—Bishop Newman, a leading personage in the M. E. Church, and a former prominent pastor at Washington, D. C., died in Saratoga, N. Y., on the 5th inst.
—A curious freak of a whirlwind occurred in Carson Valley, Nev., on the 5th inst. Passing over the chimney of a dwelling-house, it sucked up the fire from below, which was dropped on the roof, setting fire to the building.
—Dr. Berillon, a French physician, advises the use of hypnotism in the management of children. It is evident, however, that some evil influence akin to hypnotism is already playing a too prominent part in their mismanagement. The Lord's direction in regard to child-training is for the parents to teach them the law of God. See Deut. 6:4–9.
—A London press despatch says that 'the government is manufacturing a new bullet which is more deadly than 'dum dum.' The projectile has a soft metal point, which expands with friction caused by its flight. It is stated that 200,000,000 rounds of this bullet are already in stock.' This does not look much like a cessation of war preparations, or a very strong faith in the current efforts to secure universal peace.
—Mr. Ostergren, of New York, claims to have demonstrated that liquid air can be made at a cost of two cents a gallon. An exhibit before some scientists recently had the appearance of clear water, with a temperature of 400 degrees below zero. The first gallon of liquid air ever made cost $2,500. If Mr. Ostergren's claim be true, and there seems to be no doubt of it, liquid air will soon supersede ice as a refrigerator.
—It is said that the reversion of public sentiment in France in favor of Captain Dreyfus, of exile fame, is going still further, involving hostility to several army officers and to the alliance with Russia. There was recently a significant exchange of compliments between the president and the German emperor, and it has come to be an open question whether it is not better policy to be on friendly terms with England than Russia
—Judging by the common manner of commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, one might imagine that American institutions were based on gunpowder. Nothing could more significantly point to a short, brilliant career and a sudden collapse. The conspicuous sky-rocket, that goes up with a flash, soon comes down a blackened stick. And every year brings new inventions of more dangerous gunpowder contrivances, with which to familiarize the children of 'this Christian nation' with engines of death.
—Dr. Wachdorfer, who is now in jail in San Francisco, charged with murder, is an abject victim of morphine and cocaine. Although a skilled physician, well knowing the result of the use of these drugs, he allowed himself to be drawn into the vortex. It is the old story of first using as a gentle stimulant when weary of mind or body, and finally becoming a slave to the habit. How many who are just beginning will heed the lesson?
—The people of the United States were boiling over with exuberance on the Fourth of July, while the people of Spain were in mourning for their dead soldiers who lost their lives at Santiago de Cuba July 4, 1898. Why the jollification in the United States? —Patriotism. Why the requiem masses in Spain? —Patriotism. What is patriotism? The desire to kill an enemy, with great glee if successful, and chagrin if defeated? Christianity says, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.'
—The rioting in Spain, mentioned last week, was continuing as late as the 6th inst., at least in Barcelona. It is significant that, in a Catholic country, Catholic rioters should direct their destructive energies toward the institutions of their own church, and against the priests. It is significant because in the last days, when all the world shall be wondering after that power (Rev. 13:3), there will come a sudden reaction, and nations which have sustained her will 'eat her flesh and burn her with fire' (chapter 17).
—A reported wide-spread animosity toward 'the church' (Roman, of course) in Mexico has somewhat startled the Vatican, and investigation is the result. The archbishop has been obliged to admit that grave scandals have occurred in several provinces by the indiscriminate sale of indulgences, and other illicit methods of the clergy to increase the income of the churches. It is an indication that even Rome is feeling the pressure of the light of truth in the last days, or such things would be deemed a matter of course, as in days of yore.
—Who knows but this night his soul shall be required of him, and his life account be closed? A young man of Norristown, Pa., who had just inherited $250,000, and was studying for the ministry, suddenly fell, and died in a few minutes, June 23. He was returning from a church entertainment, and challenged a young lady for a footrace, he to run backward and she forward. He had run but a little distance when he fell. Physicians say his death was due to apoplexy, caused by the exertion of running in an unnatural way. Millions of people are killing themselves spiritually by running the wrong way.
—'I. H. N.' is profusely displayed in certain religious circles. It stands for the words 'In His name,' and is the pretense of many deeds which He never will acknowledge. For instance, a woman who claims to be a traveling missionary is charged with forging the name of Helen Gould to a note for $20,000, which she presented at a bank in Providence. The Lord has told us of other things that will be done in His name. 'Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.' Matt. 7:22, 23.
—The throne of little Belgium is apparently tottering, owing to a demand for an extended franchise. But republicanism has nothing to brag of, as the greatest republic of modern times is fast going over to at least mimic monarchy. The reversion began with the militarism bequeathed by the Civil War; then followed mushroom fortunes, and the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, and the aping of foreign nabobs by wealthy Americans. All these combined to bring on moral weakness and declension, preparing the people for the setting up of an image to that system of religious despotism which assumed the control of government when the strongest and most extensive power the world ever knew was a monarchy.
—'Without natural affection' is one of the characteristics of 'the last days.' See 2 Tim. 3:1–7. This is especially manifest in the ever-increasing disregard of the marriage vows. The growing mania for divorce on trivial grounds, permitted by the civil law, and therefore deemed proper, illustrates the want of 'natural affection' that should exist before the formal marriage vow is taken, and therefore should be a marked feature of the closest relationship known to the human race, excepting only that of the disciple to Christ. The deliberate murder of a man by his wife, in San Francisco, June 28, is a striking illustration of the spirit of the times. The woman was wasting away by disease, and her husband had lavished his unnatural affection upon another woman, neglecting his afflicted wife and young daughter, until the outraged wife gave way to revenge and shot him to death. The coroner's jury rendered a verdict of 'justifiable homicide.' Such is the world's idea of justice, an idea that lies at the bottom of the lynching mania. But God says, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.' Rom. 12:19. 'Can ye not discern the signs of the times?'
—One of the speakers at the recent meeting of the Association of Agricultural Colleges and Societies, held in San Francisco, said, in referring to adulterated flour: 'Another adulterant for wheat flour requires only a brief notice, for it can only be short-lived. This material is prepared and shipped in some quantity from Greensboro, N. C., under the name of mineraline. It is nothing but ground rock of the felspathic class, and its food value nil. Yet the party making this stuff seems to find quite a market for it. A friend in Greensboro, one year ago, wrote me that this party held an order for one hundred and fifty tons of mineraline to be shipped to Tennessee to mix with flour, and was shipping car lots to northeastern cities for the same purpose. In olden times the question arose, 'If a son ask his father for bread, will he give him a stone?' This question seems to have found an affirmative answer in North Carolina.'
—Permanent peace among the nations of earth is, in the language of a once noted politician, 'an iridescent dream.' While the 'Peace Conference' of the great nations is in session, the governments of the United States and Great Britain, which have recently been embracing each other in quasi-alliance, are now at swords points through Canada over the possession of a narrow strip of land between Alaska and Canada. And Italy has just out-generated Russia by occupying the island of Raheita, in the Red Sea, which the czar was preparing to seize. All the nations would like to have peace, but each one would fain gain some decided advantage before agreeing to forego further preparations for war. The prevalent peace talk is clearly 'saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.' Jer. 6:14; 8:11. And the apostle Paul gives this as an indication that the day of the Lord is near: 'For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.' 1 Thess. 5:2, 3.
