Editorial Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 26.

Editorial Notes

By Editor

IN its issue of June 6, the New York Voice (prohibition) does the justice to say that "the Seventh-day Adventists have been unjustly classed as opponents of prohibition."

LET no one omit reading the article "The Hamburg Mission," by L. R. Conradi, on page 409 of this paper. Of course all feel a special interest in this mission just now for the reason that the Sabbath-school donations for this quarter are to be devoted to it.

OWING to want of space the last of the series of articles on "The Land of the Czars" is crowded out. Our readers may expect it next week, and we hope that none at that time will fail to peruse it, and to consider from the heart how they would like the same laws enacted and enforced in our own land.

WE have before noticed the proposed visit of Rev. W. F. Crafts, field secretary of the American Sabbath Union, so called, to this State. It is now definitely announced that he is to be here from August 3 to 28, during which time two conventions in the interests of Sunday observance are to be held, one in San Francisco, and one in Los Angeles. In anticipation of this visit, the ministers are making quite a stir, and every pastor in the State has been requested to preach upon the question of Sunday observance, on either the 14th or 21st of July. It is evident that every effort is being made to turn public opinion in California in favor of Sunday laws both State and National. In view of this, it behooves the friends of religious liberty to inquire what they can do to get the truth before the people who are likely to be deceived and misled by the sophistries of these National Reformers.

WE learn from the China Mail that the matter of Sunday observance is still being agitated by ministers in Hong Kong. One of the most recent steps in the matter is a protest of Rev. W. Jennings, a minister of the Church of England, against the prize meeting of the Hong Kong volunteers being held on Sunday. It seems, however, that the governor does not share the views of Mr. Jennings, and has refused to interfere in the matter.

WE have received most encouraging reports from our brethren who are engaged in tent work in different parts of the State. Brethren Hollister, Caldwell, and McKibbin write from Wheatland that their meetings have opened with very good prospect of success. There seems to be a good degree of interest to hear the truth. Brethren Scott and Courter send a similar report from San Jacinto, while Brother Hickox writes that "the Lord is blessing in the work in Sacramento, both in the hearing and presentation of his precious truth." Some souls are already obeying, and others are interested. We hope to be able to publish fuller reports in a short time.

FOR some months past the Pope has been manifesting a very unusual interest in the abolition of the slave trade in Africa. This has excited comment, for the reason that the Papacy has never before been noted for its opposition to trade in flesh and blood. In fact, the church has in the past not scrupled to fill its coffers from this same traffic. Indeed, as remarked recently by a correspondent of the Western Christian Advocate, had Pius IX. had his way, "Where now are [in the South] seven millions of freemen there would be seven millions of slaves," and, "if the Pope's benediction had not missed fire, the slave auctioneer would still be crying slaves in the marts of Richmond and New Orleans." This new attitude is, however, explained by the statement that the raising of five hundred recruits for the ostensible purpose of suppressing the slave trade, is simply a pretext for the restoration of the Pontifical Zouaves.