News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 14, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 31.

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—A five-story building, to cost $50,000, is to be built on the Bowery, New York, for the German Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association.

—At the recent International Sunday-school Convention, at Louisville, $10 were received from an Indian Sunday-school "to help Christianize the whites." Who shall say that the sarcasm was undeserved?

—The Rev. Charles H. Burr, pastor of Bethany Congregational Church, New York City, writes: "Until we find that summer weather decreases the tendency to sin, we shall not close our church or Sunday-school for a single Sunday."

—A recent number of the London Truth contains the following concerning Mr. Moody: "If you were to combine the entire bench of bishops with the whole Wesleyan Conference, and then throw in the Baptist and Congregational Union as makeweights, the entire body of theologians and pulpiteers would be found to possess between them less practical wisdom than this plain, unlettered American preacher."

—The last Banner of Light contains in its page of "Spirit Messages," the following statement purporting to come from a spirit, in answer to a question: "We believe the time is coming when the natural law of spiritual expression called materialization will become so perfected that spirits will be enabled to temporarily inhabit material bodies and be plainly seen and recognized by their friends in their own homes; that they will be enabled to make themselves seen and felt in the presence of large assemblies." We also believe that this will yet be done. If Satan possesses the power to transform himself into an angel of light, we need not wonder if he and his angels are enabled to successfully personate human beings. And when that time comes, what will hinder those who believe that men live after death, and that in fact there is no death, from taking these manifestations for just what they purport to be? Will not every one who holds to that belief become a Spiritualist?

—About two weeks ago the Salvation Army celebrated its first anniversary in Oakland by an all-night meeting. Those who live near the "barracks" describe the noise as simply hideous. The editor of the Holiness Evangelist was present and was completely captivated. From his report, we extract the following: "There is a commingling of frolic with deep spirituality in these meetings which is as incomprehensible as their power is magical over all who attend them. There is at times a sort of holy revelry [italics ours], which one would think would degenerate into mere animal excitement, followed by a season of the most intensely searching spiritual power surpassing in thoroughness anything we have ever witnessed." Of this particular meeting he says: "They opened with a banquet at 6:30. Then they formed into line about a hundred strong and marched up and down Broadway, holding some street meetings. At eight o'clock they filed into the barracks, holding a sort of praise and jollification meeting. They then had an intermission of an hour, in which they served a lunch to all who desired, for ten cents. At eleven o'clock the work began in good earnest," etc. The editor advises his readers to attend the next all-night meeting, saying, "You won't get sleepy." If outside testimony can be believed, nobody in the neighborhood will get sleepy either.