p. 191 | News and Notes by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 12.

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 15.

RELIGIOUS.

—Leading daily papers in Callao, Peru, are praising the excellence of the Methodist school in that place as compared with the ordinary schools of that country, which are all under Catholic influence.

—Mr. Mozoomdar, leader of the society known in India as the Brahma-Somaj, says there are 10,000,000 people in India who speak the English language. This is encouraging news to English-speaking Christians who desire to go there as missionaries.

—Grace Episcopal Church, San Francisco, has heretofore been kept open on week days from 8 A. M. to 5 P. M., but recently valuable books, pew cushions, footstools, etc., have been stolen, until the vestry have decided to open the church only on Sundays.

—The Baptist Theological Seminary in Germany, after what is denominated a prosperous year, sends out fourteen young men to assume charges, of whom one goes to Vienna, three to Hungary, two to Russia, and the rest to prominent points in the German Empire.

—At the recent triennial meeting of the Moravian Synod of the Southern District, at Salem, N. C., the spiritual condition of the congregations was represented as being more encouraging than for several years past. Pensions were fixed as follows: To a retired minister and his wife, $360 per annum; to a retired minister, if a widower, $175; to the widow of a minister, $175.

—In the N. Y. Christian Advocate we find the statement that a conference of Free Evangelical Churchmen—Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians—was held in London a few weeks ago to consider the spiritual and social wants of London from a practical point of view. Facts were presented showing that the increase in church accommodation in the metropolis during the last decade was less than half what was required to meet the needs of an increased population, and that the Nonconformists provided far less than their just proportion.

—The time to do good is now, for no one knows what a day may bring forth. On Sunday, the day before Christmas, Mr. Robert C. Fisher, aged 57, attended service as usual in Trinity Episcopal Church, New Rochelle, N. Y. He seemed to be in excellent health, and at the close of the service stood at the door and handed each of the poorer members and attendants a $20 gold piece as a Christmas present, as they passed out. Just as he had handed his bounty to the last recipient, he suddenly reeled and would have fallen had he not been supported by persons who stood by him. He was removed to the parish house of the church, and died at 2 o'clock the next morning.

—An order for 200 barrels of triple-test grape brandy was recently filled out at Fresno, Cal., for the Russian Church. Two Orthodox priests came from Russia, and, taking turns at the still, stood sentinel over the entire process until the brandy was in the barrels. Then they sealed the barrels with the seal of the church, and had them shipped to New Orleans on the cars, traveling on the freight train to keep watch over the precious cargo. At New Orleans it was to be shipped to Russia, the priests to keep their vigilant guard till the brandy should arrive at its destination. It is designed for sacramental purposes, and the close watch was a precaution against any adulteration in the manufacture, or theft by the way.

—The Sunday-closing mania has again struck the people of Fresno, owing to a rumor that the Board of Supervisors contemplated a repeal of the ordinance requiring saloons to close from 12 o'clock Saturday night till 6 o'clock Monday morning. The delusion that accompanies this Sunday-closing business is in the fact that people are led to believe that it is a temperance measure, whereas it is simply a piece of Sunday adoration. Everyone who takes a second thought upon the subject can see at a glance that the saloons are no better and the people no more temperate than they were before. The whole movement is in the interest of enforced Sunday observance and the advocates of a State Sunday law are stealthily weaving their web over county after county under the seductive guise of temperance.

—A correspondent of the New York Union Record, writing from Worcester, Mass., says: "This city has been, and is, pretty well stirred up by different movements, some of which seem near bringing about old-time religious quarrels. The sudden growth and influence of the American Protective Association, and the retaliating and daring operations of the Roman priesthood; an enthusiastic temperance movement, headed by the Murphys, father and son, and carried on under the auspices of the Protestant clergy, bringing in fifteen thousand teetotal pledges in three weeks; then the city going for license right on top of that; a weekly paper publishing ten articles on the Sabbath question, notwithstanding repeated protests on the part of the ministers,—these are some of the features of interest."

SECULAR.

—The Diet of Saxony has rejected the Socialist motion for universal suffrage.

—In San Francisco, footpadism has become too common a thing for special mention.

—It is reported that the entire maize crop of Argentine Republic has been ruined by drought.

—A review of the trade of Great Britain for 1893 shows a discouraging decrease in every class of imports and exports.

—The unemployed are thus computed in the four leading cities: New York, 110,000; Chicago, 117,000; Philadelphia, 90,000; Boston, 40,000.

—According to a computation by the New York Post, the bonded indebtedness of American railroads now in the hands of receivers is $1,301,000,000.

—In Carson City, Nev., on the 12th inst., a Chinese opium den was raided by the police, and four Indians and the proprietor were captured with the outfit.

—A Mrs. Knorr, who carried on a baby farm at Melbourne, Australia, and was accused of systematically strangling children left to her care, has been sentenced to death.

—On account of the dispute as to whether eight or nine hours shall constitute a day's work, several hundred wood carvers have been locked out by their employers in New York City.

—The latest news from the rebellion in Honduras is to the effect that the rebels and their Nicaraguan allies had been defeated and were on the retreat, destroying property as they went.

—It is said that the Italian Government has proof that France is aiding the revolutionary movement in Sicily. Consequently, the Italian forts on the French frontier are to be fully equipped.

—Miners are endeavoring to get permission to work a certain street in Folsom, Cal., which borders ground that once paid rich returns. They meet with opposition from adjacent property owners.

—On the 10th inst. an express train was held up and robbed by five masked men, within two miles of St. Joseph, Mo. They met no resistance, as engineer, fireman, and express messenger promptly obeyed orders.

—The creditors of Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, whose defalcation some time ago created a great sensation, have appealed to Papal Delegate Satolli for relief, but he declines to have anything to do with the matter.

—Walter F. Beck & Co., the largest commission house in San Francisco, has failed. Their yearly balance sheet, to the great surprise of the firm, showed a deficiency of $95,000. The liabilities are said to be $750,000.

—The Institute of France is said to have received a bequest of $20,000 from a lady who gives the money as a prize to the first person who, within ten years, communicates with a celestial body and receives an answer.

—At Williamsburg, Long Island, on the 12th inst., as sixty men and boys were crossing a temporary bridge over a creek, the structure gave way, and all were thrown into the creek. It is reported that nine boys were drowned.

—A fire in the McShane Manufacturing Co.'s bell foundry, Baltimore, on the 10th inst., caused a loss of about $200,000. On the same day the Starr Piano Works, Richmond, Ind., were damaged by fire to the extent of $100,000.

—Making the poor help the poor is illustrated by a Pittsburg man of large means who employs a large number of men. He subscribed a liberal sum to the poor relief fund and then reduced the wages of his employees twenty per cent.

—By resolution of Congress and a mandate of the U. S. Supreme Court, the United States receiver has turned over to the Mormon Church of Utah $438,174.30. This is money derived from the sale of personal property belonging to the church.

—Trouble is reported in the mining region of Deadwood, S. Dakota, between union and non-union miners. The union is determined that no work shall be done at reduced wages. Last week a collision was prevented by a sheriff's posse.

—Colored people in Omaha, Neb., are prosecuting a restaurant keeper, because one of their race was refused anything to eat, on a proper application. The prosecution is under the Civil Rights Law, the violation of which is made a misdemeanor by a law of Nebraska.

—An explosion of a gas meter in a tenement house in New York City, on the 11th inst., blew out the entire front of the building. The police afterward discovered a trail of coal oil leading from the meter to the cellar, where there was a quantity of cotton batting soaked with oil, and a bomb made of lead pipe, containing enough powder to blow the entire building into fragments.

—Even the great Bank of England, the supposed synonym of financial security, has a defaulting cashier, whose mismanagement or peculation has caused a loss of $650,000. The loss of public confidence is a worse blow to the once influential institution than that amount of money.

—Late Australian papers are full of accounts of great distress and criminality among the unemployed. Ministers of all denominations in the large cities are uniting to raise funds for the poor. Various coöperative enterprises are being formed to give employment to the unemployed.

—An explosion of benzine in the Philadelphia Dye Works, of this city, last week, caused a conflagration that did considerable damage to the Eureka Block, besides very seriously injuring the proprietor and an employee of the works. The cause of the explosion is a mystery that no one can explain.

—The latest news from Rio Janeiro is that the rebels are discouraged. Two recent explosions in their forts caused great damage in the loss of forty or fifty lives and large quantities of ammunition, besides the wrecking of important defenses. To add to all this disaster, Mello's forces in Rio Grande do Sul have been defeated, and he himself is said to be quite sick.

—A great fire destroyed the principal buildings of the late World's Fair at Chicago on the 9th inst. So far as the buildings were concerned, it is said that was the cheapest way to remove them; but there were hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of foreign goods packed in one of them, ready for shipment, much of which was damaged or destroyed. Fortunately, most of the exhibits designed for the Midwinter Fair at San Francisco were uninjured.

—In Alaska many white men have purchased for themselves native wives, which is contrary to law; but the practice is so common that it has been thus far impossible to secure a grand jury that will take cognizance of the crime. But the U. S. Marshal has recently issued orders to his deputies to arrest all persons living in violation of the law, and it is said that as a result the jails will not hold all who are liable to arrest, many of whom are leading citizens.

—The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed an anti-boycott order, making it a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of $50 to $500 and ten days' to six months' imprisonment, for any person or persons to prevent or seek to prevent by unusual or improper means any other person or persons from carrying on legitimate business of any kind. The improper means objected to include force or threats of violence, solicitations, intimidations, parades, processions, and similar demonstrations.

—Rev. Henry E. Cheesman, pastor of the Eighth Street M. E. Church, Camden, N. J., was thrown into the Delaware River by two men, on the night of the 10th inst., and drowned. Two men were seen to run away from the wharf, and two were afterward arrested on suspicion. No cause is as yet conjectured for the deed, or for the minister's presence in that region after night. His cries were heard by some sailors and police, but he died in a few minutes after being pulled out of the water.

—A reporter of the Kalamazoo, Mich., Gazette, recently attended a seance at which several spirits were materialized, and among them he recognized his departed brother. A Methodist lady, a resident of Texas, was present by urgent invitation, rather against her will, but one of the forms presented was readily recognized as her grandfather. He was still lame, as before his death, and carried a heavy cane. According to the prophecy (2 Thess. 2:9-11), Satan is even now working "with all power and signs and lying wonders," and those who do not receive a love of the truth will surely be deceived by his lies.

—While the various boards of trade of Oregon have condemned Governor Pennoyer's published statements regarding the labor condition of the State, his representations are indorsed by the Portland Central Labor Council. This council, representing thirty labor organizations, claims to be in a better position to know facts concerning labor than the well-to-do members of boards of trade. It is asserted by the council that 75 per cent of the laboring people of Oregon are unemployed, and that 10,000 people have lately left Portland for want of employment. And it is further stated that not one laboring man can secure $100 in money to save his home from mortgage, and that hundreds, unable to secure money, are being driven from their homes. The council also alleges that not one property in fifty would bring in cash one-half the price demanded last year.

BIBLE ELECTION. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief presentation of God's plan and purpose concerning man, showing that the doctrine of election, or predestination, according to the Bible, is full of comfort and instruction. It throws new light on old controversies. Bible Students' Library, No. 67; 24 pp.; price 3 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.

BAPTISM: Its Significance, Its Nature, and the Necessity for It. By Ellet Joseph Waggoner. Bible Students' Library, No. 79. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 16 pp.; 2 cents.