellow-students, is not tolerated in the school. The tuition ranges from $2.25 to $6.00 per month. Board in private families and in the college boarding-house ranges from $3.00 to $3.50 per week, with room completely furnished. Besides the regular class drills in the different branches, there is given occasional instruction concerning methods and genera. school management. Is connected with the College to accommodate those children whose parents desire to place them under the instruction and moral influence of the school. The Spring Term begins January 3, 1883, and closes May 29, 1883. After a vacation the Fall Term opens July 25, 1883.
Address, S. BROWNSBERGER, A. M., President, Healdsburg, Cal. DEVOTED TO PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL CULTURE.
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 paper, and every way adapted to the wants of the family. There is something in it for everybody. Every number contains valuable articles about how to preserve health, and how to treat diseases with simple remedies. Its presence in a family will save many times its cost every year. Each number contains 32 pages of solid reading matter. Send for specimen copy Address, GOOD HEALTH, Battle Creek, Mich., Or, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. RURAL HEALTH RETREAT.
By H. H. Chase
THIS beautiful resort is well known to hundreds of Californians, who have made it their home during a portion of the year for several years. It has lately been refitted, and valuable improvements have been made. With a full corps of competent physicians and helpers, it presents attractions to invalids that are found in no other Sanitarium in California. Every variety of bath can be given. It is most beautifully situated on the mountain-side, two and one-half miles from St. Helena. The little valley which it overlooks is a gem, and the surrounding mountain scenery is such as can only be found in California. Experienced tourists affirm that there is no finer place in the State. The water is pure, and the climate mild. Address, H. H. CHASE, M. D., St. Helena, Cal. PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING HOUSE,
PUBLISHERS "SIGNS OF THE TIMES," ETC. GENERAL BOOK AND JOB PRINTING,
In the Best and Latest Styles, and at Satisfactory Rates. In all its Various Branches, Promptly Executed in the Most Substantial Manner. STEREOTYPING AND ELECTROTYPING,
By the Latest Improved Methods. In the Finest Styles of the Art. Orders for anything in our line, by mail or express, will receive prompt attention. Address, PACIFIC PRESS,
12th and Castro Streets, Oakland;
Or, 529 Commercial Street, San Francisco. A Very Valuable Book.
By W. H. Littlejohn
"THE Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," by Conybeare and Howson, I regard as one of the most valuable books in my library. The scholarship and candor of its authors will not be questioned by any one who has read the work. Dean Howson is one of the English committee of scholars at present employed in the preparation of the new version of the Scriptures. In his selection to fill such a position, his learning has been most fully recognized by the Christians of Great Britain. Great as the circulation of this work has been heretofore, it will be very largely increased for the year to come, as it so happens that the International Sunday-school lessons and the Sabbath-school lessons on the New Testament History, by G. H. Bell, will be devoted to the book of Acts during that period, thereby rendering it desirable that thousands should come into possession of the very information contained in the "Life and Epistles of Paul." The great apostle to the Gentiles is the most conspicuous figure in the book of Acts. Indeed the larger portion of it is devoted to a narration of what he did and said. Quite full accounts are given of his travels through the Roman Empire, and mention is frequently made of nearly all the cities where he labored; this being true, the following brief, and by no means complete, statement of the subjects treated of in the book of Conybeare and Howson, will give something of an idea of the amount of information which it will furnish to Sabbath-school teachers and scholars in their earnest efforts to obtain all the knowledge possible concerning the persons, places, and things mentioned in the book of Acts. The period of Christ's Apostles; The History and Civilizations of the Jews; The Preparation of the Roman Empire for Christianity; The Description of Tarsus, Cilicia, and Judea; The Description of the Sects and Parties of the Jews; The Family and Childhood of Paul; The Student life of Paul; Rabbinical Schools; The Early Manhood of Paul; Paul's Connection with Gamaliel, and Stephen; The Funeral of Stephen; Paul's Persecutions; The Vision of Christ; The Three Days at Damascus; The Baptism and First Preaching of Paul; Paul's Vision in the Temple; The Chronology of the Acts of the Apostles; The Reigns of Caligula, Claudius, and Herod Agrippa I.; The Conversion of the Gentiles; History of Paul's Visits to the Different Parts of the Roman Empire; The Stoning of Paul; Peter Rebuked by Paul; The Personal Appearance of Peter and Paul; The Quarrel and Separation of Paul and Barnabas; Paul in Prison; The Description of Athens; The Greek Religion and Philosophy; Spiritual Gifts; The Ordinances of the Christian Church; The Disciples of John the Baptist; The Lost Letter of Paul; Paul before the Sanhedrim; The Shipwreck of Paul; A Description of Rome; Paul's Imprisonment and Trial; Paul's Release; His Second Imprisonment; The Condemnation and Death of Paul; Legends Concerning the Same; A Free Translation of the Book of Acts and the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. The value of the free translation can hardly be overestimated. In many cases a too literal rendering of the original, makes it difficult if not impossible for one not familiar with Greek idioms to grasp the exact thought of the inspired penman. To avoid this difficulty, Messrs. Conybeare and Howson have sought to give to the original of the writings of Paul and the book of Acts, a translation, which, though very free, nevertheless expresses as nearly as possible to the mind of the English scholar, the exact idea which a Greek in the days of the apostles would have obtained from the writings of Paul as given in his own tongue. Correction Regarding East Portland Meetings
By Editor
Correction.—Elder Boyd wishes us to state that he held only two meetings with the church in East Portland, Or., instead of ten, as was incorrectly stated in the SIGNS of Jan. 4. Sunday Protection Association of Milwaukee
By Editor
Here is a significant item from an exchange:— "The Sunday Protection Association of Milwaukee, Wis., have completed their organization and laid out their plan of work. Directors have been chosen in three classes of five each, to serve one, two, and three years. The following denominations are represented: English and Holland Presbyterians, English Congregational, English and German Baptists, English, Scandinavian, and German Methodists, the Evangelical Association, and Jews. But seven of the directors speak the English language, and of the thirty-five present at the last meeting of the association, twenty-one were Germans, who declare that their nationality as a class are in favor of keeping the Sabbath [Sunday]. A secretary is to be employed, who shall devote his entire time to the work, and an office is to be established in a central portion of the city, where the committee meetings will be held."
Guide to Correct Language.
By Editor
WE have now a supply of this book on hand, and are ready to fill all orders. We gave it our unqualified endorsement when we first saw it, and frequent reference to it has only served to increase our admiration for it. Its pages are not cumbered with endless exceptions and technicalities, but contains just what the person wants whose educational advantages have been limited, and in just such a shape that he can readily find it. Indeed, there are few who will not find it a valuable hand-book. Bible Lessons, No. 5.
By Editor
THE preceding numbers of this series of Bible Lessons have several times received notice in the SIGNS. Beginning with the creation, with lessons adapted to the comprehension of very small children, they cover the whole of Old Testament history until the rebuilding of the temple after the captivity. In this book the history is continued, embracing the rebuilding of the temple; the story of Esther; the work of Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Prophet Malachi; the connection between the Old Testament and the New; the birth, parentage, and work of John the Baptist; the birth and childhood of Christ, together with his baptism and his ministry down to the time of sending out the twelve disciples to preach the gospel. One interesting feature which the author notes in his preface is "the introduction of concise yet clear descriptions of the country in general, and particularly of the places where the scenes occurred that are described in the lessons. Instead of being put in separate notes, these descriptions are embodied in the lessons themselves, and are brought out by questions, like other parts of the lesson." Another thing that will be appreciated by every one is the pronunciation of the Scripture names. This is clearly indicated in parentheses, immediately following the words as they occur in the lesson. We can only add that the lessons, with the accompanying questions, are written in the clear style which characterize all of Professor Bell's writings, and we know of nothing else that will give one so clear and connected an idea of Bible history. Just the thing for home study, as well as for the Sabbath-school. THE SUNSHINE SERIES.
By Editor
This consists of a set of ten small books containing choice moral and religious stories for the little ones. It is adapted to children from four to eight years of age, and older. Put up in glazed paper covers, 320 pages, price 50 cents. The Instructor with Sunshine Series as premium will be sent to new subscribers for 85 cents. Address, YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, Battle Creek, Mich. Or, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.