THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 11, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 47.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

FOR 1885

A 16-page Religious Paper, Published Weekly, at Oakland, California.

THE publishers take pleasure in announcing that the past year has been the most successful and prosperous in the history of this paper. It has steadily gained in patronage and favor, and has come to be acknowledged as a LIVE RELIGIOUS JOURNAL, and RELIABLE EXPOSITOR OF SCRIPTURE, as well as a first-class HOUSEHOLD PAPER, the contents of which, in every department, are pure and elevating.

The first of January, 1885, the SIGNS enters upon its Eleventh Volume, and the publishers are determined to spare no pains or expense in order to make it the MOST USEFUL AND INTERESTING RELIGIOUS JOURNAL PUBLISHED.

To our friends who have been taking the SIGNS, and who are constant readers, we need make no explanations or promises. A reference to its past record will tell them all we would say, and will be sufficient assurance to them that the future will be marked by progress. To the thousands who may read this prospectus, to whom the SIGNS has not been a visitor in the past, we would say a few words in explanation of what the SIGNS is.

The Editorial Department, which is that which gives the tone to every paper, will contain articles on religious topics of special interest, discuss the questions of the day, so far as they are of interest to the student of prophecy, carefully note the signs of the times, as fulfilling the prophetic word, answer questions on Bible subjects, and consider practical matters concerning daily Christian life and church government. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is in no sense a political paper, but is strictly devoted to the spread of practical Christianity. The articles in this department cover a range of subjects wider and of greater interest than those of any other religious paper in the land.

Under the head of General Articles, will appear both original and selected matter—practical, doctrinal, historical, etc. The articles on Bible history and matters purely practical, from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White, who is a constant contributor to this department, are read with delight by thousands, and are alone worth double the price of the paper. A series of historical articles, showing the exact fulfillment of the chief prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, will begin near the first of this new volume. This will be an important feature. Sermons by various eminent preachers will also appear in this department.

The Sabbath-school Department is conducted in such a way as to interest not only Bible students, both teachers and scholars, but also the general reader. It contains comments on two series of lessons,—those found in the Youth's Instructor, and the International Lessons. It will also contain original and selected articles of great service to superintendents and teachers.

On the subject of Temperance, the SIGNS will utter no uncertain sound. As in the past, so in the future, it will advocate the entire suppression of the liquor traffic, believing that States are in duty bound to suppress crime to the extent of their power, and that they have no right to license it in any form. Besides abstinence from intoxicating drinks, opium, etc., it will advocate that higher Christian temperance which will fit one for the Judgment to come.

The SIGNS is entirely a missionary paper, but the Missionary Department will contain matter of a special nature. Reports of home and foreign missions, the wants of the mission fields, and brief sketches of the lives and works of missionaries, will be given, in order to beget and strengthen the true missionary spirit in the minds of all its readers.

In the Home Circle department will be found choice, entertaining reading matter of an elevated character. No serial stories, or anything bordering on the trashy or sentimental, will be admitted. The object of this department is always to instruct, while it entertains.

The News Department of the SIGNS is made up with great care. Current news and interesting facts are given, but nothing of a sensational character. To those who do not take the dailies, this department will be of real value in enabling them to keep abreast of the times; and in many cases it will be preferred to the dailies, since the chaffy and pernicious matter is left out. Interesting items concerning the religious world are also given in this department.

The SIGNS contains no paid advertisements, its only notices being of standard religious books. Its entire sixteen pages are filled with choice reading matter in endless variety. The publishers have in view the good of the subscribers, and are determined to give them many times the worth of their money. Advantageous offers from would-be advertisers have been steadily refused, that the paper might not be diverted from the course marked out for it, which is to advance the cause of Christian morality and the truth of God, and to oppose sin wherever and under whatever form it exists.