p. 14 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 57. (12/10/1894)

IN THE HEART OF THE SIERRAS

By Editor

California Tourists Should Have a Copy of the Grand Book

IN THE HEART OF THE SIERRAS.

It Pictures the World-Renowned Yo Semite Valley, the Big Tree Groves of California, the Glaciers, Gold Mines, and Caverns of this Wonderful Region. It is a

COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE YO SEMITE VALLEY,

Giving routes of travel, number of miles by rail and stage; describes points of interest en route; gives map of the Valley, and contains 160 Illustrations, 28 of which are Beautiful Full-Page Artotypes, and which portray the wonderful Cataracts, Mountains, and Precipices with all the REALITY OF A PHOTOGRAPH. Bound in five styles. Copy in cloth, embossed jet and gold, gold edges, sent postpaid, where we have no agent, for $3.50.

CHEAPER EDITION.

We have just issued a special TOURISTS' EDITION of this book, containing all the matter of the other edition, printed on thinner paper, without artotypes, bound in flexible cloth covers. Copies sent postpaid anywhere for $1.50.

Address PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO., Or 43 Bond St., New York. Oakland, Cal.

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 3.

RELIGIOUS.

—General Booth declares that of over ten thousand lost women rescued by the Salvation Army, eight thousand have not relapsed into sin.

—A London paper states that the pope has sent an expression of sympathy to the director of the Moniteur de Rome, who was recently expelled from Italy for the expression of treasonable sentiments. From this we suppose the pope is in sympathy with the sentiments expressed by the exile.

—Evangelist S. M. Martin discoursed on the subject, “Why We Keep Sunday,” in the Christian Church in this city on the 2d inst. His tirade against those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord was in fulfillment of Rev. 12:17: “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

—A missionary in Japan writes that the spirit of war is deeply affecting the Christian bodies, and native preachers are urging their flocks to engage in the conflict with China, to lay down their lives for the flag of their country. But that is not so surprising as the fact that in this country professed Christian ministers and Christian journals point to the Japanese advancement in the art of war as evidence of advanced civilization and Christian progress.

—Miss Frances E. Willard, of the W. C. T. U., despite her efforts to unite politics and religion, emphatically protests against the introduction of militarism in the church. The growing popularity of youthful military organizations in connection with religious work is to be deplored, but it is a logical companion of political religion. The ultimatum of political power is military power, and when the church seeks the support of political influence, it virtually appeals to the power upon which that influence relies. On this subject of militarism in the church the Baptist Record says that “the churches that meekly allow it are sowing the wind, soon to reap the whirlwind.”

—Chaplain McCabe, known as the great money raiser of the Methodist Church, has evidently been dreaming of late. This is what he says he is going to do: “I am going to induce every member of the Methodist Church to subscribe 25 cents a week to the cause of foreign missions. That will net in one year the pretty sum of $32,000,000. When I get this money, or the first month’s installment of it, I will hire a ship like the Majestic or Lucania and load it with 2,000 missionaries and start on a tour of the world. I will drop off a missionary wherever they appear to need one, and where they want a church I will leave money for building one. As soon as I have dropped that load of missionaries, I will come back after another cargo of them.”

—The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor seems to be failing in one of its prime objects, that of bringing about a union of churches. And, strange as it may seem, it is the Methodist Episcopal Church that is backing out. The Epworth League, a distinctively Methodist society, has come to the front as a rival, and there is a strong effort being made to induce the Endeavorers of that church to come over to the League. The California Christian Advocate, Methodist organ, says: “We have observed that the most successful churches and pastors are those that have employed distinctively Methodist methods in their work. There is a turning again to the old Methodist altar.” The Endeavor Society of the First M. E. Church of this city are stoutly resisting the overtures of their pastor, who favors the change to the Epworth League.

—Rev. D. Hanson Irwin, pastor of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, is having trouble with hoodlums, who assail him with stones, dirt, and abusive epithets as he returns home from church on Sunday evenings. He was at a loss to account for their persistent enmity, and a couple of policemen followed him at a short distance to note results. When the usual crowd assailed him, two of them were arrested, when one cried out, “You are an A. P. A.” Mr. Irwin denies having any connection with that order, but, having been at Metropolitan Hall one evening when Rev. J. Q. A. Henry, an A. P. A. lecturer, was discussing the public-school question, it is now supposed that the assaults are made because of the impression that he is a member of the American Protective Association, and therefore bitterly opposed to the Catholics.

SECULAR.

—To-day (Dec. 3) is the time for convening the national Congress.

—Late advices from China state that rebellion is rife in the provinces of Kwang Tung and Kiang.

—It is said that Great Britain, France, and Russia will act as a triple alliance in all matters pertaining to oriental affairs.

—The village of Metamore, O., was destroyed by fire last week, leaving twenty-five families homeless.

—In consequence of continued tumults in the Portuguese Cortes, the king has closed the session. He will call it again when he deems it necessary.

—A Brussels dispatch says that three persons were killed and twenty injured by an explosion in a factory at Canelle on the 2d inst. The building was blown to atoms.

—Striking employees of Shelly Brothers’ factory, at Holgate, Ohio, became intoxicated on the night of the 27th ult., and twice set fire to the establishment, causing a loss of $2,000.

—Late press dispatches state that destitution in the western counties of Nebraska, owing to the drought of the past season, is daily increasing, notwithstanding efforts to aid the sufferers.

—John Turpin and Wm. Cassidy, of Franklinville, N. J., are suffering from hydrophobia, and it is feared they cannot recover. They were both bitten by a mad dog about three weeks ago.

—Mrs. Grannis, the noted temperance and social purity reformer, is making war upon the low-cut dresses worn by New York society ladies to the operas. Her crusade is making quite a sensation.

—A San Francisco Committee of Unemployed reports 15,000 men out of employment, with the number constantly increasing, and no prospect of any improvement in the condition of labor the present winter.

—The Southern Pacific Railroad Company, besides reducing its force at every possible point, has begun a general reduction of salaries, which, it is said, is to reach every employee, from the heads of departments down.

—A New York dispatch states that Japan has succeeded in purchasing the Chilean cruiser Esmeralda. As a blind it was first nominally sold to Ecuador and by that government to Japan. The price was $1,000,000 gold.

—A West Point, Miss., dispatch says: “Forest fires are raging in the surrounding bottoms, resulting in large losses of timber, fences, etc. There is scarcely any water, no rain of any consequence having fallen since August last.”

—All the plate-glass manufactories now in operation in the United States are represented in a meeting at Pittsburg, called for the purpose of forming a combination. The design is to decrease the production and increase the price.

—Congressman McGuire, of this State, will present, during the present session of that body, a petition signed by 200,000 voters of the Pacific Coast, praying that the government take possession of the subsidized Pacific railroads on the maturity of their mortgage bonds.

—The Tribune, of this city, states that wheat is worth fifty cents a bushel in California, and it costs nearly as much more to ship it to New York or Liverpool; yet a larger loaf of bread is made by the bakers of either of those cities than is made here, and sold for less money.

—A press correspondent at Rio Janeiro states that Asiatic cholera has broken out in that city, and that the authorities have been endeavoring to conceal the fact. He also states that yellow fever has appeared in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais, in a district where it never was known before.

—A New York City dispatch of the 28th ult. says that the American Sugar Refinery has decided to close all the refineries of the company in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. It is also stated that 50,000 operatives will be affected by the stopping of these works. The reason assigned is that the business does not pay.

—A St. Petersburg dispatch says that the proclamation of amnesty issued by the czar on the occasion of his marriage includes the accused Lutheran clergymen of the Baltic provinces. It is expected that all such persecutions will be dropped, and that the order for the expulsion of German officials and workmen from Russia will be rescinded.

—The Brazilian Congress has passed a bill allowing foreign residents to engage in the coasting trade free for two years. After that the privilege will be accorded only to vessels flying the Brazilian flag. President Moraes has sent an agent to Portugal to arrange for the restoration of diplomatic relations, which were suspended during the administration of President Peixoto.

—At Tacoma, Wash., on the night of the 28th ult., a long stretch of water front made-land slid into the bay, carrying with it a Northern Pacific Railroad warehouse, office, cattle sheds, and pump house for the hydraulic work of filling in tide land. A boathouse in which a family resided was also upset, and a young girl aged 15 years was drowned. A watchman was also drowned.

—Another of the war governors has closed his account. The death of Hon. Joseph E. Brown, ex-United States Senator, ex-supreme judge, and ex-governor of Georgia, removes another prominent landmark of the civil war. He was governor when Sherman was marching through that State to the sea, and after the war was an ardent participant in the work of reconstruction.

—A daily paper of this city (date, Dec. 1) has the following in display headings: “The poor are in great need. Hundreds of larders are empty. Make these needy ones happy Christmas day.” Twenty-five days seems like a long time for people with empty larders to wait for relief. Wouldn’t a little provision distributed in the meantime be better than a gorge on Christmas day?

—At Elmira, Cal., on the night of November 28, four tramps were run over by a freight train, and three of them were instantly killed. The fourth, a mulatto boy of 17 years, is thought to be fatally injured. They were warming themselves by a fire at the side of the track, and had fallen asleep. The injured boy gives the name of John Brisco, and says that his mother lives in Davenport, Iowa.

—It is variously rumored that overtures of peace on the part of China are under way, and that a truce will soon be proclaimed. Meantime Japan is following up her victories in quest of further advantage. It is stated that China has negotiated a loan of $6,000,000 in England; if this be true, it is settled that Great Britain will see that a line is drawn somehow and somewhere on Japanese conquest.

—In regard to the extensive massacre of Armenians by Turks, it is said that Great Britain has warned Turkey that article 61 of the Berlin treaty, which guarantees the security of Armenians, will be enforced, through the intervention of the powers, unless the result of the inquiry commission’s labors shall be absolutely satisfactory and the reforms promised in Armenia be effected without delay.

—It is said that Chicago has a greater proportion of pauperism than any other city in the United States. This is partly accounted for by the fact that Chicago has more than 200 millionaires. Such aggregations of wealth by a few cannot fail to beget a corresponding want on the part of others. How the Golden Rule would even up the bounteous supply which the earth produces under the kind providence of our heavenly Father!

—On the 1st inst. Colonel Oates, who, according to the official count, had received 27,000 majority for governor of Georgia, was duly inaugurated, with military display. Captain Kolb, the Populist candidate, claims that the election was fraudulent, and had himself sworn in by a notary public. He attempted to deliver his inaugural on the steps of the Capitol, but was prevented by the military, and delivered his address on the street.

—The assistant attorney general of Siberia arrived in San Francisco last week, en route to St. Petersburg. On his way he is inspecting State and national prisons, having visited those of Japan and Hawaii. He will make a report of his investigations on his arrival at St. Petersburg. He was shy about talking to newspaper reporters, as he said they exaggerated what was said to them, and when the papers were received in Russia the one interviewed was placed in an embarrassing position.

—A New York World correspondent reports an interview with the king of Corea. His majesty desires that his country shall be absolutely independent. He appeals to the civilized nations of the world to preserve the integrity of his kingdom, but relies especially upon the United States. This government made the first treaty with Corea, and promised to befriend it. Notwithstanding the fact that the Japanese army of invasion is at his disposal, he would like to have a few United States soldiers to protect his person.

—Not long ago U. S. Attorney General Olney decided that a receiver of an embarrassed railroad company had no right to discharge an employee of the company on account of membership in a labor organization. Now comes U. S. Circuit Judge Dallas, of Philadelphia, and decides that such receiver may discharge employees for the reason assigned. Evidently the conflict between organized labor and organized capital is not yet at an end. Appeals to courts will not be likely to quiet the contention so long as the opinions of leading court officials so widely differ.

—The new czar of Russia is making himself popular by throwing off many of the customary autocratic features of royalty. He has dispensed with the military police body guards of the palace. His order withdrawing the troops from the line of march on his wedding day is said to have produced a wonderful effect. The people could hardly believe that they would be allowed to stand and witness the procession without the usual hedge of soldiers in front of them; and when they saw that it was really true, they were wild with enthusiasm, and manifested their delight by many demonstrations of joy.

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

By Editor

Editorial.—Notes and Comments—"Saved by Works"—The American Sunday—Our Catholic "Protestantism"—It Is Bad in Switzerland........897-899, 912 Question Corner.—166, Buy a Sword—167, John 11:26—168, Remission of Sins—169, Tribulation Ten Days........899 General Articles.—Returning to God (verse)—The Sending Out of the Seventy—A Sop for Protestants—The True Tabernacle—The Gift Measured by Love—Mortal or Immortal, Which—A Forgiving Kaffir—Time and Its Story, X-XII (verse)—Lying Vanities vs. God's Mercy—I Have Finished My Course...900-904 Home and Health.—What Shall I Do? (verse)—Colds, Sore Throat, Croup, etc.—"Wine Is a Mocker"—Curious Facts about Animals—The Woodcock and Her Young........905, 906 Mission Fields.—The Heart's Gate (verse)—Asiatic Turkey—Letter from China—Notes........906, 907 Our Work and Workers.—Life's Mission (verse)—A Letter from the Society Islands—Field Notes..908, 909 International S. S. Lessons.—The Prince of Peace (Lesson 12, Sunday, December 23, 1894)—On the Way to Emmaus (Lesson 12, Sabbath, December 22, 1894)........910 News and Notes—Religious—Secular........911

DR. S. M. MARTIN, of St. Louis, Mo., the evangelist of the Disciple Church, preached a sermon on Sunday, December 2, in this city, on the subject, "Why We Keep Sunday." In a way—his way—he canvassed the whole Sabbath question, and satisfactorily to himself, we suppose, settled the matter. We will, the Lord willing, refer to some of his positions next week.

"Spirit of Prophecy," Vol. 2.—We would like to inquire if any of our readers have a copy of the above volume in good condition which they will spare. If so, please let us know at once.

"Great Controversy," vol. 2, is the same thing. This will do as well as the book under the former title. Address, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

Week of Prayer.—We hope that our brethren and sisters will not forget that the week of prayer is fast drawing on. At the time when the great world are seeking their own pleasure and spending money and labor for that which does not profit, it is time for the people of God to seek him, and to bring for the spread of the gospel of Christ offerings of gratitude for all his blessings. Let us remember this. See Our Work and Workers department.

"The Sanctuary of the Bible."—The above is the subject of our Sabbath school lessons for the first quarter of 1895. The pamphlet for senior classes is now ready. It is issued as No. 129 of the Bible Students' Library. The same subject will be treated in the December number of the Library, No. 128. This number will be an illustrated pamphlet, entitled "Christ Our Advocate." It will be a help in the study of the Sabbath school lessons. Price of lesson pamphlet, 5 cents. Order of Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., or of any of our tract societies.

Artistic Music.—The Occident has the following true, and in these days ever timely, item:—

" 'Artistic music' in the worship of God is not worship. It does not touch the heart. The object of worship is to praise God, and to lift the soul into fellowship with him; but when we have listened to the rendering of a hymn, divine or human, in such a way as to make us think of the performer and to feel disposed to applaud, we feel sure that no one is drawn to the secret place of the Most High. The voice of the congregation in homely tune, but speaking the praise of the heart, carries us with it into the holy Presence, and our hearts are there quickened and comforted."

We believe in good music and trained voices, but if devotion, consecration, and true worship must give place to the training, better the former alone than the latter. But it is not necessary for a trained voice to lose the Spirit of God. Let its possessor use it to God's glory.

Early Apostasy.—There is one thing that the Christian student of church history should never forget, and that is the rapid growth of apostasy within the church when once germinated. It was less than forty days after Israel had solemnly promised to obey the living God that they were bowing down to gods which their own hands had made. It would be contemptible logic which would cite Israel's act of idolatry under Aaron, the priest, as an evidence of what the worship of God should have been at that time and to interpret God's law by that act. But that is just what Sunday advocates do when they quote the apostate "Fathers" as proof that Sunday is the Bible Lord's day. Aaron said of the golden calf, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (Ex. 32: 4), and Sunday advocates say of the pagan Sunday, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; this is the Lord's day." What is the difference between the two? The question is not, What did an apostate church or people do? but, What does the Lord say? What did Jesus Christ do? The apostasy had already hatched in Paul's day. It had its pinfeathers in the first century. It was full fledged in a very short time afterward.

The Ultimate Microbe.—And now Dr. Koch has been discounted by another German physician, Dr. Maximilian Herzog, late of Berlin, more recently of Chicago, but now of Milwaukee. According to the press report he has succeeded in doing what Dr. Koch thus far has not been able to do,—segregating and developing the smallpox microbe, which he calls an ameba, or, according to its nature, a bacterium parasite. He also declares that Koch's bacillus is not the real germ of consumption, but that the disease is due to a little ameba, heretofore called a spore, which lives on the bacillus. In fact, he claims that consumption is an inheritable and inherited disease, and that all diseases are due to ameboid bodies in the blood. He thinks from his discoveries that he will be able to lay the foundation of a curative system far in advance of anything ever known. But may not future investigators find a spore or microbe which lives upon the ameba, which lives upon the bacilli? And as this supposed ultimate germ becomes known, and is found to be a being entitled to more respect than a spore, may not some other bold Koch or Herzog find another parasitic microbe or spore back of that? Possibly not, but the field of speculation is inviting, and room for conjecture is boundless. Where is the ultimate microbe? In the meantime, let us not worry.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LITERATURE.

We have received from the International Tract Society, 271 West Main Street, Battle Creek, Michigan, three important numbers of the Religious Liberty Library, all of which deserve a wide circulation. They are as follows:—

No. 25 (August), "The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary." Price 2 cents. The tract is written by Alonzo T. Jones, and shows conclusively the fraudulent basis of the above doctrine.

No. 26 (September), "The Puritan Sabbath for 'Physical Rest.'" Price 1½ cents. This little tract shows how the real religious object for Sunday laws is hidden by the fraudulent claims, among which is that of the necessity of a physical rest. It also shows that the object of the Sabbath of the Lord is man's spiritual needs.

No. 27 (October), "Religious Persecution; or the 'Blue Laws' Revived." Price 8 cents. In this pamphlet of 56 pages is set before us FORTY-FIVE different cases of religious persecution in this country under the laws of Arkansas, Tennessee, Maryland, and Georgia, together with the laws of these States under which the persecutions were carried on. Facts speak loud, and this recital of cold facts ought to be circulated in every nook and corner of this broad land.

The above may be obtained of any of our tract societies, or by addressing Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

WHAT THOSE WILL GET WHO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE "SIGNS OF THE TIMES" FOR 1895.

A NUMBER of articles, both independent and serial, covering all phases of the Sabbath question, one of the crucial questions of the day.
A series of articles on the subject of Christ's Priesthood, both in type and antitype.
An article in each number, written especially for the SIGNS, by Mrs. E. G. White. These articles will be upon various phases of Practical Christian Life and Godliness, and the great theme of Redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Articles treating upon the various phases of our Lord's Second Coming.
Life through Jesus Christ, Man's Nature and Destiny, will be fully set forth as taught in the word of God.
The Law of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, their relation and interrelation, will be treated.
Satan, His Origin and Destiny, together with the Ministration of Holy Angels, and the ministration of evil angels, as manifest in Modern Spiritualism.
Articles on the Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation will be printed, opening forth to the reader the wondrous light God has thus given us.
A series of articles by an original investigator on the Creed of Catholicism and Early Councils. Another series on Zion and Babylon.
A series of independent articles on Conversion, its Necessity, How Effected, Jesus in Conversion, etc., etc.
Important and interesting articles on the great mission fields of the world, by one of our foreign missionaries, such as, Beginning of Modern Missions—Carey, Mission Work in Burmah—Judson, etc. The Pacific Islands, Africa, South America, Madagascar, Japan, Corea, China, New Hebrides, East Indies, with the leading pioneer character in each of these fields, will be considered.
Articles on Health and Temperance, the present condition of the Religious World, the Drift of Protestantism, the Increase of Catholicism, the Live Questions of the day, together with all that helps in building up the Christian character and Church, will be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in the year 1895.
The Sabbath School Lessons, with comments and accompanying articles. The International Sunday school lessons, with questions and comments.
News and Notes of Our Work and Workers all over the Field. Latest Important News of the world each week, both secular and religious.

Not to average more than a page of advertisements will be published in each number. Think of it—800 large quarto pages filled with the best of Biblical gospel matter, for only $1.50. Is it not worth the price? Would it not be a good investment for your home and that of your friend and neighbor?

The Signs of the Times

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