Current Mention

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1903

— Resolutions providing for the election of United States senators by popular vote have been passed by the Kansas Senate and House and by the Nebraska Senate.

— In the year 1901 two hundred and eighty-two passengers were killed in railway wrecks in this country. In England, where more passengers were carried during the same time, not one passenger was killed.

— A fresh revolt has broken out in the Philippine Island of Luzon, which is said to be more serious than any that has occurred since 1899. It is expected, however, that the native troops alone will be able to restore order.

— Leaders in the Protestant Episcopal Church having become dissatisfied with this title for their denomination, the adoption of a new church name has been decided on, and the designation “American Catholic” church is the one which appears to be most favored.

— Thirty-six hours before the passengers on the Atlantic liner “Minneapolis,” which left New York for London, January 31, reached their destination, a summary of the world's news of the week was received by them through the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy.

— An earthquake shock of alarming violence was felt in southern Illinois and northern Kentucky on the evening of February 8. In some places chimneys were shaken down, and the inmates of houses ran, panic-stricken, into the streets. Earthquake shocks in that section of the country are a very unusual phenomenon.

— As the result of a conference at Indianapolis between operators and miners in the bituminous coal industry, February 7, the miners will receive an advance in wages of 12½ per cent. This does not mean that the operators will make less money, but that the public will pay more for their coal.

— The first “Christian Science” church edifice outside of America is about to be erected in Manchester, England. Lady Victoria Murray, daughter of Lord Dunmore, introduced the doctrine into that section of England, and now sends an order to the United States for a corner-stone to be used in the building to be erected by her converts.

— A Washington, D. C., dispatch states that a scheme has been made public there for the creation of a “Philanthropic Trust Company,” with a cash capital of $10,000,000, to be subscribed by the wealthy men of the country, the income from which amount will be devoted exclusively to approved philanthropic uses. The institution will, according to the plan, be directed by a committee of one hundred distinguished persons of wealth, learning, or influence, who will serve without compensation.

— Information from the famine-stricken portions of Sweden is difficult to obtain, on account of the isolation of the victims, who are scattered through the forests or isolated upon the desolate plains, in many cases miles away from railway stations or traveled roads, in which case nothing can be learned of their condition save by making a desperate journey on snow shoes. By those most familiar with the situation it is asserted that terrible scenes must come before another harvest time is reached. Most of the cattle and horses in the famine districts have been killed for food.

— The statement is authorized at Washington that the Venezuelan dispute is finally settled, and that the blockade of Venezuelan ports will be raised, the basis of the settlement being that Germany will receive $27,500 at once, and further sums in monthly installments until a total of $340,000 has been paid. Great Britain and Italy will receive $27,500 each. Germany made a further test of the Monroe doctrine by demanding, in lieu of immediate payment of $340,000, the possession of a Venezuelan port; but United States Minister Bowen, acting for Venezuela, promptly gave an emphatic refusal to this demand.

— In an address to Baptist ministers in Chicago recently, Mr. Raymond Robin, of that city, spoke of the menace to the national prosperity arising from the aristocracies of capital and of labor which have arisen in recent years. He pointed out that the aristocracy of capital forbade competition in any important industry to the man who has less than $25,000; and the aristocracy of labor forbids work in all leading industries to the man who cannot pay $25 for a union card. “It is time,” he declared, “that the Christian conscience of the world asserted itself, and took a hand in the settlement of this great problem.” Doubtless the church will at no distant day become mixed up in the controversies of which this problem is the center.

— A bill which had been introduced in the Indiana Legislature authorizing Sunday ball games in cities having a population of 16,000, was defeated by the action of one member who would not vote for the bill because his wife had made him promise not to do so, although favoring the measure himself. In the New York Legislature a bill to permit amateur baseball playing on Sunday was opposed by the “New York Sabbath Committee,” one of whose members, the Rev. I. W. Hathaway, sought to convince the legislators that American civilization depends for protection on the American sabbath, just as Holland depends for protection on the great dike which shuts out the sea. Mr. J. L. Bacon, who does not belong to the committee, pointed out that the Sabbath Committee and the saloon-keepers stood together in opposition to the bill, it being well known that the prohibition of Sunday games and recreation would tend to drive young men and boys to haunts of evil.