The Fourth commandment has been variously expounded by its professed friends. Among these expositions none has been more injurious than that which represents it as requiring the observance, not of the Sabbath, and the seventh day, but of a Sabbath and a seventh day—not of a certain and well known time, but of an uncertain and varying time. Yet this is the exposition of which it is given both by commentators and writers on the subject of the Sabbath. It will be found, however, that this view is generally presented in order to prepare the way to introduce the first day of the week, under the specious name of Lord's Day, into the place of the Sabbath. Thus some are made to think, that the name Sabbath may as well be applied to the first day of the week as to the seventh. But to such an exposition there are several serious objections:—
1. It is a perversion of the original text itself. In every place where the weekly Sabbath and the Seventh day are spoken of, the Hebrew article is uniformly used. This article is often used like our demonstrative this—but more commonly like our definite article the, never as our indefinite article a or an; and Gesenius, in answer to the question whether it may be used indefinitely, says: "The definite article cannot be rightly said to stand indefinitely." To this opinion agree all our translators, both ancient and modern, who have rendered the terms, both in the fourth commandment and all other places of Scripture, by the Sabbath and the seventh day.
2. It makes the fourth commandment to be indefinite and absurd. If that commandment only requires the observance of a Sabbath or rest, and that on a seventh day, then one might keep the seventh day, another the third day, and another the fifth day, yet all obey the commandment. What confusion would thus result from carrying out this exposition to its legitimate results! But God's commandment is not yea and nay after this manner. It says, "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." That man will not be held guiltless who misinterprets and misrepresents it, for however pious a purpose he may do so.
3. It is contrary to the teachings of the very men who give this exposition; for they affirm that the fourth commandment required the keeping of the seventh day until Christ came. Now if the Jews, before Christ were bound to keep a certain and definite day, and that the seventh day, then the commandment required a certain and definite day, and that the seventh day.
From these considerations it is evident that those who represent the fourth commandment as requiring the observance of only a Sabbath and that upon one day of the seven indefinitely, are guilty of a false exposition of the commandment, and of handling the word of God deceitfully. They make a plain passage of Scripture to signify one thing for some thousands of years, and then ever afterwards to signify another thing. Thus do they make void the commandment of God, that they may keep their own traditions.
Now let us us look to a consideration of some of the consequences of this kind of exposition. Among these we will mention only three.
1. It overturns all certainty in explaining the Scriptures. If a man in translating from a Latin or Greek author, should pervert his author's meaning in this manner, by using words in a different sense from that in which they are intended, he would be cast out and despised. But yet when a preacher represents the term the Sabbath as meaning simply a rest, that so he may call the first day of the week a rest and therefore the Sabbath, he deals worse with the Scriptures than the translator just mentioned does with his profane author. Instead, however, of being cast out and despised, his speculations are allowed to go for truth. Thus unbelievers are encouraged in their infidelity; and occasion is given for them to say that the Bible is interpreted by its friends to mean just what they please to have it. It is dangerous for men to use their wits thus to blind the eyes of their fellows.
2. It abolishes the Lord's Sabbath and makes the fourth commandment to be a mere cipher. First, it abolishes the Lord's Sabbath, because it teaches that the observance of the seventh day, on which God rested, and which he introduced into the commandment as one with the Sabbath, is not at all binding, but the day may be spent in any kind of labor. Is not this to abolish the Lord's Sabbath? Second, it makes the fourth commandment a cipher because it takes away the time, which is the seventh day, and the event commemorated, which is God's resting from his creative work. Now read the commandment as these expounders would have it, bereft of the time and the event commemorated. It then commands only a rest, without any precept or example as to its length or frequency. One person, therefore, may rest one hour in each day; another one day in a month; and a third one month in a year; and each may call this keeping the Sabbath. Does not this make the fourth commandment a mere cipher?
3. It abuses God's Word and misleads his people. It abuses his word by representing that the Word teaches what it does not teach, and that it fails to teach what it attempts to teach. It misleads his people, on one side, by pressing the fourth commandment to sustain the first day of the week, which it says nothing about, thus laying a yoke upon the people, requiring them to observe a day, in regard to which they will finally be asked, Who hath required this at your hands? On the other side it misleads the people, by encouraging them to neglect a day which God has sanctified and commanded them to keep holy.
Such are some of the consequences of this false exposition of the fourth commandment. They effect both the sabbatic institution itself, and those whose duty it is to remember it. It is true that the persons who countenance such expositions are called very zealous and godly men; but this, instead of bettering the case, makes it worse. If they were enemies to the commandment, such things might be expected, and would be comparatively unimportant; but that the wound should be inflicted by its friends, aggravates the evil. There is occasion to tremble for some religious teachers, who profess great interest in the Sabbath, but who yet refuse to hear the truth in regard to it. Some such there are, who, if the truth be presented to them, instead of inquiring if these things are so, imitate the Jews of old, who, when they were cut to the heart, gnashed on their reprover with their teeth; and when they could endure it no longer, "stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord." Such would do well to inquire if they are not in this thing offering error for truth, and their own traditions for the commandments of God.—Sabbath Tract, No. 9.
What They Say.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THAT the popular churches are fast losing their hold upon the people, is confessed by leading ministers and editors everywhere. The Watchman and Reflector, a Baptist paper, says :
"But account for the fact as we may, the fact remains that our New England people—men and women, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh—are separating themselves more and more from the Christian Church and its influences. And it is with this fact that we are concerned. How to meet it seems to us to be one of the gravest difficulties which confront the church of to-day."
The fact none can deny; but is there not a cause? Are not the churches and ministers themselves to blame for this? Read this and then judge :
THE POOR SHUT OUT OF THE CHURCHES.
A writer in the Christian Union of June 10, 1874, says :
"The city in which I reside, in Western New York, has hitherto sustained an excellent reputation for good morals and good order; but within a few years many large manufacturing interests have concentrated here, the population has increased rapidly, and immorality and crime now seem to be on the increase.
"In the evening, and especially upon the Sabbath-day, weather permitting, a large concourse of citizens come forth upon the streets seeking pleasure and amusement. These people are ‘naturally as good as anybody,’ but they rarely attend church, and receive but little, if any, religious instruction from our ministers of the Gospel. We have several large and commodious public halls that can be rented, but they are rarely used for religious purposes on the Sabbath-day.
"We have many learned and eloquent preachers, but they never preach to the ‘rabble.’ We have many large and beautiful churches, but they are almost exclusively occupied by their builders and owners. I attended one of these churches last Sunday evening. It is of the modern style and structure. The walls are of stone, even to the cap of the lofty and graceful spire; the pulpit and pews are of black walnut; the floors are covered with a rich carpet, soft to the touch and delicate in pattern; the gallery is large enough for a quartette choir and a magnificent organ decked with blue and gold. Gas jets, unnumbered by me, threw a brilliant light over the splendid scene. The congregation was not large, yet occupied the whole church. Clothed in garments luxuriant and tasteful, they adjusted themselves to the enjoyment of the spacious and elegant comforts prepared by themselves. After the ponderous bell ceased tolling, the choir sang a selection, as I supposed, from one of the old masters.
"Looking over this assemblage of the educated and refined, their names upon the pews, and assured of their record in the Lamb’s Book of Life, I could not appreciate the great necessity of preaching to them. Yet the eloquent pastor devoted twenty minutes to calling sinners to repentance. The chapter he read from the Bible and the theme of his prayers and sermon seemed applicable to the spiritual wants and necessities of a class of people who were not present, but who were roaming the streets outside of the walls of that fashionable edifice.
"To the thoughtful observer there seems to be a serious misapprehension of duty and a great misapplication of money and talent in spreading the Gospel in cities. Concede that it is the privilege of the rich and the righteous to build fine churches with luxurious appointments, and to employ eloquent divines to preach to them; but do these ‘close corporations’ render the Gospel acceptable to the needy? Or do they furnish it to the poor without money and without price? It is not necessary to make any ungenerous criticisms, but all the ministers in this large city know that the large class of people who most require religious instruction do not, and will not, attend these elegant churches where they officiate, and that the reason of their absence is something in human nature that cannot be despised, and that cannot be ascribed to ‘total depravity.’ Our Saviour said that he came upon earth that the Gospel might be preached to the poor, and cannot ministers who claim to be commissioned by him, and who would follow his example, devise some way in which they can preach to the sinful and neglected masses?”
No wonder that such ministers and such churches do not hold the masses who are of the laboring and poorer classes. These are virtually shut out of these fine churches.
How unlike the preaching of Christ and his apostles is this modern preaching! They sought the multitude, especially the poor. But these shut themselves up in their gorgeous temples, with a few rich nabobs, and then talk as cold and as stiff as the old Pharisees. No wonder that men are breaking away from such a dead carcass, though it does call itself the Church of Christ.
What is needed to-day is, not polished preachers and wealthy churches; but live, earnest men with warm hearts, who will go where the people are, and adapt themselves to their circumstances. Such men with the blessing of God, will see fruit of their labor.
EVERY DAY RELIGION.
"We must come back to our point, which is not to urge all of you to give yourselves up to mission work, but to serve God more and more in connection with your daily calling. I have heard that a woman who has a mission makes a poor wife and a bad mother. This is very possible, and at the same time very lamentable; but the mission I would urge is not of this sort. Dirty rooms, slatternly gowns, and children with unwashed faces, are swift witnesses against the sincerity of those who keep others’ vineyards and neglect their own. I have no faith in that woman who talks of grace and glory abroad, and uses no soap and water at home. Let the buttons be on the shirts, let the children’s socks be mended, let the house be as neat as a new pin, and the home be happy as the home can be. Serve God by doing common actions in a heavenly spirit, and then, if your daily calling only leaves cracks and crevices of time, fill these up with holy services."
So says Mr. Spurgeon; and let all the people say, Amen. D. M. C.
What Ought to be Believed.
By C. O. Taylor
[I take the following from a Treatise on Resistance and Non-resistance, by Royal Gage. C. O. TAYLOR.]
“I RECOLLECT here the words of a Persian traveler writing from France to his friends at home : ‘Father,’ said I, to the librarian, ‘what are these huge volumes which fill the whole side of the library?’ ‘These,’ said he, ‘are the interpreters of the Scriptures.’ ‘There is a prodigious number of them,’ replied I; ‘the Scriptures must have been very dark formerly, and must be very clear at present. Do there remain still any doubts? Are there now any points contested?’ ‘Are there?’ answered he, with surprise; ‘are there?’ ‘There are almost as many as there are lines.’ ‘You astonish me,’ said I. ‘What, then, have all these authors been doing?’ ‘These authors,’ returned he, ‘never searched the Scriptures for what ought to be believed, but for what they did believe themselves.’”
Little Things in Religion.
LITTLE words, not eloquent speeches nor sermons; little deeds, not miracles nor battles, nor one great act of mighty martyrdom, make up the true Christian life. The little constant sunbeam, not the lightning; the waters of Siloam, "that go softly" on their meek mission of refreshment, not the waters of the "river great and mighty," rushing down in torrent noise and force, are the true symbols of a holy life.
The avoidance of little evils, little sins, little inconsistencies, little weaknesses, little follies, little indiscretions and imprudences, little foibles, little indulgences of self and of the flesh, little acts of indolence, indecision, slovenliness, or cowardice, little equivocations or aberrations from high integrity, little bits of worldliness and gayety, little indiferences to the feelings or wishes of others, little outbreaks of temper and crossness, or selfishness, or vanity; the avoidance of such little things as these go far to make up at least the negative beauty of a holy life.
And then attention to the little duties of the day and hour in public transactions, or private dealings, or family arrangements; to the little words and tones, little benevolences, or forbearances, or tendernesses, little self-denials, self-restraints, and self-thoughtfulnesses; little plans of quiet kindness, and thoughtful considerations for others; punctuality and method and true aim in the ordering of each day—these are active developments of a holy life, the rich and divine mosaics of which it is composed.
What makes yon green so beautiful? Not the outstanding peak, or stately elm, but the bright sward which clothes its slopes, composed of innumerable blades of grass. It is of small things that a great life is made up; and he who will acknowledge no life as great save that which is built up of great things, will find little in Bible characters to admire or copy.—Pulpit and Pew.
"Almost Up."
“ALMOST up—almost up!” was the cry of the wounded sergeant, as they laid him down on the battle-field, and watched tenderly his dying struggles.
“Where did they hit you, sergeant?”
“Almost up.”
“No! sergeant, but where did the ball strike you?”
“Almost up,” was the reply.
“But, sergeant, you do not understand—where are you wounded?”
Turning back the cloak which had been thrown over the wound, he showed the upper arm and shoulder, mashed and mangled with a shell. Looking at his wound he said:
“That is what did it. I was hugging the standard to my blouse and making for the top. I was almost up when that ugly shell knocked me over. If they had let me alone a little longer—two minutes longer—I should have planted the colors on the top—almost up, almost up!”
The fight and the flag held all his thoughts. And while his ear was growing heavy in death, with a flushed face and look of ineffable regret, he was repeating: “Almost up, almost up!”
“Almost up.” Christian, what is your ambition? Does the battle and the flag fill all your thoughts? Oh! when Jesus leads his army forward, and his promises are yours, and victory is sure, are you, can you be forgetful of the conflict, and too much occupied in making money and enjoying the pleasures of the world to take up your cross and follow Jesus in saving souls and redeeming a lost world?
“Almost up!” Let this be your cry in life, and your joyful shout in death; and then, from the battlements of Heaven you shall swell the anthem of victory as the last stronghold of Satan is captured, and earth echoes back the angels’ song: “Glory to God in the highest; on earth peace, good will to men.”
Thoughts on Christian Character
A man’s soul without Christ in it is like a lantern without a light in it; and the moment a man has an abiding sense of Christ in him the hope of glory, he is permeated, and the light springs through him.
Men often boast of progress, when they are only moving in a circle; and are sure they are in the right path, because in every circuit the footsteps multiply, when they are only following their own tracks.
A man, in order to enter the kingdom of God, ought not to pattern himself after a needle. A needle may go through fabric easier for being slim; but God wants men to be broad, and capacious.
THIS WEEK'S PAPER.
By Editor
WE are moving slowly and surely. For the present the Signs will not be published oftener than once in two weeks. This will give us more time to make up our list of subscribers before we are far advanced in the first volume. In fact, want of sufficient help has made it necessary to go very slow. In a few months we hope to obtain ten thousand subscribes, and by that time we shall have a competent force to issue the SIGNS weekly. This number has been delayed in consequence of the sale of the entire office where the types were set, and the purchase of new material throughout.
The first page contains the conclusion of our exposition of the kingdom question. The truth upon this subject evidently lies between the two extremes which are arrayed against each other. One has the kingdom set up about the time of the first advent of Christ. The other labors hard with many opposing difficulties, to harmonize all the texts that mention the kingdom with the idea that no kingdom whatever is established, and will not be until the second advent. Our view of the kingdom of grace, set up immediately after the fall, and the kingdom of glory, to be set up in close connection with the second advent, harmonizes all the texts that mention the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Heaven.
We shall be happy to give from issue to issue rich thought upon the subject of the eternal abode of the saved, from the pen of Eld. Loughborough. His article on page twenty-six is but the commencement.
"A Sign of the Day of God," on the same page is a natural and forcible application of the prophecy.
The positions we occupy respecting the perpetuity of the moral code are not new. We are sustained by the Protestant world, with very few exceptions, for past centuries. Let the article, "The Ten Commandments," on page twenty-seven, be carefully read. But especially should the extract from the learned and godly Wesley on "The Law of God," taken from his discourse upon Christ's sermon on the mount, be studied well. This good and great man has forcibly presented the views of those whom God especially used to bring the church out and up from the darkness of past ages to a living faith in God as the law-giver, and Christ as the Redeemer. The law-abolished heresy of our time is the grand resort to evade the force of the literal construction of the wording of the fourth commandment.
Those who hold that the law of the Father, and the gospel of the Son, are in opposition to each other, that the latter took the place of the former, may be very much helped by a careful examination of the article on page twenty-eight, which shows that "The Gospel Dispensation" is not less than six thousand year long, embracing all the ages of human probation. Before we leave the grand theme of redemption through Christ, we shall make it appear that the moral code of the great God, and the system of pardon and redemption through Jesus Christ, run parallel from the fall, to the completion of the work of redemption.
Our views of the unity of the church, as expressed under the caption "Leadership," are not new. In fact, these thoughts are but a revision of what we have written upon the subject of Christian unity, which has appeared in the Review occasionally for the past twenty-four years. We then took the position that God had provided ample means for the unity and perfection of his people, and that he would especially bring to bear these means to perfect the church in the last days, ready for translation to Heaven without seeing death. This glad faith and hope have been the main-spring of our efforts for a quarter of a century in the work of bringing out a people upon unpopular truth, to make ready for the coming of the Lord. And we here confess that there has not been an hour for the last twenty-four years, should our faith have been shaken in the idea that the true church would come to perfect unity, but we should have sunken beneath the discouragements that have beset our toiling, wearing course. Thank God that we live to see the day when the power of present truth and the holy Spirit are making his people one.
The subject of the "Temptation of Christ," as brought out by Mrs. W., is opening a new field of thought, calculated to draw out the tenderest feelings of all who really love our Lord Jesus Christ, and give them more exalted views
The Work of the Signs of the Times
By Editor
of the cost and value of redemption through Jesus Christ.
There are other articles and items of importance in this week's paper of which we cannot here speak particularly. Our work in instituting and conducting the SIGNS, has been arduous, but happy. The approval and support from friends abroad, and from those near, have been wonderful, for, which we have no words that fully express our gratitude. With the truth of God for this time overflowing from the heart and mind, a little strength to give it expression by means of the press, and a host of God-fearing men and women with their hands stretched out with their means to sustain, our duty is plain our task is a happy one, and in faith and hope we shall do what we can to let the light shine out to the world through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
North Pacific Mission.
ELDER VAN HORN reports favorably from Walla Walla. In a letter of June 25th to Elder Loughborough he says:—
“I rejoice with you in seeing the progress of the work on this coast. I am much interested in the establishment of the cause in Oakland. I hope and pray that a strong church of good and faithful men and women may be raised up there, that shall be able to guard the publishing interest that is now started there. I am much pleased with the appearance of our new paper, and shall pray and work for its support. I believe with all my heart that the Lord is leading Bro. White in his work on this coast.
“The way things have shaped here makes it necessary to keep the tent here in Walla Walla city for some time yet. Should we take it down and move to some other point, the harvest coming on soon would give us but a small attendance, and that would leave the friends here no place to meet. Then the ministers of the place are now preaching opposition sermons on the Sabbath and immortality questions, and were not the tent here we should have no place to call the people together to reply. Then I think we are doing more good here than we could in a new place just now, for some new ones start out almost every week.”
There is still due us of the $1,000 for this mission, the sum of $297 35, which we shall be glad to receive from the friends of the cause as they regard it their duty to donate.
The Camp Meetings.
By Editor
Five camp meetings have already been held, one in each of the States of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. At each of these general gatherings of our people the annual conferences of the several States were held. Both the religious services, and the business sessions of these annual meetings are reported to us as having been characterized by harmony, spirit, power of the present message, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Many have been converted to the truth and to Christ at these meetings, and the word and work of God has taken a deeper hold of our people generally. And while many of our young men are dedicating themselves to the work of the ministry, the spirit of sacrifice in order to sustain the rapidly growing work, is increasing with the people. These are indeed favorable omens. Mrs. W. has given very full accounts of the Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota camp meetings since our last issue, which if given in full would alone nearly fill this number. There has never been such meetings of wonderful interest among our people before.
The Signs During Our Absence
By Editor
It is suggested that the importance of the Eastern camp meetings, and many other matters important to the progress of the cause, may fully justify our absence from the Signs office, on a tour East, until after the California camp meeting, and that there should be a session of the General Conference in connection with the Michigan camp meeting before Eld. Andrews goes to Europe. The Signs will be continued, once in two weeks, during our absence.
Note to the Brethren.
By John Norton Loughborough
Our State fund is exhausted and we have run in debt several hundred dollars to carry on our tent meetings. We shall expect you all to respond promptly in paying your pledges to the S. B. fund, that our tents may not have to stop for lack of means. Promptness in everything is an excellent characteristic of the true man and the true Christian.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Thanks to the Oakland News
By Editor
THANKS to the Oakland News, and especially to Mr. Humbert the pressman, for the good appearance of this number in point of presswork.
California Camp Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
I HAVE already received several letters of inquiry relative to camp meeting this year, and regarding camping tents. I have waited before making any statements concerning the camp meeting until I had something definite to state. I do not need to argue concerning the benefits of a well conducted camp meeting, or to urge the necessity of camp meetings in this State. We have tried camp meetings two years, and know their benefits. We need a good rousing camp meeting this fall. Such a meeting should be held in a good central place, and should continue some twelve days. The meeting ought to be held at such a time as not to interfere with the summer's tent campaign, so that we can have both our large tents on the ground, and have all our preaching talent in the State at the meeting. This is what we ought to have.
Now I will speak of what we can have, if the Lord will. 1. I have engaged the camp ground we occupied last year; so we can have that. 2. We can hold a camp meeting from October 15th to 27th, and have both large tents; have moon-light nights for the meeting; have all our ministers present, as also the presence of Brother and sister White, as she expects to return before that time from the Eastern camp meetings. 3. We can have the same brother furnish hay who furnished it last year. 4. New tents of heavy drilling 10x12, 3 feet walls, 9 feet ridge, made by hand, instead of by machinery, can be furnished, on the ground, ready to occupy, for $18.00 each. 5. Sheet-iron camping stoves, round, 18 inches high, 16 inches in diameter, with either a six or seven inch griddle hole, with cover, with damper, and with one length of pipe, can be furnished on the ground for $2.00 each. 6. By commencing now to make our preparations, temporal and spiritual, to meet in the name of the Lord, we can have a camp meeting as much in advance of last year, as that meeting was in advance of previous ones. It is not simply the getting together that will make the meeting, but the manner in which we meet, and the promptness with which we each act our part. We promise you on our part, that, by the help of our brethren, the grounds shall be in ample order in good season. Anything like ivy or poison oak, that troubled some last year, shall all be cleared up and destroyed, at least two weeks before the meeting. We shall clear ample grounds in time, if we can know in season how many tents are coming. What we cleared last year is in quite good shape still.
Now what we want to know, is 1. How does the time proposed meet the minds of the brethren and sisters? 2. Is the place of the meeting satisfactory? 3. Who want tents? Who want camp-stoves? Let orders come it, as tents and stoves will be made only as ordered. Write me immediately, any and all of you, on the subject. Direct your letters to J. N. Loughborough, St. Helena, Napa co., California.
For the benefit of those who do not know the location of the camp grounds, I would say it is near Yountville station, on the Napa Valley road, nine miles from Napa, and nine miles from St. Helena.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Conference.
To Tract Society Librarians.
By John Norton Loughborough
I WOULD call the attention of the Librarians of our Tract Societies in California to the fact that Bro. J. W. Bond, Healdsburg, Cal., our State Missionary Secretary, has just received a box of books and tracts from our Publishing House in Michigan, and is prepared to replenish you stock of tracts and pamphlets. Send him immediately a list of the stock you have on hand, and the kind desired, and he will supply your libraries so far as his assortment will permit.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Missionary Society.
Bishops in Favor of Woman Suffrage
BISHOPS Simpson, Bowman, and Haven—the first-named the most eminent of the Methodist prelates—are earnest champions of woman suffrage. England, too, has a Bishop who is not ashamed to avow himself in favor of the same cause. We allude to the Bishop of Exeter, who lately wrote a letter to a woman suffrage meeting in which he said: "I am sorry to say that my engagements will prevent me from taking the chair at the meeting to be held on the 14th of April to promote the extension of the suffrage to women. I very heartily sympathise with your purpose and shall always be ready to the utmost of my power to promote it."
Newspapers in the United States
THERE are 7,784 newspapers in the United States. New ones were started last year at an average rate of four for each day.
Modern Pilgrimage.
AFTER a long and weary pilgrimage in first-class cabins and palace cars, the faithful band of American Catholics has reached Rome safely and found a hearty welcome from the Pope. Being the first from the New World, it has made something of a sensation in the Eternal City. The pilgrims, of course, paid their fillial respects to His Holiness, kissed his hand, presented the gifts they had brought from this country, and received his benediction. They will return, doubtless, with new enthusiasm for their religion and encourage the Holy Father, who has lost something of his influence in Italy, by attempting to increase it over here. Since he told them that false religions prevail on a large part of this continent, they can do no less than battle mightily against them hereafter. These false religions, we presume, are those various branches of that false reform which Luther thought it desirable to attempt. As for the pilgrimage itself, it was a decided improvement on the medieval style. The hundred who went on it rather ignored the crusader-pilgrim’s staff and gown and sandal, and wore what the latest fashins prescribed ; nor, according to accounts, was there much fasting on the way. It was altogether a modern affair, a comfortable trip, such as the devout pilgrim who marched with aching limbs through Europe to the banks of the Jordan in other days would have looked upon with pious horror.
Converted Priests Enter Wedlock
FATHER GRASSI, the converted priest, has advanced a step farther from Rome, by entering into the honorable state of wedlock. The wedding was attended by Father Gavazzi and six or seven other ex-priests. The ceremony was performed at the office of the Mayor of Rome, by Rev. Mr. Wall. The Abbe Chevard is also married, his bride being a young French lady of Marseilles. Father Hyacinthe officiated at the wedding, and delivered an eloquent discourse on the occasion.
Sunday Opening of Museums and Libraries
Dean Stanley, Canon Kingsley, and one hundred and forty-four other ministers of the Church of England had their names appended to a petition that was recently laid before the House of Commons, asking for the opening of museums, libraries, and art galleries on Sunday afternoons, and declaring that this "is in accordance with the meaning of the Christian Sunday."
Fatal Disease Among Angora Goats
A FATAL disease has recently broken out among the Angora goats in Asia Minor, which has already killed 500,000 of these valuable wool-bearing animals. The wool of the dead goats has been shorn, however, and is available for sale and use.
One Hundred-Dollar Men
One Hundred-Dollar Men.
SIXTEEN years since we found twenty-five One Hundred-Dollar men, ready to put their hands in their pockets and pull them out with the money, to purchase a steam press for the Review and Herald office at Battle Creek, Michigan. We can much easier find one hundred now, to establish the steam press on the Pacific coast, that twenty-five then. File in friends, file in.
John Morrison, $100 Mrs E G White, $100
John Judson, 100 T M Chapman, pd, 100
J N Loughborough, 100 George Drew, 100
James White, 100 Jochim Pulse, 100
N S Raymond, 100 R Stickney, pd $40, 100
E H Root, pd, 100 C Bartlett, 100
Brother L—e, 100 P W Baker, pd, 100
Benj. N Berry, pd, 100 L McCoy, pd, $50, 100
R M Pierce and wife 100 J S Hart, $50, 100
J Shiverly & wf, pd, $20, 100 R A Hart & wf, pd, $50, 100
W E Newcomb, 100 Mary Hare, 100
Noah Hodges, 100
Donations for the Signs.
$10 EACH.—W A Pratt, John Fullmer, William Harmon, J Q A Hanghey and wife, E H Crampton.
$5 EACH.—T T Wheeler, Nathaniel Gardiner, William Mallah, Christian Allen, O Lasson, W E Landon, Mrs. P Alvord, A D Jones and wife, M C Holliday, J C Downing, D T Ross, A Friend.
$2 EACH.—Mrs Anna Ross, Jesse Dorcas, Czar Nicola, H W Hackney, W Applegarth, Sarah A Reed, Jane Rowland, Martha Packer, A P Jones, J W Auten, John Hansen, James Youll, W E Cheseboro, W O Dungan, L McCoy, H G Washburn, G W Colcord, G Foreman, Loretta Hildreth, D T Bourdeau, J W Marsh, J N Berry, B N Berry, Wm E Newcomb, F H Chapman, J F Mitchel, J S Howard, Salina Rogers, J C Wood, B S Freeman, Julia Scott, Mrs Urial Severns, J I Tay, Joel L Locke, Miss A C Hndson, William Lawton, John Kemp, Joseph Clarke, Mary R Stem, George Martin, George Andrews.
$1 EACH.—G A Hobbs, Marion Webb, S Grover, S E Curtis, E Sedgwick, P M Bozer, Thomas Hare, J F Freeman, DT Shireman, John Baum, I H Freeman, James W Clark, Mrs M C Veeder, James Hosman, T J Dunham, P E Ferrin.
MISCELLANEOUS. — G C Martin $15, A Brown $8, J Pulse $7, E J Church $4, James Creamer $4, G W Davis 50 cts., A A Dodge $3, S H King $13, Mrs B Landon $15, Hannah Clough 50 cts., John Bean $2.50, J W Lucas and wife $3, John Cook $5.50, J M Wilkinson and wife $7, Charles Buck $15.
North Pacific Mission.
Jerusha B Wiscol $10, S J Twing $1, J S Twing 50 cts., A Green $1, M E Green $1, G H Murphy $1, Hattie S Stratton $1, C E Buck $1, M A Murphy $1.