Review and Herald, Vol. 28, No. 16. (9/18/1866)

Review and Herald

Sep 18, 1866

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1866

The Coming Crisis.

By J.

WHAT, still another crisis? many will say. Yes, dear reader, nothing can be more sure than still another crisis, and such an one as will throw all that has gone before in our world's history quite in the shade. Verily this is the very thing of which “God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Looking directly to this, the inspired apostle Peter writes to his brethren in the church as follows: “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken of the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.” This is the great theme of divine revelation; but strong as it is, it is mainly overlooked by the shepherds and watchmen of the fold and flock of Christ, even in our day of unparalleled light. They feel wholly absorbed with other matter, which they are constantly urging upon the people as more worthy of their all-absorbing interest. Hence, we may, if we will, already see the snare in which the world, but more especially the church, are about to be taken. Yes, more especially the church, for with them is supposed to be the repository and key of religious knowledge, and with them, especially their teacher, is the fearful responsibility of keeping the people advised as it regards the time as truly indicated just now on the dial-plate of time. The Jewish church were blind, led by their blind guides, who had the key of religious knowledge. They were mainly responsible, and most guilty, as Christ charged home upon them, and sure enough as history attests, judgment with them “commenced at the house of God.” Precisely so will it be with the present Gentile church, which are, in their worldly wisdom and human planning, turning away from “God, the fountain of living water,” and are actually hewing out “cisterns broken” after all their pains, “and can hold no water.” Thus are the people being deceived with “castles in air,” hopes never, never to be realized. Who are responsible, we ask, in the name of the Lord! Verily, those watchmen, shepherds, and pastors of the flock, to whom the people are wont to look for religious knowledge, and the watchmen who should “give the trumpet a certain sound,” those shepherds who should “give to each a portion in due season.” God will hold these mainly responsible for the fatal delusion of peace, safety, and prosperity, when in reality, there is no peace on account of the wicked worldliness of a nominal church. There is no true prosperity for the professed disciples of Christ, who turn away from following the teachings, spirit, and example of Christ, and “are turned to idols.” Our resources as a nation, and as a church, are held up as objects of future hope; yes, bishops and doctors of divinity, teach the people to look to our agricultural, commercial, mineral, and literary wealth and resources, in order to form some opinion of the future prosperity and unparalleled greatness of the nation, and with it, the final stability and glory of the church, but more especially “our church.” Alas for poor deluded humanity, and can it be that men occupying such high and responsible positions, have not yet learned, even in this day of facilities for learning, the simple and yet important fact so fully spread out on the pages of history, that worldly prosperity has ever been the bane of the church, and in the very nature of things it must continue so to be! Again we ask, Who is responsible for such teachings and false hopes thus engendered, and the ruin inevitable when judgment shall once more begin at the house of God in the world's coming crisis?

We turn away from the false, deceptive objects of hope, which have insidiously stolen into the professed body of Christ, to the true hope shining out from the sacred page so bright and clear. A very brief reference must suffice. “The grace of God” revealed in the gospel, says an apostle, teaches three things, Titus ii, 11-13. First, the denial of all ungodliness and worldly lusts. Second, a sober, righteous, and godly walk and conversation in the present world. These may be regarded as the believer's “negative” and “positive” life. The third thing taught by this revealed grace, is to look for, to anticipate “the blessed hope”—those glorious things that are to be revealed at the “appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

This may be regarded as the Christian's prospective life, his life of hope and faith, and patient waiting. Concerning this same hope, the apostle Peter says to Christians, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation (appearing) of Jesus Christ.” It is to the appearing of Jesus Christ, to this glorious return of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, the ever faithful under-shepherd should teach his flock to look as the only reliable hope of the church, and our sin-cursed and groaning creation. Those in high places as teachers of religion, mock at this, put it far away, and seek, by a deceptive spiritualizing mode of Scripture exposition, to evade an unwelcome truth, so that the church now abounds with an unmistakable type of latter-day scoffers, who tauntingly ask, “Where is the promise of his coming, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the creation.” The scoffer's latter-day heresy is virtually incorporated into almost all our present church literature, from the large octavo volume down to a church almanac. In brief, it is this as worded by our Lord himself, “my Lord delayeth his coming.” Wherefore, we are not yet ready for the event. We are largely planning the world's conversion. The gold and silver is yet to be dug and coined, and the men educated to do this great work so honorable to the humanity composing the church. This thing may take many centuries, yet the thing is to be done so that when the blessed Lord shall come, he will have but little or nothing to do but enjoy the fruit of our labor. True it is, though God made man upright, he has sought out many inventions, and among them all, probably none is more deceptive and fraught with ruin than this very master-piece of the evil one. Can the humble inquirer after “the truth as it is in Jesus” fail to see how this plausible and popular latter-day fable embraces the fatal teaching, “my Lord delayeth his coming,” and in its necessary practical bearing is producing that very state of faith in the church, indicated by that most significant question proposed by our Lord, thus, “when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” This will be the state of things rather than the world's conversion at the time of the coming crisis, the time of the evening. Who believes that this sublime event is now imminent, may transpire any moment, and who is now looking, watching, waiting, and “loving his appearing?”

That great reformer, John Wesley, in his notes on the Apocalypse, runs out all the prophetic periods in 1836. Wm. Miller, after whom Adventists are in derision now called Millerites, runs out the prophetic periods in 1843.

Large capital has been made of these mistakes, especially the latter, by those who were not quite ready to see the Lord. There is at the present time, a host of the wise and good, scattered over the whole world, who are earnest students of prophecy, learned, humble, and honest persons, who claim that we are now living in the “time of the end,” when according to the word of God, by the mouth of the prophet Daniel, there shall be such light on what was before “closed up and sealed,” that the wise should understand when these things should come to pass, even the completion when the blessed shall come to the thousand three hundred five and thirty days, when Daniel will stand in his lot with them. Yes, a host of watching, praying ones, believe that we are very nearly there, and that the next great event in our world's history will be the coming and kingdom of our Lord, when the righteous dead shall be quickened, and the living changed in a moment and “caught up to meet the Lord in the air.” Surely none who are prepared can object, and those who are not prepared, as in the days of Noah and Lot, have grave objections, for they are not ready. But what if he does not come? Still watch and wait, as when some dear and most valuable earthly friend did not come just when expected; let the desire become more intense, as with the bride expecting her lord, surely in his return is our only hope. Long and weary ages have proved this true. What a world ours still is—how abortive are human efforts when put forth to regulate and cure its evils. We

need no revelation to teach us that the curse rests upon it. The power of evil is everywhere in the ascendant. The pestilence walks abroad at noon and night. Earth's history is still written in blood and tears—its constant dirge, wails, sighs, and groans. Mildew blights, and the insect makes the avails of the tiller's toil precarious. Perishing in want, and neglected, many lie down and die. The dominion of man has long since departed, and the beast rises up in rebellion against his former ruler. Everywhere we see where lie the dead, and death sways his sceptre over the universal empire. Indeed it would seem that all with one accord should ever pray, “Even so come, Lord Jesus.”—J.,—in Northern Independent.

The Third Angel's Message.

By E. JONES

A train now is moving in beauty and light, The engine is fired by love from on high, The track is prepared by truth and the right, The ties are enduring, they never can die.

The rails will not bend to the whims and the notions, Of those who would ride with their folly and pride; It runs very smooth with no jostling commotions; The engineer, Truth, is faithful and tried.

It bears on the message, the last to be given, It is bound for the city celestial and fair, We gain a through ticket by being forgiven, And those who take passage will shortly be there.

E. JONES. Dryden, Lapeer Co., Mich.

The Arms Ready for Another Rebellion.

According to Rev. Dr. J. P. Newman, President Johnson, either purposely or carelessly, has been making the same preparations, or suffering them to be made, for another rebellion in the South that were made in 1860, by the infamous Floyd. The forts of the United States in the South have been filled full of ordnance, ammunition and warlike stores of all kinds, sufficient for immense armies, and the President has removed the garrisons from the forts, or so weakened them that they can again be seized by traitors as they were at the beginning of the rebellion under Buchanan. Mr. Newman, in a letter published in the New York Methodist, says:

“Nor is it the least objectionable feature of Mr. Johnson’s administration that, having withdrawn the greater portion of the troops from the several garrisons, he has collected in these self-same garrisons, immense quantities of military stores and ordnance sufficient to equip a large force. There is to-day at Baton Rouge, La., ordnance of all kinds to equip an army of 200,000 men, with but a single regiment to protect them. Although officially notified of the fact, he has paid no attention to the notifications of the dangers involved. The South was never better armed than now.”

Now suppose that “my policy,” is defeated at the coming elections, and the Johnson party, mainly located in the South, shall choose to rebel again; or suppose that there are enough Northern sympathizers with the South elected so as to make practicable the revolutionary scheme of dispersing the legal Congress at the point of the bayonet, and declaring the Southern Congressmen and Johnson men the true Congress—the weapons are prepared ready to the hands of the supporters of the President’s contemplated usurpation. Did Johnson think of these arms thus carelessly exposed, when he proclaimed that he might make himself Dictator? Whether he did or not, the facts remain the same, and there is danger in them; the more especially as Mr. Newman asserts unqualifiedly that the President has been “officially notified of the fact,” but “he has paid no attention to the notification of the danger involved.”—Detroit Post.

Troublesome Omens in the South.

THE following is the concluding portion of the address to the people reported at the Philadelphia loyal convention, Sept. 5, 1866, by the committee on the non-reconstructed States.

But why continue the recital of these horrible records? We have before us evidence from every portion of the South proving the extent and increasing violence of the spirit of intolerance and persecution above set forth. This committee is in possession of information that Union men dare not attend this convention for fear of violence upon their return. Gentlemen of this convention have, since in this city, received notices warning them not to return home. We have omitted the relation of acts of ferocity and barbarism too horrible to relate, and the recital of which would scarcely be credited by a civilized people.

We submit to the impartial judgment of the American people the fact that the State governments, thus ruled by a disunion oligarchy, and based on the political disfranchisement of 3,000,000 colored citizens, and the social disfranchisement of the entire loyal white citizens, are not republican in form, and are of doubtful legal existence; that they are undoubtedly despotic, and despotic in the interests of treason, as we of the South know but too well. This view of the condition of the South before the war, and of the events which have transpired since, brings up to our consideration the confirmed, consolidated, intolerant and defiant power of disunion, which now controls every department of the non-reconstructed States.

All the restraining influences in favor of the Union existing before the war have perished from the land, save the republican light kept alive by the loyalists. The armed efforts to overthrow the government having been treated simply as an unsuccessful but heroic act, the leaders of the rebellion stand justified in the eyes of their own people. This is the basis of their justification. They possess the lands of the South. Through the favoritism of the military despotism enthroned at Richmond during the war, they absorbed by contracts and speculation the wealth of our section. They have been confirmed in the possession of this ill-gotten wealth by the pardoning power of the President. By the provisions of the National Bank act, requiring local residences for directors, they possess control of the entire financial power of the States, the lands, the cotton, the tobacco, and the railroad wealth—and wielding the banking influence of the country, and speaking by authority of the President, as the supporters of his administration policy, they dominate with an absolute power. If a conflict of arms for the gratification of sectional party hatred could be, as we have seen, precipitated notwithstanding the restraining influences which existed previous to the late war, what guarantee have we against a repetition of the bloody experiment in politics, now that the entire South is more intensely sectionalized than ever.

Overawed by the fearful array of power which surrounds them, abandoned by the President and impoverished by the ruthless rule which has so long oppressed them, how can the Union men of the South hope, unaided, to maintain their ground? The remedy which is proposed in the President's policy will only increase our sufferings and open the way for perpetuating the tyranny of our oppressors. The admission of these representatives of the treasonable communities into Congress carries with it the admission of their votes in the electoral college. They will on many vital questions of legislation hold the balance of power in Congress, and they will also hold the balance of power in presidential elections. The effect of their votes in Congress, it is true, can be neutralized by keeping in the halls of the national legislature a solid body of men with whom it will be impossible for the agents of treason to affiliate, but the same check cannot be applied in the electoral college. The hope of wielding the united southern vote in the next presidential election has already corrupted the fountain of national justice at the capital, and an open and shameless coalition has been formed which needs only for its consummation the success of the President's policy. Into that coalition have been already drawn, by one influence or another, men heretofore honored with the dearest affection of the people. Thus the work of political corruption will go on. The South, compact, defiant, and sectionalized, with its anti-republican institutions resting on negro-serfdom as the corner stone; the North, torn by faction and distracted by the ambition of aspiring politicians and contending powers. This conflict of sections will progress until it be transferred from the halls of the national legislature to the battle-field.

The Sword of the Spirit.

By Thirza M. Foster

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Eph. v, 11.

THE apostle Paul, among the many instructions which he gives to his brethren, in a special manner entreats us to war a good warfare, to endure hardness as good soldiers, to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. In Eph. vi, he is very explicit in his description of the weapons which compose the armor of the Lord; and exhorts us to take unto us the whole armor, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

Let us look for a moment at the sword of the Spirit which Paul tells us is the word of God. In writing to his son Timothy, he assures us that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

From the word of God, we can acquire that divine knowledge which is needful for us in our present fallen state. It tells us those great truths we need to know concerning our Creator, his character, designs, and claims; also our obligation to him, and to our fellow men. The holy Scriptures are not curious speculations, devoid of practical use, far from this. They are Spirit, and they are Life. They are so harmonious and self-consistent in their teachings; that they furnish a shield to quench every fiery dart of the wicked; a weapon to repel every attack of the adversary. Wherever God’s truth has been carefully and faithfully proclaimed, Satan and his confederates have met with peculiar opposition; and we see many instances where God confounds the wise and mighty, by the weak and foolish things of the world. It is because the weak and foolish have put on that mighty armor furnished them by the word of God. The Bible is the grand weapon with which the soldier of the cross must meet and repel his spiritual foes. It holds a distinguishing place among those weapons which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

Let us look to Jesus, the captain of salvation. Behold him in the wilderness in arduous conflict with the leader of the rebel army. In three successive assaults he drove the enemy back, with the sword of the Spirit. “It is written, It is written, It is written,” were the words with which he opposed every one of his temptations. Jesus believed every word which proceeded out of the mouth of God. He believed it was easier for heaven and earth to fail, than for one jot or one tittle of his Father’s law to fail. David, God’s servant, loved his truth. He says, “Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.” “Oh how love I thy law;” but Christ’s love for the word was still greater. Christ teaches mankind to search the Scriptures, to understand the doctrine of the Bible, to obey its precepts, that their eyes may be opened, and that they may turn from darkness to light; and from the power of Satan unto God.

It is by means of the inspired volume, that mankind are made acquainted with their dangerous and deceitful enemy, the Devil. Here we learn that his object is to lead us to everlasting ruin. As a roaring lion, he walketh about seeking whom he may devour. We are told that he has snares, devices, and wiles, by which to effect his object. Jesus says, “that when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of himself, for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John viii, 44. In practicing his deceptions, he sticks to nothing. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and his ministers into the apostles of Christ. See 2 Cor. xi, 13–15. The word of God is purposely constructed to expose Satan, his character and cause, and to effect the destruction of his kingdom. For this reason he is ever devising means to get rid of this weapon, with which he is so much annoyed. We may calculate, as far as his influence prevails, to see infidelity popular. He doubtless prefers atheism; but is tolerably well satisfied with deism, spiritualism, or any other ’ism which denies the inspiration of the Bible, or even of some part of it. Satan is seeking to allure souls to destruction. If he cannot induce them to doubt the inspiration of the Scriptures, he has another device to preserve himself from being wounded by this two-edged sword; he will tempt men to change the truth of God into a lie, and these men, as his subjects, tempt others to do the same. If Satan can but batter the keen edge, and break the sharp point, of the sword of the Spirit, he knows it will then fail of doing execution. He will improve every opportunity to do this, by perverting the word of God. He has been so successful in duping almost the whole world to believe in a change of the fourth commandment of the decalogue, that he is emboldened to strike at the whole moral law of God, representing it as all taken out of the way. When he succeeds in making men believe the law of God is no longer a part of the word, the sword of the Spirit does not look so formidable to him. Though many passes may be made with it in its impaired state, it

proves harmless. It is no longer quick and powerful, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit; nor is it any longer a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. See Heb. iv, 12.

We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. He is trying to strip us of our armor; but if we have the word of God often in our hands, and dwelling richly in our hearts, Satan cannot disarm us. His weapons are weak. Ours are mighty.

Brethren and sisters, if we are soldiers for Jesus, let us truly gird on the sword of truth, that we may be prepared to stand against the foe. Then the Lord will verify his promise unto us, and not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will in every temptation make a way for our escape. Let us in every encounter with the enemy, have our two-edged sword in the field, sharpened and polished; then the Holy Spirit of promise will accompany it, and direct it with mighty power to the hearts of men. Every honest soul will be delivered from Satan’s chains, and gathered into the loyal army of the Lord. Then Jesus our King will come. Our warfare will be ended, and the victory forever won.

THIRZA M. FOSTER.

Vienna, Wis.

Strangers and Pilgrims.

By Adolphus Smith

‘Though God, in a providential manner, “rules in the kingdoms of men,” yet it is certain that “the kingdoms of this world are not yet become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ,” but are evidently in possession of the “Prince of the power of the air;” God only so far overruling the political plans and schemes of men, as shall best promote the interests of the elect; who are represented as strangers and pilgrims in the earth, having here no abiding city, but seeking one to come; even the heavenly, and the new-made earth.

Paul speaks of ancient believers on this wise: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Heb. xi, 36-38.

We know not how soon those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, may have a like experience. Therefore, brethren, let us prepare, by weaning our affections from this earth; by being strangers in deed and in truth. We are in the midst of a world whose language we can understand, because we once spake it; but they cannot understand us; for we have learned to speak the language of Canaan. They toil, and plan, and strive, to gain that with which to pamper their depraved appetites, and gorgeously decorate their bodies. We, to glorify God, and obtain a heavenly crown; for which we are marked by the world as singular, odd, fanatical, and are therefore hated, despised and persecuted.

When a man becomes by adoption, a citizen of an earthly government, he thereby ceases to be a citizen of any other. Likewise we, when adopted into the family of God, cease to be citizens of any earthly government, except in a very subordinate sense. See Matt. xvii, 24-27; xxii, 21; Eph. ii, 19; Rom. viii, 17; Heb. xii, 28. As a part of our duty to God, we owe a cheerful obedience to any government under which we may live. We are not to speak evil of dignities; and no distinction is made between the good and bad. We are to be in subjection “not only for wrath, but for conscience’ sake.” We must be no brawlers. Our voices should not be heard in the street, hurrahing for any political aspirant, or incumbent. “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” We may lawfully cast our votes for the right; but let us be forever free from all political parties; never taking part in any political discussion so far as to betray the confidence of our opponents in our character as Christian men and gentlemen.

Let us “set our affections on thing above and not on things on the earth.”

“Our treasure and our heart are there, And our abiding home.”

ADOLPHUS SMITH.

Wyoming, Mich.

Come Unto Me.

By C. A. ELLIS.

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. xi, 28, 29, 30.

How comforting are these words of our Saviour. He bade all come to him and find rest. He made no distinction between Jew or Gentile; but the invitation “Come,” is extended to all. Come cast your burden on the Lord, and he will give you rest. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to him and be saved.

All ye that labor and are heavy laden, come to the Saviour and find rest. Whatever your burden is, however heavy it may be, he is willing to help you bear it if you will cast it upon him. Come to him in a right and acceptable manner, and you will find peace to your souls. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart. Our Saviour requires his followers to be like him in these respects, in order to receive the reward. Except ye repent and become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Come one, come all. The invitation is extended to all. Christ is ready and willing to receive you. He is waiting for you to come. Confess your sins, and he is willing and able to forgive. For he that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

“The Spirit and the bride say come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Come without money and without price.” He requires neither. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near.”

C. A. ELLIS.

Tuscola, Mich.

The Immortal Soul.

By Luther Lee

A DESCRIPTION OF THE IMMORTAL SOUL, BY LUTHER LEE.

“It is a simple, spiritual essence; immortal, immaterial, intangible, indissoluble; having no exterior or interior surface; cannot be extended; it is analogous to God; cannot come with matter, and does not occupy space; and we might add, does not weigh anything.”

ADMISSIONS, OR CONFESSIONS OF DISTINGUISHED MEN CONCERNING THE DOCTRINE OF THE SOUL.

Bishop Watson, the eminent Methodist writer, says: “I have read volumes on the nature of the soul; but I have no scruple in saying, I know nothing about it.” (Watson’s Memoirs, p. 23.)

He also says: “Some suppose that consciousness is an essential attribute of spirit, and the soul is naturally immortal; the former of which cannot be proved, while the latter is contradicted by the Bible which makes our immortality a gift dependent on the will of the giver. (Institutes, v. 1, p. 82–3.)”

In his Institutes, v. 1, p. 22, he calls the doctrine of the immortality of the soul “a presumption.”

Dr. Dwight assumes that the soul is immortal, but was compelled to say, “Whatever has been created can certainly be annihilated. The continuance of the soul must therefore, depend absolutely on the will of God.” (Works, v. 1, p. 163.)

Mr. George Combe, an eminent phrenologist, says: “No idea can be more erroneous than to suppose that man is an immortal being on account of the substance of which he is composed.” (System of Phrenology, p. 595–7.)

Cicero, having reckoned up the opinions of philosophers as to the soul’s immortality, concludes thus,—“Which of these opinions is true?—Some God must tell us. Which is most like truth? is a great question.” (Institutes, v. 1, p. 46.)

The American Phrenological Journal says on the question of the soul: “Metaphysicians have quite generally acknowledged themselves much in the dark, and their speculations have fallen far short of satisfying the requirements of the general reason of mankind.”

A DUEL ON A LARGE SCALE.

A letter from Baden contains the following, which illustrates the state of feeling in the lesser German States:

“Last week 40 students arrived near the Castle of Durbach, near Offenburg, from Friburg, accompanied by a surgeon. They were armed with rapiers, and retired into the interior of a forest, where they selected a suitable spot for fighting duels on a large scale, 20 to 20. They fought for a long time, inflicting wounds on each other in the face and arms. One is said to have had his life endangered. What was the origin of this battle? Politics. 20 were for Austria and 20 for Prussia.”

Future Judgment

FUTURE JUDGMENT.— If God has given such demonstrations of the judgment to come as may assure all the world of the certainty of it, and an atheist, epicure, a fool, will not believe it; if he will not believe what a Felix believed and trembled at; if he will not believe what devils believe and tremble at; God will never come crouching to him and beg of him that he will believe it; but let him disbelieve it at his own peril, and take what comes.—Lightfoot.

Leprosy in Various Countries

LEPROSY is said to be developing itself in various parts of the world, with all its ancient repulsive characteristics. It prevails at the present time in the West Indies and in Norway, two widely separated countries, according to recent published statistics, there being no less than two thousand lepers in the latter country.

LOUIS NAPOLEON.

A private letter from a distinguished son of Massachusetts, now in London, alludes to Napoleon's fading influence and late mistakes in European affairs, and says he has not been the same man since he lost his chief counsellor Morny, and his Private Secretary, Mocquard, the latter a man of undoubted ability, who made himself very serviceable to his imperial master.

Religious Matters in England.

An English clergyman gives the following interesting statistics: “There are five millions of our fellow-country people who are living in open neglect of the means of grace. If all the people in what is called Christian England who neglect the means of grace were to be formed into a line standing shoulder to shoulder, they would stretch over 1,450 miles, or it would make nearly four rows reaching from London to Edinburg; and it would take eighteen weeks for them to pass a given spot, at sixty a minute, six days of a week, of twelve hours each. Thus millions in this country are to all practical purposes heathens. In Manchester there are 150,000 who habitually absent themselves from any place of worship. In Birmingham there are 100,000 persons who never darken the doors of God’s house.” Look also at Liverpool.

There we find a public house to every 260 of the inhabitants; and the apprehensions for crime are as one to every fifteen of the population. In Manchester there is a public house for every 150 of the population, old and young, while there is but one sanctuary (including all sects, large and small, old and new) for every 2,500 of the people. No fewer than fifty-four public houses have sacred music on the Sabbath, and thus souls are lured to perdition to the strains of the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “The Heavens are Telling.” In that town 150,000 of the inhabitants never enter God’s house, and Sabbath after Sabbath are living in the desecration of the Lord’s day. Thus in “Christian England” we have a vast amount of heathenism, and, what is worse, practical atheism.

National Debts

NATIONAL DEBTS.—France owes $2,000,000,000; Spain owes $275,000,000; Italy owes somewhat more, and is fast increasing her liability; Austria owes $1,580,000,000; and smaller powers, in some cases, in proportion, in others out of all proportion. Nearly all these debts have been contracted within twenty years, and Holland is the only power in Europe, though one of the smallest and weakest, which has done anything within that period to diminish hers.

Hoops—A Suggestion.

As a body, Seventh-day Adventists have taken their stand against hoops. It is so understood by the world, whose argus eyes are ever upon us. And whenever any of our sisters appear with this article of fashion upon them, for it is not easily concealed, observers know that they are taking a course which, if not contrary to their own principles, is at least contrary to the principles of the people with whom they are connected.

Hoops are objectionable, to say nothing of the great size at which they were formerly worn, because of the mortifying and immodest exposures to which they render the wearer liable. It is on this ground that they are condemned by the Testimonies. On the same grounds the Resolution on Dress, lately passed by the Battle Creek church, and adopted by many other churches, condemned them.

But some may say, Small hoops are not liable to the charge of immodest exposure. In this they mistake. It is impossible to wear hoops—skeletons—as at present constructed, containing the number of springs that they do, and attached together in the manner that they are, however much we may reduce the circumference, without being liable, on all occasions, to such exposures as genuine modesty must ever seek to shun. It has been tried. Some of the members of the church of Battle Creek have tried and are trying it; and if they are not conscious of the fact, involuntary observers feel thoroughly so. We say therefore that the wearing of skeletons, we care not how small, is contrary to the Testimonies, and a square violation of the Resolution upon that point of dress, passed by the church here, and recommended by the General Conference, at its last session, to all our people. We know that in every place more or less of them are worn; but it has been a difficult subject to approach, till a remedy could be proposed.

The question comes up, What can be done? Cords as formerly manufactured have gone out of use, and cannot now be obtained. Besides if they could be, corded skirts are more or less objectionable on account of their weight. And rawhide cords are too much like fair-weather friends, differing not much in their effect from the most approved steel on all pleasant days, but entirely collapsing on all moist ones. Then what shall be worn? Shall our sisters go around, as has been expressed with more force than dignity, looking like blankets on bean-poles or hens in a shower? Many who would not for anything do wrong are greatly perplexed over this question. And we do not wonder at it. We recognize the difficulty; we would give it due consideration; and, if possible, we would do something toward removing it.

We therefore suggest, on the authority of some of the sisters in this place, that a few steel springs inserted in a skirt, in the same manner that cords are inserted, will be found to possess all the advantages of hoops, with none of their objections.

A hundred voices may perhaps exclaim, What is the difference between this and hoops? We will tell you what the difference is, as we view it.

1. The material, in itself considered, is not to be taken into the account. The objection to steel hoops is not because they are steel, but because of their effect. And if any other material would have the same effect, it would be equally objectionable. Hence if steel can be used so as not to have the effect that now follows it as made up into hoops, there can be no objection to so using it.

2. If a person should go to work and put as many springs into a skirt as there are in a skeleton, we admit there would not be so much difference between the two. But on this point we would be very explicit: Four springs at most, are sufficient for one skirt, inserted of course at suitable distances apart. A skirt constructed in this manner, when it meets an obstacle in front, will not kick up behind; and in passing through a narrow place, it will not attempt to get ahead of the wearer by efforts to go over her head. There is not enough stiffness and elasticity about it, to make it go through all those evolutions, which are performed, regardless of female modesty, by all hoops. And yet there is enough elasticity about it, to properly support the dress. These facts being true in regard to a skirt so constructed, it differs in toto from hoops, and would seem to be free from all objections, neither contrary to the Testimonies nor a violation of the resolution on dress before referred to.

Do you ask how you shall obtain the springs? Buy a skeleton, and rip it to pieces as soon as possible. Then use the springs, reducing them to a moderate circumference, putting, as before suggested, not over four in a skirt. Thus worn, they are no more liable to break than in their original form; and the skeleton will in this way go a great deal further, and in the aggregate last a great deal longer, than it otherwise would.

We trust that this suggestion will be tried, before hoops are longer worn; and we believe it will be found an effectual remedy for the embarrassments and difficulties that have heretofore attended this question.

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