p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 23. (4/10/1893)

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 3.

RELIGIOUS.

—The great Mormon temple was formally dedicated on the 6th inst., just forty years from the date of the laying of the corner stone.

—Fifty master bakers of San Francisco have presented a protest to the Board of Supervisors against the proposed ordinance prohibiting the delivery of bakery supplies on Saturday night and Sunday. They claim that it is class legislation, and would greatly injure their business.

—A Rome dispatch of the 31st ult. says the Vatican has announced that the pope will not grant audiences to any royal personages of the Roman Catholic faith who have come to Rome to attend the silver wedding of King Humbert and Queen Margaret. The decision will apply also to representatives of Catholic sovereigns.

—Not for twenty years, says a Roman dispatch, have so many Catholics and foreigners been seen in Rome during holy week. The principal churches are filled to overflowing. The queen visited the holy sepulchres of seven churches on Friday and was present the next morning at the ceremonies in the Church of Santissimo Sudario, accompanied by her mother. The pope celebrated the mass on Easter day in the Vatican.

—The celebration of Easter was more general this year among so-called Protestant churches than ever before. It grows as the years go by. Many of the pastors, on accepting the innovation, feel the necessity of a half-way apology, as they find it most difficult to give even a plausible excuse for the folly. But it is becoming popular, is beautiful, and enticing; others are doing it, and we must follow or lose prestige. And so Rome clinches another nail in the Protestant coffin.

SECULAR.

—A large grain elevator in Chicago, containing 100,000 bushels of oats, was burned on the 28th ult. Loss, $1,000,000.

—The government of Venezuela has granted a general amnesty to all persons implicated in the recent revolution.

—California has lost her prestige in the Japanese mission, the President having appointed Edwin Dunn, of Ohio.

—The receiver of the government land office at Roswell, New Mexico, is missing, and his accounts are short over $10,000.

—An iron-working establishment, at Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was damaged by fire, on the 29th ult., to the extent of $200,000.

—A dispatch from Rio Janeiro says that a gentleman has left that city for China, intending to bring 100,000 Chinese laborers to Brazil.

—An old man was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, for begging last week, and it was found on examination that he was worth over $20,000.

—Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware, President Cleveland's former Secretary of State, has been appointed ambassador to Great Britain.

—The citizens of Merced, Cal., have burned the Governor in effigy because he vetoed the bill to construct a free wagon road into Yosemite Valley.

—An earthquake shook the villages in the vicinity of Mount Ætna on the 1st inst., doing much damage to property. The people fled from their homes.

—Recent advices from Manila, Philippine Island, bring an account of a great fire which destroyed over 400 houses. Many persons were injured while fighting the fire.

—It is reported that on the Russian German frontier a large gang of smugglers has been discovered doing a very profitable business through collusion with the Russian police.

—A fire in the State Prison building at Auburn, New York, on the 29th ult., destroyed the furniture shop, pearl button shop, broom shop, and the cabinet and moulding shop. Loss, $150,000.

—The two partisan factions in the Choctaw Nation have recently been so near to armed collision that only a threat to call out U. S. troops and declare martial law persuaded them to desist.

—A St. Petersburg dispatch of the 1st inst. says: "Several cases of cholera have been reported in the suburbs. News was received here of the appearance of the disease in several of the provinces."

—The Southern Pacific Company has offered $3,000 reward each for the arrest and conviction of the persons who removed a rail from the track near Drain, Oregon, on the night of the 23d inst.

OUR GENERAL AGENTS.

Arkansas Tract Society—H. Clay Griffin, Van Buren, Ark. Atlantic Tract Society—T. A. Kilgore, Sec., 43 Bond St., N. Y. Australia—Echo Publishing House, North Fitzroy, Victoria. and A. Reekie, 76 Pyrmont Rd., Glebe, Sydney, N. S. W. California Tract Society—1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. and G. W. Morse, 20 Melbourne Ave., Toronto, Ontario. Canada—Mrs. A. E. Taylor, 123 St. Georges St., Montreal, Canada. China and Japan—A. LaRue, International Tract Society Queens Road 219, Hongkong, China. Colorado Tract Society—Miss Leah Vandermark, Sec., 920 W. Sixth Ave., Denver, Col. Dakota Tract Society—Mrs. A. H. Robinson, Vilas, S. Dak. England—Pacific Press Publishing Co., 48 Paternoster Row, and 451 Holloway Road, London. Illinois Tract Society—28 College Place, Chicago, Ill. Indiana Tract Society—J. W. Moore, Sec., 175 Central Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Kansas Tract Society—L. Dyo Chambers, Sec., No. 821 West Fifth St., Topeka, Kan. Maine Tract Society—B. F. Davis, Hartland, Me. Maritime Provinces Tract Society—Mrs. I. H. Cowie, Sec., Box 85, Moncton, N. B. Iowa Tract Society—C. F. Stevens, Sec., 603 East 12th St., Des Moines, Iowa. Michigan Tract Society—J. S. Hall, Sec., Review and Herald Office, Battle Creek, Mich. Minnesota Tract Society—C. N. Woodward, 336 East Lake St., Minneapolis, Minn., P. O. Box 989. Missouri Tract Society.—Vita Morrow, Sec., 2010 East 23d St., Kansas City, Mo. Montana—Mrs. Emma Emmons, Sec., Livingston, Mont. Nebraska Tract Society—Mary F. Beatty, Sec., 1505 E St., Lincoln, Neb. Nevada—Cal. Tract Society, 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. New England—N. E. Tract Society, Mrs. E. T. Palmer, Sec., South Lancaster, Mass. New Jersey, Del., Md., New York City, and Brooklyn, N. Y., and Dist. Col.—T. A. Kilgore, No. 43 Bond St., New York. New York State—J. V. Willson, Sec., N. Y. Tract Society, 317 West Bloomfield St., Rome, N. Y. New Zealand Tract Society, M. H. Tuxford, Agent, Banks' Terrace, Wellington, N. Z. North Pacific—Geo. E. Henton, Sec., 727 East Taylor St., East Portland, Oregon. Ohio Tract Society—L. T. Dysert, Sec., 74 Kinsman St., Cleve- land, O. Pennsylvania Tract Society—W. M. Lee, Sec., Box 644, Wil- liamsport, Penn. Scandinavian Tract Society—Akersgaden 74, Christiania, Nor. South Africa—International Tract Society, Somerset House, Roeland St., Cape Town. Southern District Tract Society—Mrs. C. E. Giles, Sec., Grays- ville, Tenn. Switzerland—Imprimerie Polyglotte, 48 Weiherweg, Basel. Tennessee—Miss. M. G. Mason, Sec., Nashville, Tenn. Texas Tract Society—T. T. Stevenson, Sec., Oak Cliff, Dallas Co., Texas. Upper Columbia—Mrs. M. E. Ford, College Place, Wash. Utah—J. J. Ireland, 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. Vancouver Island—B. Robb, 231 Pandora St., Victoria, B. C. Vermont—Lizzie A. Stone, lock box 237, Essex Junction, Vt. Virginia—Amy A. Neff, Box 221 Winchester, Frederick Co., Va. West Virginia—T. E. Bowen, Newburg, W. Va. Wisconsin Tract Society—S. D. Hartwell, Sec., 865 Fifth St., Milwaukee, Wis.

TO THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Weekly Excursions.

ARE you going? If so, it will be to your interest to call on, or write to, the undersigned before arranging for your trip.

The "Santa Fe Route" being the only line under one management from California to Chicago, we can offer you advantages, for a safe and pleasant journey, unsurpassed by other lines.

It is the only line running Pullman Palace and Tourist sleeping cars through to Chicago, every day, without change, on the same train.

Select Overland Excursions leave every Tuesday, with manager in charge through to Boston. Baggage checked to destination. Steamship tickets sold to and from all European points, via all the popular steamship lines. J. J. Warner, Agent, 972 Broadway, Oakland, Cal., or W. A. Bissell, G. P. A., 650 Market Street, Chronicle Building, San Francisco, Cal.

THE ATONEMENT. Part I, "An Atonement Consistent with Reason." Part II, "An Atonement as Revealed in the Bible." Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. Cloth, $1.00.

RELIGIOUS RIGHTS IN TENNESSEE.

By Editor

WE do not contend for exemption clauses in Sunday laws, either of the States or nation, but we admire the spirit of true patriotism and the desire for the equality of all citizens in religious matters that actuate some public men who are not personally interested in the faith of the people whose rights they deem it necessary to especially champion, in order to maintain the liberties of which our country so loudly boasts. Of this class is Senator Slaughter, of Tennessee, who has introduced a bill in the Legislature of that State, "To Prohibit Interference with the Religious Liberty of Certain Classes of Persons." In defending the bill against the attacks of certain newspapers, he replies to one in part as follows:—

I did know that there were some good Christian people who honestly and conscientiously believe that the seventh, and not the first day of the week, is the proper one to be observed as a day of rest, in accordance with the teachings of the Bible; and that there is no direct teaching of the Bible authorizing any other than the seventh day of the week as a day of rest.

I further know that the constitution of our State says: "That no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience" as regards religious belief.

The bill in question was simply intended to protect in their religious rights certain classes of conscientious, religious, Christian people, known as Seventh-day Baptists, and Adventists, in accordance with the interests and purposes of our State constitution, provided they should in no wise interfere in any manner with the peace, quiet, or religious rights of others.

If you will read the second and third verses of the second chapter of Genesis, the fifth verse of the fourteenth chapter of Romans, and then our State constitution, you may learn the grounds upon which I based my authority for introducing the bill named.

Replying to another press criticism, his position is made equally clear, and his reasoning is decidedly logical. We present the following extracts:—

I cannot see upon what grounds any liberty-loving Christian person can object to an act that only carries out the intents and purposes of the constitution in placing all sects or classes of Christian people upon an equal footing as regards their religious convictions.

It should be remembered that the Sabbath or Sunday is not a secular, but a divine or religious institution, ordained, blessed, and sanctified by God himself as a day of rest upon finishing his work of creation. And it is further a well-known fact that, in accordance with the teachings of the Bible, all Sabbaths or Sundays known to either the Jewish or Christian world were originated through God's creation of the earth in six days, and his resting the seventh, which was blessed and sanctified by him as a day of rest for future generations.

Therefore it cannot be said that these seventh-day people have no grounds upon which to base their religious belief as regards the seventh day of the week being the proper one to be taken as a day of rest in carrying out the commands of God.

As regards myself, I do not claim to be a Seventh-day Baptist or Adventist, and am very willing to accept our Christian Sunday as a day of rest; but as there are others who cannot conscientiously do so I do not believe that it is just or right to enforce upon them a sacrifice of their honest religious convictions as regards a matter that they themselves, and not others, must be held responsible for. . .

It may be said by some that they could take two days, and thereby comply with both, with the law, and their own conscientious scruples in regard to the matter, but this, probably, those of limited means could not afford to do in justice to themselves and families.

Why are railroads, street car lines, livery stables, newspapers, and various other classes of business allowed to carry on their usual avocation with impunity regardless of the Sunday law, whilst some poor people and good citizens are subjected to fines, imprisonments, and other persecution for simply obeying the dictates of their conscience in carrying out what they honestly conceive to be the teachings of the Bible, in accordance with the will of God?

Will some of those who are so much opposed to this slight change in one short section of our code of laws be kind enough to answer this question? Besides this, our State constitution, with which no laws can be allowed to conflict, strictly forbids interference with the religious rights or conscience of any class or set of citizens, as regard to their religious belief, as may be seen by reference to section 3 of its declaration of rights.

Upon the whole, there is no good reason why the small minority of Christians known as seventh day Baptists and Adventists should not be accorded those religious rights demanded and enjoyed by the great majority.

Signs of the Times

By Editor

OAKLAND, CAL., MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1893.

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.

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

By Editor

Editorial.—Notes and Comments—The Overcomer—A Hard Saying—Afraid of the Truth—The Infallible Test... 353-355

Doctrinal.—Bible Comfort (poetry)—The Power of Forgiveness—The Second Coming of Christ—God Is Light—Christ and the Sabbath... 355-358

Miscellaneous.—The Three Watchwords (poetry)—Overcome as Christ Overcame—The Faithfulness Behind God's Promises—Both the Sabbath and Sunday Observed by Constantine—Jesus and the Promises—How to be Happy—Numbers 14: 39—Infidel Credulity—How to Find Rest—Our Idols... 358-361

Home and Health.—Content (poetry)—Untruthfulness of Servants—The Work Caused by the Return of a Two-cent Stamp—Galley Slaves—Conquered by Kindness—Mental Inebriates—A Specific for Snake Bites—Household Hints—Danger in Dust—A Long-distance Stork... 362, 363

Mission Fields.—Learn to Wait (poetry)—India, No. 8 (Open Doors among the Castes of India)... 364

Our Work and Workers.—Lead Thou Me On (poetry)—Field Notes—Qualifications for the Work—The Battle Creek Sanitarium at Chicago... 365

International S. S. Lessons.—Job's Confession and Restoration (Lesson 4, Sunday, April 23, 1893)—Looking for Christ (Lesson 4, Sabbath, April 22, 1893)... 366

News and Notes.—Religious—Secular... 367

Editorial.—Various Notes and Comments—Religious Rights in Tennessee... 368

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

is a 16-page weekly Religious Journal, and will be furnished at the following

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The Error of Easter Observance

At Easter-tide in our meditations we stand beside the empty tomb and behold the risen Lord in triumph on the other side of death and the grave, and hear the words, "All hail!" as he meets and greets his disciples.—Harbinger.

In this sense the Christian's "Easter-tide" should be perennial. Just why in his meditations he needs to be brought any nearer to the tomb and to the triumph at that time than at any other season of the year, has never been explained. The great trouble about these man-appointed times and seasons for certain phases of devotion is that so much is made of the occasion that the object is lost sight of for the remainder of the year. There is little heart work in the sentimental Christianity that can only meditate upon the empty tomb and the triumph of the risen Saviour at Easter time. But, like the other times and days resting solely upon "church" authority, the Easter is a compromise with idolatry. Every day in the church calendar was established by the authority of "the mother" church, and every church that observes these days becomes partaker in "the mother's" idolatry.

Church Resolutions Against the Liquor Traffic

By Editor

The Reformed Church at Royersford, Pennsylvania (the great reform State, by the way), finds it necessary to adopt the following resolutions as part of the by-laws of the church:—

Resolved, That no member of this congregation is permitted to engage in the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquor as a beverage.

Resolved, That no member is permitted to aid, directly or indirectly, to obtain licenses to sell intoxicating liquors as a beverage.

Resolved, That no member is permitted to aid directly or indirectly in making laws to aid the liquor traffic as a beverage.

A "reformed church" that needs such by-laws to keep its members from doing such things is a fitting factor in a great Sunday-law State. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," and all the church resolutions and State enactments within the power of man cannot make him so.

The Folly of Formal Fasting

THERE is one curious feature of the fast enjoined by certain churches during the Lenten season, and that is, those who observe the so-called fast are always so glad when it is over. There is generally a rush into a revel of worldly amusement and festal indulgence. And the same principle is prominent in all religious exercises of a merely formal character.

The Need for Personal Prayer

It is too bad, when people want to pray, that they should be prevented because the spiritual authorities have not published a special form to fit the occasion. Moreover, why should a set of men assume the responsibility of forming prayers for the people, who have not sufficient acumen to foresee all the possible emergencies that may arise? A member of the British Parliament wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury to ask if a special prayer could not be ordered for a day to be set apart for prayer for deliverance from the evils of the proposed Irish Home Rule Bill. The following is the reply of the Archbishop:—

Lambeth Palace, Feb. 27, 1893. My Dear Sir: There are difficulties, as you are aware, in the way of enacting a new form of prayer such as you suggest should now be put for use at the present crisis, but there could be no objections, I think, to the clergy who were so disposed using a special collect, as that for the fifth Sunday after Trinity, or those for the sixteenth Sunday and the twenty-second Sunday after Trinity, with particular reference to the present anxiety.

We hear much about this "enlightened age," but it is doubtful if history can point to an age of more general credulity. We fancy poor Peter, when sinking in the water, being obliged to wait for the archbishop to form a "collect" for the occasion.

The Pope’s Delegate in America

By Editor

THAT the position of Francisco Satolli, apostolic delegate to the United States, may be understood, we give the closing part of the pope's letter of appointment. He is a "delegate" in the full sense of the word, as he is delegated with all the power of the pope within the territory of his jurisdiction, and is guaranteed in advance a ratification of all his acts.

Therefore, venerable brother, holding you in every special affection, we, by our apostolic authority and by virtue of these present letters, do elect, make, and declare you to be Apostolic Delegate in the United States of America, at the good pleasure of ourself and of this Holy See. We grant you all and singular powers necessary and expedient for the carrying on of such delegation. We command all whom it concerns to recognize in you, as Apostolic Delegate, the supreme power of the delegating pontiff; we command that they give you aid, concurrence, and obedience in all things; that they receive with reverence your salutary admonitions and orders. Whatever sentence or penalty you shall declare or inflict duly against those who oppose your authority, we will ratify, and, with the authority given us by the Lord, will cause to be observed inviolably until condign satisfaction be made. Notwithstanding constitutions and apostolic ordinances, or any other to the contrary.

Given at Rome, in St. Peter's, under the Fisherman's Ring, this the 24th day of January, 1893, of our pontificate the fifteenth year.

(Countersigned,) SERAFINO CARDINAL VANUTELLI.

To give a man who cannot speak the English language absolute power over the spiritual interests of an English-speaking people, is a species of tyranny that only the most subservient would endure.