OAKLAND, CAL., SECOND-DAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1889 by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1889

OAKLAND, CAL., SECOND-DAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1889

By Editor

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.

THE fact that there are now in Los Angeles alone 6,000 persons unable to find employment, goes to prove that California, the far-famed golden land, is very far from being a land of gold for thousands who flock here with no definite end in view, without capital, with little knowledge of the State, and with no assurance of employment.

SOME two or three weeks since the Catholic Review charged that Senator Ingalls was opposed to the admission of New Mexico, because a majority of its citizens are Roman Catholic. This the Senator at once denied in a letter to the Review, and now that paper absolves him from the charge; and peace reigns between the President of the Senate and the Roman hierarchy.

BROTHER J. I. TAY, who for some months past has been in Papeiti, Tahiti, awaiting the arrival of Brother Cudney, reached San Francisco on the 16th inst., thirty-one days from Papeiti. Elder Cudney sailed from Honolulu, H. I., on the 31st of last July, but had not reached Papeiti when Brother Tay left, on the 15th ult., nor has anything been heard from him since he sailed. Brother Tay did not succeed in reaching Pitcairn.

SCARLET is the color of Rome. In all her grotesque and ornate trappings it is noticeable. The red hats of her highest officers—the cardinals—are significant emblems. And all these are in harmony with the sacred symbolism of this apostate, anti-christian power. See Rev. 17:4-6. Among the false, usurping institutions of Rome, none has occupied a more prominent place, or has been more characteristic of Rome, than has the Sunday, especially as a religio-political factor. It is indeed significant and most fitting that the Sunday petitions to Congress should be pasted on scarlet cloth. It is an acknowledgment of the parentage of the Sunday institution, and an indorsement of the methods of Rome in forcing it upon those outside of her pale.

THE following extract from the published report of a recent ministers' meeting in San Francisco is suggestive, as it shows how easily and in what manner the several so-called evangelical churches can unite for the accomplishment of whatever they may agree is for their mutual benefit. The extract is from the Chronicle of February 8th, and is as follows:—

"Rev. Dennett read a paper on the growing tendency to union among the evangelical churches, as evidenced by the work of the Evangelical Alliance, the Young Men's Christian Association, the union revival meetings, and the joint efforts of the different denominations in promoting temperance and Sunday observance. Essential unity, he thought, was quite consistent with diversity in unessential things. Catholicism remained a unit because it allowed this diversity of opinion within certain limits. There was no more actual unity of opinion among Catholics than Protestants, but they avoided the many evils which sectarian divisions produce."

This is not a mere figment of the imagination. Not only is it possible for the various so-called orthodox Protestant churches to unite in this manner, but for practical purposes the thing is now an accomplished fact. And not only so, but in some of what they are pleased to denominate "essentials," Protestants are already at one with Catholics; and the end is not yet.

The churches are beginning to feel their power when combined for political purposes, as is witnessed by their united demand for religious legislation; and that their power is felt in the political world, is attested by the alacrity with which they are served by men prominent in the councils of the nation. Mr. Dennett does well to refer to the Sunday-law movement to show the possibility of the various churches working together to accomplish their ends. And it shows more than that, for the measure of success already attained illustrates the truth of the words of a committee of the United States Senate, which in 1828 said: "Extensive religious combinations to effect a political object, are, in the opinion of the committee, always dangerous." This tendency toward union among the churches bodes no good to the liberties of the people, when it manifests itself in a demand for religious legislation.

LOVE comprehends the all of the character of God. His justice and mercy are but constituent elements, perfectly blended. "God is love," and "he that loveth not, knoweth not God" (1 John 4:8); while "everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God." Verse 7. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom. 13:10); that is, the doing of it: "for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3. Love is often erroneously spoken of as one of the fruits of the Spirit; whereas it is the fruit. For "the fruit [singular] of the Spirit is love;" and "joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith [or, rather, faithfulness], meekness, temperance," are all but manifestations and characteristics of love. Such love, obedient love (and there is no other true love exercised by a loyal subject, servant, or son), will give boldness in the day of Judgment; for "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." It all comes through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. "We love him because he first loved us."

WHAT baptism is, what its object is, and what its value is, are points which have been discussed through the long centuries of the Christian era by Baptists, Pedobaptists, and anti-Baptists. Who are proper subjects of baptism? and when should it be administered? are questions constantly coming up. Does the mode of baptism make any difference? many ask. To all these questions we would reply, that the Scriptures state, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism." What baptism is, the baptism of the Spirit, the baptism of John and of Christ, the proper subjects of baptism, the order of baptism, its relation to the remission of sin, its "saving" power, its history in the first centuries of the church, and very much more, are all forcibly and scripturally set forth in "Thoughts on Baptism," a pamphlet of nearly 200 pages. It is for sale at this office. Price, paper covers, 20 cents; flexible muslin, 30 cents, post-paid. A complete index of Scripture texts and authors are given, making the work valuable as a book of reference. Address, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

CIRCULARS have been sent us by Mr. Alex. J. Wedderburn, editor of the National Farm and Fireside, advocating the bills now before Congress in favor of pure food and pure lard. We hope they will pass. They ought to pass. Pure food is necessary to health. If a man purchases flour, he wants flour, not plaster of Paris or ground tale. If he purchases butter, he wants butter, not oleomargarine. We suppose it is so with those who purchase lard, although it is hard to see how it could be adulterated by any substance of like nature, and thus be made worse. We don't purchase it. It is absolutely impossible to find pure lard. By that we do not mean that unadulterated lard cannot be found, for there is doubtless much of it. But the unadulterated is impure. It partakes of the nature of the scrofa (from which comes scrofula), or swine, from which it comes. But nevertheless, though it is impure, though we have no use for it in our internal or household economy, we are in favor of the bills. When other men wish to buy lard, they want lard. They have a right to the real article. Therefore, on the principle of the thing, all foods ought to be pure. If law will protect the innocent buyers from any adulteration, and check the manufacturer or vender, let there be law.

JANUARY 16 a bill was introduced into the California Senate, one section of which provides that "every person who keeps open on Sunday any store, workshop, bar, saloon, banking-house, or other place of business, for the purpose of transacting business therein, is punishable by fine not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars." On the 8th of February the same bill was introduced into the Assembly, and on the 12th a number of petitions were presented praying for the passage of a Sunday law. This shows that the advocates of religious legislation in this State are not idle.

Though it has been repeatedly stated by many of the friends of Sunday laws that they have no wish to interfere in the least with those who conscientiously observe another day, we notice that the proposed law makes no exceptions for conscience's sake. But it would not be less objectionable to us if it did, for we deny the right of the State to legislate upon such matters. The observance of a day as a Sabbath is a matter of religion, and with such matters the State cannot of right interfere.

"VICK'S FLORAL GUIDE" for 1889 is upon our table, and it is but justice to say that it is the finest publication of the kind that we have ever seen. The "Guide" is issued this year in a new shape, is printed from new type, has an elegant cover, and contains three beautiful colored plates. It also gives full directions for planting, transplanting, and caring for the various plants, vegetables, etc.

Every family that can do so should grow at least a few flowers and vegetables, and those who intend so doing should send fifteen cents to James Vick, Rochester, N. Y., for a copy of his matchless "Floral Guide" for 1889. The price of the "Guide" will be refunded to those ordering seeds.