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.
WE are glad to learn of the prosperity of the American Sentinel since its removal to New York City. Subscriptions are coming in so rapidly that one compositor cannot set up the names.
WE call the attention of our readers to our "New York Letter," printed elsewhere. It pricks some of the Sunday-law temperance and benevolence bubbles. We hope soon to be able to present before our readers regular correspondence upon important current events from other parts of the world besides our own country.
WE learn by the Workers' Bulletin that the Union College of Seventh-day Adventists for the Central States is to be located at Lincoln, Nebraska. There has been quite a struggle between a number of cities in the various States as to which should obtain the institution; but, all things considered, the committee thought it best to decide as above.
THE article entitled, "It Is a Poor Rule, etc.," in another column, is from the pen of a Baptist minister who recently embraced the truth of the Sabbath. Baptists, as well as other Bible Christians, would do well to read it. Is it popularity, fashion, the world? or is it Christ and his truth? He who does God's will can afford to leave the consequences with God.
WE have received a copy of No. 4 of volume 1 of the Kansas Worker. This is a monthly journal published in the interests of the Kansas Tract Society and canvassing work, at Topeka, Kansas, and will doubtless prove a means of good in unifying the work, and creating an interest in its various phases if used legitimately. The number before us is very creditable both in matter and make-up. Price, 25 cents a year.
WE have received the first two numbers of the Sabbath-School Worker for 1890. We suppose that our Sabbath-school officers and teachers remember that the Worker is now published monthly instead of quarterly. It is published for the especial purpose of helping our Sabbath-schools, and giving aid and information to those who conduct our schools and classes. How many times in the course of the year or quarter does the earnest superintendent ask himself, "How can I help my school?" "How can I create a greater interest in my class?" asks the faithful teacher. The Worker is designed to help in these and other respects. For instance, we have discussed in the February number the important subject of "Teachers' Meetings." We know that it might prove of help to many schools, if read by the officers of these schools. All manner of questions pertaining to Sabbath-school work are answered. Reports of all our Sabbath-schools throughout the world are given each quarter in the Worker, as well as reports of our various Sabbath-school associations, with the question should not be, "Is our school doing well?" but, "Cannot it be made better?" The Worker is a necessity to success in the Sabbath-school work. It ought to have a large subscription list. Price, fifty cents a year. Address, Sabbath-School Worker, Oakland, Cal.
THE manager of the Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mr. C. H. Jones, returned from a trip to the East, Tuesday, February 4, after an absence of four months. After attending our late General Conference, Brother Jones visited the branch office in New York, and assisted in the purchase of type and material preparatory to the publication of the American Sentinel. From there he proceeded to London and Paris, in the interests of the publishing work. He reports an interesting and profitable visit to the Old World (barring seasickness, which may have good results), and growing interest and prosperity in the publishing work in London. This young branch soon bids fair to be the greatest publishing house among us.
NUMBER 1, volume 6, of our sister journal, the Present Truth, contains the following note: "Beginning with this number, the entire business management of the paper will be conducted by the Pacific Press Publishing Co. All subscriptions, remittances for publications, and all business correspondence, should be sent to the Pacific Press Publishing Co., 48 Paternoster Row, London, E. C. All other correspondence should be addressed to Editor the Present Truth, 451 Holloway Road, London, N." This brings added responsibilities and burdens on this young but enterprising company. But we believe that the same God who has helped them will help, and will open the hearts of those who long to see the truth of God given to earth's millions. The Present Truth is filled full of good things. It is published fortnightly at 3s. (75 cents) a year.
WE have received many communications from our subscribers in the East, stating that they have not received several numbers of their papers. We are glad to get these communications, for (1) it shows us that the SIGNS is appreciated, and (2) it helps us to explain the difficulty. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES publishes fifty numbers every year, omitting two on account of general and annual meetings, so as to give the employees opportunity to attend these gatherings. It aims to get out each issue on time, and this has been the case with the numbers which our subscribers have not received. The difficulty was a seventeen days' blockade of snow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in which the mail each way was held. We grew as anxious over Eastern mail as did our friends over Western. But the blockade is over, and another one like it may not occur for years. Our subscribers may expect the SIGNS on time so far as the office of publication is concerned.
WE have received a variety of leaflets, prominent on several of which is the figure of a female holding the stars and stripes. Underneath are the letters, "W. C. T. U." On the one side is, "God, Home, and Native Land," and on the other, "No Sabbath Desecration." Now whether it is W. C. T. U. authority or not we do not know, but it is in harmony with many of the principles of that organization. They have a right to have a college, as it is also a right for a woman, to work for any day she chooses; but to say that the desecration of a day is another thing; if a man should outwardly rest on the Sabbath, but if he did it from selfish motives, he as surely desecrates the day as does the man who works at honest labor upon the day. Christ says that he who looks upon a woman to lust after her is guilty of adultery. If any day is holy, it gets that holiness from God. If it is desecrated, the desecration is a sin against God. If the W. C. T. U. can teach and persuade people not to desecrate a day, well; that is a legitimate business; but if they attempt to make or enforce laws in the matter, let them know that in thus doing they are usurping the place of God, and trying to control conscience—an effort never crowned with success unless tyranny and hypocrisy mean success.
WE believe that our readers will be more than pleased with the SIGNS this week, in the interesting and instructive articles which it contains; but we venture to assert that none will please many of our readers more than the "Letter from Pitcairn." This letter came by the way of London. We rejoice to know of the zeal, union, and prosperity of the work among that island band. Through all the opposition, they have held fast to the truth, and have shown that they love the truth by the sacrifices put forth to give this light to others. How it ought to stir the hearts of those who have prayed for Pitcairn Island so long, to know as we know it will the inhabitants of that island, to know that a missionary ship is an assured fact, God willing, in the near future—a ship not controlled by the demands of commerce or war, but under the control of devoted missionaries of Him who counts the worth of a soul more precious than all the riches of earth! May God speed the building of the ship, and may he help the dear friends in Pitcairn to hold fast till the day of Christ Jesus.
NUMBER 1 of volume 1 of the Southern Sentinel has recently come to our table, published by the Southwestern Publishing Co., Dallas, Texas. It is "set for the defense of American institutions and the Constitution of the United States as they now exist; opposed to any legislation, State or national, affecting the religious liberty of the citizen, and to religio-political movements of any kind." The first number is well gotten up, and full of live, interesting matter, and if well conducted in the future will do great good. Its editors are Brethren R. W. Roberson and W. A. McCutchen. Published weekly. 4 pp., 75 cents a year. Address, Southern Sentinel, 411 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas.
IT is stated that the Congregationalists are discussing the necessity for establishing a weekly paper, to be published in New York, which shall be to that church what the Church at Home and Abroad is to the Presbyterian. In form it will probably be like the Nation, and its name the Christian Nation. Do not the Congregationalists know that there is now published in New York City a paper bearing the same name which they propose to give their new publication? The present Christian Nation is a National Reform paper.