Earlier text: Prohibition in MinnesotaA LETTER from Bro. P. C. Shockey, dated Minturn, Lawrence Co., Ark., reports encouraging interest in meetings held in that vicinity. He believes, judging from the calls for labor in different parts of the State, that the time is propitious for giving the message to that region. The apparent drawback seems to be the scarcity of laborers. Such calls are increasing in every direction; what are the young men in our ranks doing in the way of preparation to supply the demand? Now is their opportunity; soon “the night cometh, when no man can work.” Scandinavian Workers in Chicago.
BRO. J. SAWYER, of the Chicago Mission, writes: "We have two Scandinavian workers who are doing remarkably well. One has taken 418 orders for Scandinavian 'Hand-book'; 51 for 'Sunshine at Home,' and 12 for 'Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation.' In one day he took six orders for 'Daniel and Revelation,' twelve for 'Sunshine,' and fourteen for Scandinavian 'Hand-book.'" Bro. E. P. Daniels, writing from Grand Rapids, Mich., says: "I have never so well understood the value of the Signs as a John the Baptist, full of the spirit of Elijah, as I have since witnessing its good influence upon the community where I labored with the tent last season. Scores attended the meetings, and some of them embraced the faith, who would have remained away had not their prejudice been removed by the perusal of the paper before the meetings." Misfortunes of the Texas Tract Society.
By Robert M. Kilgore
ELD. R. M. KILGORE writes to the Review as follows:— At the council meeting of the directors and Conference Committee last month, it was decided that our State depository should be moved to Denton, the county seat of Denton County. To obtain a suitable building, it was decided to purchase rather than to rent; and as one building, a brick 20x40, was proffered us for $1,000, we concluded to take it, as we thought it was a bargain, and could be sold at any time with a prospect of an advance in price. On last Thursday the first payment was made, notes given for the balance, and the deed received. Brother Eldridge, who was the acting agent, immediately took out an insurance policy of $500 on the building. On Friday night the large block with which it was connected, took fire, and on Sabbath morning ours, with the others, was but a mass of ruins. In the providence of God, our stock of books, etc., which had just been invoiced at $1,369.94, besides over $200 worth just arrived from Battle Creek, were, for some unaccountable reason, left at the depot, and therefore escaped destruction. The order was given to the cartman to place them in the building, but it was countermanded. We have grieved much over the sad misfortune which came upon us last August, when our Secretary, Sister Kittie Stevenson, who is not yet able to walk alone, was so badly burned, as to cause her so much suffering, and to paralyze the workings of the Tract Society; and now, as we were just shaping matters and arranging the affairs of the society to enter more largely into the work and extend our field of operations, this calamity overtakes us, from which it will take a great effort to rally. But we think it is wiser and better to "strengthen our hands for this good work," and to "rise and build," than "to let this house lie waste" and to suffer the loss and the "reproach" by not building. "It's curious who give. There's Squire Wood, he's put down $2; his farm's worth $10,000, and he's money at interest. And there's Mrs. Brown, she's put down $5; and I don't believe she's had a new gown in two years, and her bonnet ain't none of the newest, and she's them three grandchildren to support since her son was killed in the army; and she's nothing but her pension to live on. Well, she'll have to scrimp on butter and tea for awhile, but she'll pay it. She just loves the cause; that's why she gives." These were the utterances of Deacon Daniel, after we got home from church the day pledges were taken for contributions to foreign missions. He was reading them off, and I was taking down the items to find the aggregate. He went on: "There's Maria Hill, she's put down $5; she teaches in the North District, and don't have but $20 a month, and pays her board; and she has to help support her mother. But when she told her experience, the time she joined the church, I knew the Lord had done a work in her soul; and where he works, you'll generally see the fruit in giving. And there's John Baker: he's put down one dollar, and he'll chew more than that worth of tobacco in a fortnight. Cyrus Dunning, $4. Well, he'll have to do some extra painting with that crippled hand, but he'll do it, and sing the Lord's songs while he's at work. C. Williams, $10. Good for him. He said the other night to prayer-meeting that he'd been reading his Bible more than usual lately. Maybe he read about the rich young man who went away sorrowful, and didn't want to be in his company."—The Advance. IF Christian enterprises languish and the Lord's business is "dull," the Lord's supplies have not grown short, but the Lord's people have grown slack. Let them put into Christian interests but one-tenth of the energy and patience they put into secular interests, and they will soon fill churches, treasuries, and hearts—their hearts first. If we are cold, it is not that we have no fire, but that we are too lazy to strike our own match. You pray, "Thy kingdom come." Good, but it comes with costs. What will you allow your investment in its heavenly promises to cost you? We have asked comers to the Lord's table, "What do you believe?" We ought to ask quite as earnestly, "What do you propose to do?"—The Advance. The Chinese Christian Church in Honolulu
IN Honolulu there is a Chinese Christian Church under the care of a native pastor educated in San Francisco. Chinese Christian immigrants first came to the Sandwich Islands from Canton. It is to be said of them, as it is not always to be said of Anglo-Saxons, that they brought their religion with them, and set up a stand at once. As they grew in numbers they took steps for the erection of a church. It is now free from debt. By the side of it is the pastor's house and school for boys and girls, the boys' school beginning under a Chinese teacher. The girls' school is taught by an American lady who spent several years in similar work in Fuchow. Awakened Converts in Madagascar
DURING the first four months of 1883 the Norwegian Missionary Engh, in Madagascar, baptized 150 persons, among them a number of slaves whom he had as good as despaired of for ten years, because they were accustomed deliberately to go to sleep under his preaching. Now they have come of their own accord to be instructed and baptized, having been awakened and led to it by the very preaching which they had seemed to ignore. John Randolph’s Childhood Prayer
JOHN RANDOLPH once said, “I should have been an atheist if it had not been for one recollection—and that was the memory of the time when my departed mother used to take my little hands in hers, and teach me to say, ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven.’” "YE HAVE NOT BECAUSE YE ASK NOT."
Why is it our faith is so weak?
Why should we by doubt be controlled?
While manifold blessings we seek,
We seem to be heartless and cold. Do we think that our faith is our own,
To summon at will as we choose?
Do we think we can stand up alone,
With none to assail or accuse? Faith comes as a gift from above,
In answer to true fervent prayer;
A heavenly message of love,
To strengthen us while we are here. Then let us but ask and receive
The faith that can mountains remove,
While we urge all mankind to believe
In Christ the true fountain of love.
—Sel. "So this is our new cabin boy," was my inward exclamation, as I walked on deck and saw a dark-eyed, handsome youth leaning against the railing and gazing with a sad, abstracted air into the foamy waves that were lustily dashing against the vessel. I had heard so many remarks made about him by the crew, who did not like him because he seemed somewhat shy of them, and were continually tormenting him with their rough jokes. He had refused to drink any intoxicating liquor since he came on board, and I was curious to know more about him. My interest and sympathy were aroused, and I resolved to watch over and protect him as far as possible from the ungovernable temper of the captain and the rough jokes of the sailors. A few days after this conversation with Allen, I was standing beside the captain, when suddenly rough shouts and laughter broke upon our ears. We went to the fore part of the deck, and found a group of sailors trying their utmost to persuade Allen to partake of their grog. "Laugh on," I heard Allen's firm voice reply, "but I'll never taste a drop. You ought to be ashamed to drink it yourselves, much more to offer it to another." A second shout of laughter greeted the reply, and one of the sailors, emboldened by the captain's presence, whom they all knew was a great drinker himself, approached the boy and said:— "Now, my hearty, get ready to keel right over on your beam end, whin ye've swallowed this." He was just going to pour the liquor down his throat, when, quick as a flash, Allen seized the bottle and threw it far overboard. While the sailors were looking regretfully after the sinking bottle, Allen looked pale but composed at Captain Harden, whose face was scarlet with suppressed rage. I trembled for the boy's fate. Suddenly, Captain Harden cried out sternly:— "Hoist that fellow aloft into the main topsail. I'll teach him better than to waste my property!" Two sailors approached him to execute the order; but Allen quietly waved them back, and said in a low, respectful tone:— "I'll go myself, captain, and I hope you will pardon me; I meant no offense." I saw his hand tremble a little as he took hold of the rigging. For one unused to the sea it was extremely dangerous to climb to that height. For a moment he hesitated, as he seemed to measure the distance, but he quietly recovered himself, and proceeded slowly and carefully. "Faster!" cried the captain, as he saw with what care he measured his steps, and faster Allen tried to go; but his foot slipped, and for a moment I stood horror-struck, gazing up at the dangling form suspended by the arms in mid-air. A coarse laugh from the captain, a jeer from the sailors, and Allen again caught hold of the rigging, and soon he was in the watch-basket. "Now, stay there, you young scamp, and get some of the spirit frozen out of you," muttered the captain, as he went down into the cabin. Knowing the captain's temper, I dared not interfere while he was in his present state of mind. By nightfall, however, I proceeded to the cabin, and found him seated before the table, with a half empty bottle of his favorite champagne before him. I knew he had been drinking freely and therefore had little hope that Allen would be released; still, I ventured to say:— "Pardon my intrusion, Captain Harden, but I'm afraid our cabin-boy will be sick if he is compelled to stay up there much longer." "Sick! bah, not a bit of it; he's got too much grit in him to yield to such nonsense; no person on board my ship ever gets sick; they know better than to play that game on me. But I'll go and see what he is doing, anyhow." Arrived on deck, speaking through his trumpet, he shouted:— "Aye, aye, sir," was the faint, but prompt response from above, as Allen's face appeared looking with eager hope for his release. "How do you like your new berth?" was the captain's mocking question. "Better than grog or whisky, sir," came the quick reply from Allen. "If I allow you to descend will you drink the contents of this glass?" and he held up, as he spoke, a sparkling glass of his favorite wine. "I have foresworn all intoxicating drinks, sir, and I will not break my pledge, even at the risk of my life." "There, that settles it," said the captain, turning to me, "he's got to stay up there tonight; he'll be toned down before morning." By early dawn Captain Harden ordered him to be taken down, for to his call, "Ho, my lad!" there was no reply, and he began to feel alarmed. A glass of warm wine and biscuit were standing ready for him beside the captain, who was sober now; and when he saw the limp form of Allen carried into his presence by two sailors, his voice softened, as he said:— "Here, my lad, drink that and I will trouble you no more." With a painful gesture, the boy waved him back, and in a feeble voice said:— "Captain Harden, will you allow me to tell you a little of my history?" "Go on," said the captain, "but do not think it will change my mind; you have to drink this just to show you how I bend stiff necks on board my ship." "Two weeks before I came on board this ship I stood beside my mother's coffin. I heard the dull thud of falling earth as the sexton filled the grave which held the last remains of my darling mother. I saw the people leave the spot. I was alone, yes, alone, for she who loved and cared for me was gone. I knelt for a moment upon the fresh turf, and while the hot tears rolled down my cheeks, I vowed never to taste the liquor that had broken my mother's heart and ruined my father's life. Two days later, I stretched my hand through the prison bars, behind which my father was confined. I told him of my intention of going to sea." "Do with me what you will, captain; let me freeze to death in the mainmast, throw me into the sea below, anything, but do not, for my dead mother's sake, force me to drink that poison that has ruined a wife's husband, and do not let it ruin a mother's only son." He sank back exhausted, and burst into a fit of tears. The captain stepped forward, and laying his hand, which trembled a little, upon the boy's head, said to the crew who had collected around:— "For our mothers' sake, let us respect Allen Bancroft's pledge. And never," he continued, firing up, "let me catch any of you ill-treating him." He then hastily withdrew to his apartment. The sailors were scattered and I was left alone with Allen. "Lieutenant, what does this mean? Is it possible that—that—" "That you are free," I added, "and that none will trouble you again." "Lieutenant," he said, "if I was not so ill and cold just now, I think I'd just toss my hat and give three hearty cheers for Captain Harden." He served on our vessel three years, and was a universal favorite. When he left, Captain Harden presented him with a handsome gold watch as a memento of his night in the mainmast.—Sel. BETTER than grandeur, better than gold,
Than rank and titles a thousand fold,
Is a healthy body and a mind at ease,
And simple pleasures that always please;
A mind that is quick to perceive and know,
A heart that can feel for another's woe,
With sympathies large enough to enfold
All men as brothers, is better than gold. Better than gold is a conscience clear,
Though toiling for bread in an humble sphere,
Doubly blessed with content and health,
Untired by the lusts and cares of wealth.
Lowly living and lofty thought
Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot,
For mind and morals in nature's plan
Are the genuine tests of a gentleman. Better than gold is the sweet repose
Of the sons of toil when the labors close;
Better than gold is the poor man's sleep,
And the balm that drops on his slumbers deep.
Bring sleeping draughts to the downy bed,
Where luxury pillows its aching head—
The toiler simple opiate deems
A shorter route to the land of dreams. Better than gold is a thinking mind,
That in the realm of books can find
A treasure surpassing Australian ore,
And live with the great and good of yore,
The sage's lore, and the poet's lay,
The glories of empires passed away;
The world's great dream will thus unfold
And yield a pleasure better than gold. Better than gold is a peaceful home
Where all the fireside characters come,
The shrines of love, the heaven of life,
Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife.
However humble the home may be,
Or tired with sorrow by Heaven's decree,
The blessings that never were bought or sold,
And center there, are better than gold.
—Sel. Professor Packard Never Sick
Prof. Alpheus S. Packard, of Bowdoin College, who is in his eighty-fifth year, says that he has never been sick a day in his life. The Luckiest Fellow in Town.
"FRED DIXON is the luckiest fellow in town; everything he wants he gets; everything he undertakes prospers. Did you hear he has the place at Kelly's, that so many have been trying to get?" "You don't say so! Why, he is a very young man to fill so responsible a position." "Yes," added the first speaker, "he always would stand on the top of the ladder in school. Though not the brightest scholar, he managed to carry off the honors upon quitting school, which he did at an earlier age than most of his class-mates, because he had to help support a widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters. He only had to ask for a situation, and lo! all other applicants were ruled out, and Fred had the preference." Boys, "Our Boys," do you know any Fred Dixons? If you do don't think it is luck that helps him along, gives him the laurels at school, aids him to obtain first-class situations; puts him in places of trust and honor, where a good name or untarnished character is required. Look back in the pages of his life. See if he was not studious at school, fair and square in all boyish games, gentlemanly and obliging, honest in all his dealings. Ask his friends if truthfulness, faithfulness to his duty, steadfastness of purpose, are not his characteristics. Find out whether he has ever been known to frequent tippling shops, gambling dens, and kindred places of vice; whether he spends his spare time in filling his mind with trashy literature, such as is thrown broadcast over our land, in the shape of dime novels. Depend upon it, boys, you will never be "the luckiest fellow in town," unless you earn it by honesty, and integrity of character, and fidelity to all your undertakings.—Sel. THE following interesting facts regarding the arrangement of our solar system, are found in Rev. David Nelson's book entitled "Cause and cure of Infidelity:"— Young reader, there are certain first principles which you must understand and keep in memory, before you can profit by certain pleasing information. You are aware that the author of an almanac must know much of the sun, and moon, and other worlds, which you do not. He tells you of an eclipse many months or years before it takes place. He tells you to a minute when it will begin, how much of the sun or moon will be darkened, and when it will cease, etc. The reason he can do this is, he has looked through a telescope, and has found out the distance of the sun and of the moon, how large they are, etc. Astronomers can see through those glasses worlds which we cannot see with the naked eye; and they have discovered many facts concerning distant worlds, which seem strange to those who have not read, or who have not looked through the telescope. These are the astronomical facts which you are desired to mark attentively:— 1. Our sun is many thousand times larger than the world we walk on. 2. Our earth flies entirely around the sun in one enormous circular sweep, once every year. 3. There are some worlds much nearer to our sun than we are, and flying around it. We will notice them one by one, beginning with the nearest. First, there is a world smaller than our earth, a beautiful little world, which flies around the sun at the distance of almost forty millions of miles. This is much nearer the sun than we are. Astronomers have chosen to name this little world Mercury. It has no moon. It does not need one; because it is so close to the sun that it has many times the light and heat which we enjoy. Secondly, if you will come some twenty millions of miles farther from the sun, you will pass another beautiful world just about the size of the one we live on. It is the same that we see so often and call the evening star. Astronomers have named it Venus. It is more than sixty millions of miles from the sun. Although this is a great distance, yet it is nearer the sun than we are, and has more light without a moon than we have with one. It does not need a moon, and it has none. Thirdly, the next world we come to is our earth. We are third in order from the sun, and ninety-five millions of miles from that luminary. We have a moon, and it is of great service to us. Fourthly [passing over several smaller planets], if we pass on from the sun, almost four hundred millions of miles beyond where we are, we reach a world as large as fifteen hundred of our earth. This has been named Jupiter—almost five hundred millions of miles from the sun. It must need a moon indeed. It has four. But according to the laws of attraction, and the principles of astronomy, four large or serviceable moons would drag a world like ours to fearful ruin. The remedy is in the size of Jupiter. This world, with so many moons, is so large and ponderous, that it moves on unwaveringly. Some have avowed, and with reason on their side, that at a distance so enormous, even four moons cannot make up the want, and afford a supply of comforts such as we enjoy. Others answer, that the nights of that world are never long. Each side of that cold planet is exposed to the face of the sun every four or five hours. Fifthly, if we go from the sun nine hundred millions of miles, we come to a stupendous world, as large as a thousand of this; it has seven moons, and other contrivances are plainly visible, which make up for want of light and heat that would be felt without them. Sixthly, go from the sun eighteen hundred millions of miles, and we find a large and beautiful planet. Six moons have been seen, and how many more may be there, which distance renders invisible to us, we are unable to say. Also, what additional plans and arrangements are there furnishing a bountiful supply of heat and light, our short telescopes will not enable us to determine. Now, reader, do you believe all this happened by chance, or did an all-wise Providence purposely order it. Those who do not believe in God tell us it is all the result of chance; but the truth is, it is the handiwork of the great and good Creator. Chance never made a grain of sand, or a living insect, much less the many worlds, with their regular movements and millions of inhabitants. I KNOW some houses, well built and handsomely furnished, where it is not pleasant to be even a visitor. Sharp, angry tones resound through them from morning till night, and the influence is as contagious as measles, and much more to be dreaded in a household. The children catch it, and it lasts for life, an incurable disease. A friend has such a neighbor within hearing of her house when doors and windows are open, and even Poll Parrot has caught the tune, and delights in screaming and scolding, until she has been sent into the country to improve her habits. Children catch cross tones quicker than parrots, and it is a much more mischievous habit. Where mother sets the example you will scarcely hear a pleasant word among the children in their plays with each other. Yet the discipline of such a family is always weak and irregular. The children expect just so much scolding before they do anything they are bid; while in many a home where the low, firm tone of the mother, or a decided look of her eye, is law, they never think of disobedience, either in or out of her sight. O mothers, it is worth a great deal to cultivate that "excellent thing in woman," a low, sweet voice. If you are ever so much tired by the mischievous or willful pranks of the little ones, speak low. It will be a great help to you to even try to be patient and cheerful, if you cannot wholly succeed. Anger makes you wretched, and your children also. Impatient, angry tones never did the heart good, but plenty of evil. Read what Solomon says of them, and remember he wrote with an inspired pen. You cannot have the excuse for them that they lighten your burdens any; they make them only ten times heavier. For your own as well as your children's sake, learn to speak low. They will remember that tone when your head is under the willows.—Sel. THURLOW WEED had a favorite pigeon that used to perch on his shoulder and show a great deal of attachment for the venerable journalist. The other day a reporter called on Mr. Weed's daughter. After sitting a few minutes, this pigeon alighted on the reporter's shoulder and, cheerily cooing, peered round into his face. Suddenly the bird became dumb and flew into an adjoining room. "He has done that to every gentleman that has come into the house since father died," said Miss Weed, with a sigh. "He takes most kindly to General Bowen, who visits me occasionally, and who has been in feeble health some time and walks slowly. The bird will coo and fly to the General's shoulder, but when he sees it is not my father, he will stop his cooing and find some other perch. Since the day that father's remains were carried away the affectionate creature has been seeking for his master. He flies through every room in the house, and fairly haunts the library, where father spent most of the time with his pet." —An effort is being made to have the Carson, Nev., Guard stop shooting on Sundays. —Dr. Justin D. Fulton has determined to devote himself to the work of laboring for the conversion of Romanists in America. —It is expected that three new bishops will be elected by the Methodist General Conference to convene in Philadelphia May 1. —Rev. Julius Kobner, the most prominent Baptist minister in Germany, and pastor of a Berlin church, died recently. He was a converted Jew, and a native of Denmark. —One hundred and thirty-nine new members were received into Dr. Talmage's Brooklyn Tabernacle at the recent communion, making the present membership 3,107. —The M. E. Church South is about establishing an American college in Shanghai. A corps of five male and nine female teachers will depart soon to engage in the work. —A mission for the Jews has been started in New York City, with preaching at 3 P. M. on Saturdays, and with a reading-room which is kept open during the evenings of the week. —The Southern Methodist Mission in Brazil has been increasing its membership. A revival at Rio de Janeiro has greatly strengthened the church. The church proposes this year to raise $50,000 to establish a college for girls at Rio de Janeiro. —The sectarian divisions of native Protestants and Protestant missionaries in Italy, it is said, have heretofore been a serious hindrance to the success of the gospel. An assembly is to be held this spring to take steps for promoting union and co-operation. —Fenton Williams, a young convert at a revival in New Haven, Ind., became so much excited by the praying and speaking that he suddenly jumped upon his chair, and drawing a pistol from his pocket, held his left hand aloft and put four bullets through it before he could be disarmed. He afterward said that he had no idea where he was or what he was doing at the time. —The pope, in his late allocution to the Cardinals, denounced the Italian violation of the rights of the church, and demanded his restoration to temporal power. He uttered a strong protest against the judgment of the Italian courts, and said that he foresaw that fresh attacks upon the papacy were imminent, but he declared he would firmly uphold the rights of the Holy See. —More than the usual run of murders, robberies, mobbings, and suicides, have been reported throughout the country during the past week. There seems to be an increasing disposition on the part of the public to mete out full justice to criminals, yet there is some other influence that urges the commission of crime in spite of this tendency. The evil one seems to realize that his time is short, and urges on "evil men and seducers" regardless of consequences. —A San Jose, Cal., dispatch of the 29th ult., says: "Shortly after 12 o'clock last night the Holiness Band, an organization similar to the Salvation Army, while marching along First Street after services at the Baptist Tabernacle, were attacked by a crowd of hoodlums. Several made a rush for the women of the party, and in endeavoring to protect them, Isaac Hattabough, a member of the Band, came into collision with Constable Healey, whom he mistook for a hoodlum. Healey was struck three times, and then retaliated with his club, and, with others, conveyed Hattabough to the city prison. This morning matters were explained, and no prosecution will follow. After Hattabough was taken away the Band started on its return to the Tabernacle, followed by roughs, who threw missiles at them." —The Christian Union is, if possible, outdoing Beecher in the effort to establish a church without a Bible. In the issue of March 20, a correspondent asks: "Why make these ordinances (baptism and the communion), compulsory? Why not let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind? It seems to me time the Congregational Church should make all Christians welcome." To this the editor replies: "We should be glad to see the Christian church so broad in the administration of its discipline as to admit to its membership friends who do not believe in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. But there are other faults so much greater than the exclusion from full membership of the comparatively few who are excluded by this almost universal law of Protestant Christendom that we do not think it worth while to attempt to arouse any agitation on the subject." The attention of all seekers after a church whose liberality will exclude all the ordinances is, called to an institution described in Rev. 18:2. Thither all liberality not warranted by the Bible is surely drifting. —An alarming freshet is reported from Lawrence, Mass., a large proportion of the mills being stopped. —D. H. Baily, ex-consul at Hongkong, is charged with misappropriating moneys to the amount of $38,411. —Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, youngest son of Queen Victoria, died at Cannes, France, on the 28th ult. —The U. S. Senate has passed the bill offering $25,000 reward for the discovery of the Greely Arctic party. —Denver, Col., had a terrible windstorm, March 27, which unroofed about fifty buildings, besides doing other damage. —A prairie fire near Casketown, Kansas, on the 28th ult., destroyed houses, barns, stock, grain, etc., over a radius of ten miles. —The Chico Record states upon the authority of a gentleman of that place that there are no less than fifty tramps camped in that vicinity. —Immigrants are arriving at Portland over the Nothern Pacific at the rate of about three hundred per day. They are principally farmers. —The Woman Suffrage Committee of the U. S. Senate has reported in favor of a Constitutional amendment granting the right of suffrage to women. —Three large devilfish, two of them measuring eight feet between the tips of the tentacles, were taken at Anacortes, W. T., last week, by some Indians. —The five Bisbee murderers were hanged at Tombstone, A. T., March 28. As the sixth was hanged by a mob, Feb. 22, this puts an end to the whole gang. —Secretary Teller has directed the District Attorney of California to enter a criminal suit against Silas Ruth for cutting 300,000 feet of lumber from Government land. —An ice-gorge at St. Paul, Minn., it is reported, is changing the river channel to the opposite side of the island, and if not soon dislodged will cause great damage to the city. —The Paris Gaulois reports serious outbreaks in Senegal. The Morens have broken their treaty alliance and are pillaging the villages. Several persons have been murdered. —The managers of the Central and Southern Pacific combination claim that the late floods and freshets have caused damages to their roads to the extent of four million dollars. —Gov. Murray has declined to approve the $50,000 appropriation of the Utah Legislature for the completion of the Deseret University building, which he claims is a sectarian institution. —By recent arrangement of the C. P. Railroad the delay of the fast mail train at Ogden is avoided, and the time between New York and San Francisco has been shortened forty-eight hours. —The nitro-glycerine house of the chemical works at Thompson's Point, N. J., exploded on the 29th ult., and killed six men, including the vice-president, superintendent, and the compounder of dynamite. —At Bismarck, D. T. there is said to be an ice-gorge fifteen miles in length in the river, inclosing nine steamers. One steamer had been sunk, and the others were in imminent danger at last accounts. —Twelve thousand names are on the books of the Overseers of the Poor as receiving alms in the city of Newark, N. J. The average family is four, so that the number of persons assisted is forty-eight thousand. —It is asserted that the Central Pacific has secured control of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, and that it has secured nearly all the ex-Villard corporations. It is also said that Flood and Mackay are in with the Central Pacific in these new acquisitions. —The battlefield of Pittsburg Landing is a regular placer mine of lead and iron for the Tennesseans, who find a source of wealth in junk. One dealer shipped over 3,000 pounds of old bullets last year. A shell was found the other day and exploded, after being buried twenty-one years. Publishers' Department.
By Editor
On May 1st we will cut from the SIGNS list all names whose time has expired during the month of April. Please notice the little yellow tab on your paper, it gives the exact date to which your time is paid. If it has expired or runs out before May, please renew this week. If you have not the ready cash at hand, please write to us when you can pay, and we will continue sending the SIGNS to your address. In remitting money to this office for the SIGNS, or books, P. O. money orders are preferable, and it is the safest way. If you cannot obtain money orders, postal notes are cheaper than to register a letter containing silver. CANVASSERS may offer the SIGNS to new subscribers, one year, for $2.25, and give them their choice of either of the following books, which will be mailed post-paid: "Geikie's Life of Christ," "Sketches from the Life of Paul," by Mrs. E. G. White, "Life and Epistles of St. Paul," by Conybeare and Howson. Christ the Way of Life.
By Editor
We have just received a new invoice of this beautiful and instructive STEEL PLATE ENGRAVING, with keys in the Danish, Swedish, German, French, and English languages. The design of this engraving is to present at one view the leading events in the history of man as related to the divine plan of redemption, from the time of the first sin and the fall, to the final restoration of the race to the Paradise of God. Its central figure is that of Christ hanging upon the cruel cross. By taking our position at the foot of the cross, we look backward in the history of man, and trace the steps which have led to the scenes of Calvary. The scenes which suggest the provisions of the gospel are enacted in the shadow of the cross, which is cast far back over the history of the race, reaching even to the gates of Eden. The "Way of Life" as a work of art, commends itself to all lovers of the beautiful. Unlike many religious allegorical pictures, this not only presents a sacred theme, but by its skillful grouping, and its harmonious combination of light and shade, it delights the cultivated taste, and suggests abundant food for thought. An elegant 12-mo. pamphlet of 48 pages, containing a description of every part of the picture, and an impressive article by Mrs. E. G. White, accompanies each engraving. Price, printed in first-class style on heavy plate paper, size 22x28 inches......................................$1.50
Price, India Proofs, size 24x32 inches.......................2.50 If there is no agent in your vicinity, write to the general agents, and they will see that you are supplied.
PACIFIC PRESS, OAKLAND, CAL.
General Agents for Pacific Coast States and Territories.