The Signs of the Times by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 2, 1879

The Signs of the Times.

By James White

VOLUME five of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will commence with the year 1879. Plans have been laid to make the coming volume better in every respect than past volumes have been. Without casting the least shade of reflection upon Sisters Hall and Frisbie, who have faithfully and ably acted the part of local editors in the past we would here state that the General Conference has sent Elder J. H. Waggoner to California, whose first duty is the local editorship of the SIGNS. His experience as a writer and editor will make him of great service to the paper. While the labor of no one is called from our pioneer paper, new and valuable help is secured to make it in every respect just what the cause demands.

The Tract and Missionary Societies are ready to put it in the field to the ends of the earth, wherever the English language is read; and the publishers offer the SIGNS to these societies at lower prices than ever before. In addition to offers already made, we are prepared to say that this sheet will be sent to foreign lands, everywhere, and everywhere post paid, for $2.00 a year. We hope that, while the General Conference opens a mission to Great Britain, those of our brethren in this country who were born in the Queen's Dominions will remember their friends they left behind in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and who are elsewhere in her Majesty's Dominions. We learn by letter from Elder Loughborough that he and his wife were to sail for England December 16, at 2 P. M. May that Hand guide and uphold our beloved Brother Loughborough, which has been with him the past ten years in his successful labors on the Pacific slope.

The time will come when a paper and a press will be established in England; but not until our pioneer sheet shall have thousands of patrons across the great deep. Those who have had experience in publishing know that it requires no small amount of labor and means to conduct and publish a paper. We have papers enough for the present. Before another Publishing House shall be located, either in Europe or America, those at Battle Creek, Mich., Oakland, Cal., and Bale, Switzerland, should be better patronized and sustained, and raised above all embarrassment.

The Tract and Missionary Societies, and those still more personally and especially interested for their friends in other lands, need just such a paper, as by the grace of God, the SIGNS should be, can be, and shall be; and the Oakland Publishing House needs the support. Be it known to the patrons of the SIGNS, that your board, spread with good things to constitute your weekly feast, is not gotten up as the housewife gets up dinner on washing day, hastily and without forethought. No, indeed. The yearly round of forty-eight of these feasts must be planned before hand.

And first, the table must be spread with a proper variety. There must be sermons, editorials, experiences, reports of progress, expositions and reports of the signs of the times in the political, scientific, moral and religious world, items of religious and secular news, reading adapted to the home circle, and sound instruction touching, physical, mental, moral and spiritual culture.

The volume for 1879 should cover the ground, as far as possible, of the reasons of our faith and hope. Tracts are good; but the weekly visits of a paper containing a variety is not only better, but much cheaper. In order that the foregoing plans be carried out we make the following suggestions:—

That there be order in regard to the several subjects to be presented. And in order to secure this, it seems necessary that, as a general thing, one writer should become responsible for a given subject, and that all others of the leading writers leave this field to him. If this be understood beforehand in season, the several writers can give the necessary attention to their field of thought, and better arrange the matter to be presented by them during the year. While it may not be our duty to direct in this matter, it may be our privilege to suggest the following, subject to changes, which may be matters of correspondence with the writer.

And, we suggest that the field of prophecy, especially that of Daniel and John, be explored by Elder Uriah Smith.

Elder D. M. Canright present the Immortality question, including its history.

Elder James White, the Second Advent, Kingdom, and Signs of the Times.

Elder G. I. Butler, The Perpetuity, Design, and Practical Importance of Spiritual Gifts.

Elder J. N. Andrews, The Sanctuary of the Bible and the Messages of Revelation 14.

Elders Haskell, White and Loughborough, The Tract and Missionary Work. All general articles upon this important subject, which do not demand immediate publication, should, after being carefully copied, be forwarded to box P, Denison, Texas, at present, before they are put in print.

Mrs. E. G. White, The Life of the Apostles; also Bible Sanctification.

J. H. Kellogg, M. D., The Harmony of Science and the Bible, and the Resurrection of the Just from a Bible and scientific stand-point—the Bible wrested from the hands of infidels.

Elders White, Smith, and Andrews, The Sabbath, and the Nature and Perpetuity of the Moral Code. To save confusion, correspondence in relation to this matter is necessary immediately. Other persons and subjects can be announced when necessary.

Mrs. L. M. Hall will conduct the department, The Home Circle.

But one very important feature of our pioneer paper will be the reports of progress from Switzerland, France, England, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Norway, and Egypt. The correspondence of Elders Andrews, Loughborough, Matteson, Ertzenberger, Dr. Ribton, and others, will be read with the most earnest interest.

And lastly, but not the least, we mention brief reports from all our live ministers, and officers of the T. and M. work throughout the world. These should be directly to the point, and necessarily brief. If they are lengthy because of rambling to points of no real interest, the editor will either reduce them, or throw them to the moles and bats. Save him the trouble, by spending ten minutes in arranging in your mind what you wish to say on paper before you take up your pen.

We hope to give an article on the signs of the times in the first number of volume five, and hope that other subjects and other pens will be also represented in that number. And we need not here call attention to the importance of all beginning their subscription with the first number of the volume, or as soon thereafter as possible. Clubs should be made up at once, and those who wish to furnish this volume should forward names and addresses as soon as possible. For your friends to commence in February, March, or April, would be like giving them a book with a twelfth, twenty-fourth, or thirty-sixth of the first part of it torn off.

Not less than ten thousand extra copies of the first number will be printed. Send in your orders, with the cash if possible. Let none delay for want of ready cash, if that article can follow the very next week, when the name and address will be entered upon our lists permanently.

J. W.