—The Congregational Church of Santa Monica, Cal., has incorporated as "The Prohibition Congregational Church."
—The last report of the numerical strength of the Presbyterian Church of California was 228 churches, 267 ministers, and 20,138 communicants. The amount of money raised for home and foreign missions was about $33,000.
—Miss Lucy, daughter of General Booth, of the Salvation Army, was married, in London, to Colonel Hellberg, of the army. The ceremony was witnessed by thousands of people. The couple will go to India to engage in missionary work.
—Rev. J. T. Andrews, a Presbyterian minister, has been expelled by the Ohio Synod for preaching that "Saturday is the true Sabbath." In other words, he was expelled for preaching the plain word of God, that is, for preaching the gospel.
—The Christian Endeavor Union of this county has gone into politics in earnest. A committee is passing judgment upon the various party tickets, and selecting such names as are to be presented for church members to support. Of course candidates are to be selected on a Sunday-closing qualification, that being the issue put forth by the Union, prompted by the leading Protestant ministers.
—From time to time individuals who have in various ways wrongfully obtained money from the government have repented and made restitution. In the Treasury Department the money thus returned is called the Conscience Fund. Some religious denominations that formerly sought and received government aid for their denominational schools are now proclaiming that such use of public money is unconstitutional. They have come to this conclusion because the Catholics were beating all other denominations combined at the unconstitutional game. But those who have ceased making the unlawful demand have as yet said nothing about restitution. If the money was wrongfully obtained, as it confessedly was, ought it not to be returned?
—To some queries in regard to the Sabbath question, emanating from interested parties in Jersey City, N. J., the secretary of Cardinal Gibbons replied as follows, under date of the 5th inst.: "In reply to yours of October 3 the cardinal requests me to say that it was by the sanction and authority of the Catholic Church that the first day of the week rather than the seventh is kept holy. Her ruling in the matter was incorporated with civic custom by Constantine the Great, and ever since the Christian world has been following her custom. Certainly the Scriptures give no command to celebrate the Sunday instead of the Saturday. The reasons were that they rested to commemorate our Lord's resurrection and the coming down of the Holy Ghost, which occurred on the first day of the week. The authority is contained in this text: 'What you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,' and in the power which Christ gave the apostles and their successors to rule the church of God."
—Papal Delegate Satolli had a rather warm interview with a delegation of members of St. Joseph's Church, Paterson, N. J., on the 20th inst. He had just arrived from Quebec and stopped at the house of Father Smith, pastor of St. Joseph's, against whom a strong party in the church had a grievance. The delegation called early in the morning and requested an interview, which was refused at that time. But they refused to go away until they had seen the apostolic delegate. The interview is reported to have been quite exciting, the spokesman declaring that it was shameful to send a man from Italy to settle American affairs who cannot speak the English language. Satoli said the church had insulted him at Washington by bringing an apostate to him, to which the spokesman replied: "You will make more apostates. You came here as the guest of a man who is under charges that the bishop of the diocese has admitted to be serious. Your conduct is unworthy of the highest representative of the Catholic Church in this country; your conduct is an insult to American Catholics."
SECULAR.
—The coal expense of the U. S. Navy for the last fiscal year was $640,355.
—France is sending 15,000 troops to Madagascar, six steamships being required as transports.
—The first snow of the season was experienced in several districts of Germany on the 17th inst.
—Reports from New York show that the tide of travel across the Atlantic is still toward the east.
—A late Calcutta dispatch brings news of the death of the ameer of Afghanistan. To the last he is said to have exhorted his eldest son to maintain friendly relations with the British Government.
—At a recent bullfight at Puebla, Mexico, one of the animals broke the inclosure and severely injured eight persons.
—Advices from San Domingo state that a cyclone recently wrecked 700 houses there, and greatly damaged the coffee crop in Haiti.
—Nine police officers recently dismissed in New York have been charged with extortion, and held for trial in bonds of $5,000 to $7,500.
—California raisins are said to be crowding out the Valencia product in the New York market, owing to better quality and lower prices.
—A political conspiracy is reported in Caracas, Venezuela, and leading army officers are said to be implicated. Several arrests have resulted.
—At Orangeburg, S. C., on the 21st inst., five negroes were lynched on suspicion that they were the murderers of County Treasurer Robert Copes.
—Earle E. Frauenthal, of St. Louis, attempted to remove a broken electric wire that was dangling near some children at play, and was instantly killed.
—A large naphtha spring at Grosny, Russia, took fire one day last week, the flames spreading to the adjacent buildings, and seventeen men were burned to death.
—At St. Petersburg, on the 16th inst., thirty students in the Technological Institute were arrested by the police and charged with being Nihilist conspirators.
—A fire in the railroad buildings at Riviere de Loup, on the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, destroyed railroad property to the value of $200,000, on the 20th inst.
—It is said that after the 1st of November the Southern Pacific Company will dispense with its detective force, and give all such business to private detective agencies.
—The wife of one of Chicago's millionaires has been indicted by the grand jury for attempting to bribe a juryman in a case wherein her husband was an interested party.
—A Buda-Pest, Hungary, dispatch of the 20th inst. reports an explosion of fire damp in a colliery, resulting in the death of fifteen miners and the wounding of twenty or more others.
—The municipal council of Berlin has, by a close vote, rejected a proposal of the Socialists to establish an eight-hour day as the legal standard for all workingmen employed by the city.
—An American schooner is loading lumber at Westminster, B. C., for San Francisco, and is to bring down the first cargo under the new tariff law. Lumbermen attach much interest to the result.
—The report has been confirmed that a Chinese steamer laden with rice and 200 soldiers, bound for Formosa, was accidentally sunk September 3, and all excepting a few members of the crew were drowned.
—Queen Regent Christina, of Spain, has instructed the government to prosecute the proprietors and managers of several Catholic papers which asserted that she had caused the young king to be enrolled as a Freemason.
—The election returns in Belgium indicate extensive victories for the church party, especially in the capital, where it is said that eighteen Catholics have won seats in the Chamber of Representatives formerly occupied by Liberals.
—It is said that the introduction of hypnotism in dentistry by the Dental School of the Minnesota State University, is causing quite a stir of opposition among the dental fraternity of the older school, although some flattering results are reported.
—At Colusa, Cal., twenty-two patients are suffering from the effects of strychnine poison, traces of which were found in the coffeepot by the physician. It is supposed that the work was done by a Chinese, who, on account of trouble with the steward, had been discharged.
—It is said that a strong party of the army, the clergy, and the students is being formed in Russia for the purpose of putting Grand Duke George on the throne instead of his brother, the czarowitz, in the event of the death of the czar. On the other hand, it is said that George is dying.
—Señor Castelar, the noted Spanish statesman, recently had an interview with the pope, and immediately afterward was called upon by Premier Crispi, of Italy. Castelar expressed great confidence in the ability of the pope to do much to promote international peace.
—M. Pingault, a popular Paris broker, has been arrested for attempting to steal away with $750,000 belonging to Baron Hirsch, the noted Hebrew philanthropist. The money was the proceeds of a large sugar deal, and the broker was caught as he was about to leave the city. He made full confession.
—Two giant powder explosions occurred on the drainage canal being constructed near Joliet, Ill., one on the evening of the 20th inst. and one on the morning of the 21st. The result of the first was two men killed and one injured; the second caused the death of three men, and three others were injured.
—A leading St. Petersburg paper says that in the event of the military intervention of Great Britain in Afghanistan, Russia will be compelled to take similar action, and joint action upon the part of Great Britain and Russia will necessarily lead to the partition of Afghanistan between these two powers.
—It is announced that the princess of Wales and her daughters have set fashionable society and their middle-class imitators all agog by adopting the tricycle as a means of exercise. It is expected that this will greatly revive the tricycle fad, which had become almost obsolete through the popularity of the bicycle.
—A desperate attack was made on a passenger train near Wagoner, I. T., on the night of the 20th inst., by a party of outlaws. They secured but little, it is thought, but five men are reported to have been shot. Nearly all the car windows were broken. The train was stopped at a siding by pushing an empty car on the main track.
—Some very wealthy and influential Chinese have been arrested at Chicago and charged with arson. After the arrests it was discovered that notices were posted in China town offering $500 to any Chinese who would kill either of the two officers who had caused the arrests. Witnesses against the accused Chinese are also threatened with revenge.
—One of the outlaws connected with the recent train robbery at Quantico, Va., was captured at Cumberland, Md., on the 17th inst. He had on his person over $1,000 in cash, mostly greenbacks, bearing certain marks identifying them as having been sent by the Adams Express Company. He also carried revolvers, several watches, and other valuables.
—It is claimed that the Portuguese settlement at Lourenzo Marques, Delagoa Bay, South Africa, is unable to hold out against the Kaffirs. Marines landed from a British gunboat are protecting British residents. A Johannesburg dispatch says forces are being raised for relief of the settlement of Lourenzo, while settlers on Delagoa Bay are said to be fleeing to Natal on ships.
—Rev. Wolff and wife, who have been active missionaries in Alaska, and especially hostile to the sale of whisky, recently took up a residence in Alameda, Cal. They had been there but a short time when one night they were assaulted in their bedchamber and almost killed. At first the deed was attributed to burglars, but now it is surmised by the detectives that it is the work of emissaries of the Alaska whisky ring.
—A colored man was recently convicted of an assault upon a white woman in Fayette County, Ohio. He was sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary, but a strong mob concluded that they could dispense a better quality of justice. So they attempted to take him out of the jail at Washington and lynch him. In defending the prisoner against the mob, the militia fired upon the crowd, killing three men and wounding eight.
—The Armenian residents of New York are said to be greatly excited over rumors that several of their countrymen, who recently returned to Armenia, have been put to death. It is also alleged that the persons so arrested were members of the Huchagists, a secret order whose object is to free Armenia from Turkish control by means similar to those employed by Socialists and Nihilists. Many of the New York Armenians belong to this order.
—The Protestant ministers of San Francisco, at a recent meeting, resolved that, while acknowledging the constitutional right of the Catholic Church to carry on its church work, it is necessary to have some organization to counteract, at the ballot box, her interference in political affairs. They also resolved to keep the issue before their congregations; but in the controversy they distinctly discourage anything like the unchristian boycott, or interference with the freedom of speech.
—The approaching death of the czar is causing unusual hurry in the matter of the marriage of the czarowitz and Princess Alix of England, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The marriage necessitates three distinct ceremonies—reconciliation to the Orthodox Greek Church, betrothal, and the marriage. It is said that renunciation of former faith will be made specially easy in the case of Princess Alix. She will be spared the humiliation of pronouncing a curse upon the religion which she renounces, as is commonly required of proselytes. Other portions of the ceremony that might be too disagreeable to sensitive royalty will also be omitted.
THE SECOND ADVENT.—Assorted Tract Package No. 3, contains 96 pages; price, 10 cents. Subjects considered—The Coming of the Lord, Is the End Near? Can We Know? The Signs of the Times, The Judgment, and The Second Advent of Our Lord. Address, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
THE PROHIBITION PARTY AND FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE. Showing how a political party, on a specially moral pretext, really advocates the religious enslavement of the people. 4 pp.; $1.00 per hundred, Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.
The Sonday Innovation
By Editor
WE notice that in the Sunday Reform Leaflets, Rev. Edward Thomson, the editor, formerly of the Pacific Coast, now of Columbus, Ohio, has changed the spelling under which he first issued his sheet. He formerly spelled Sunday "Sonday." He has gone back to the usual spelling; however, in a footnote he says, "We also suggest Sonday as an appropriate innovation, indicating the day of the Son of God." This is very similar to the other innovations which apostasy has brought in. All of them were considered appropriate when introduced, and all of them were as inappropriate and foreign to the purpose as is this by Dr. Thomson. Sunday is no more the day of the Son of God than is Friday or Monday. Its proper name is Sun-day, the day dedicated to the sun, and those who honor the day in the light of the truth of the Bible concerning it, do honor, not to the Son of God, but that power which has exalted itself above all that is called God or that is worshiped. The whole Sunday system, from the first observance of the day as a religious institution to the present Sunday laws, is all an innovation. The last appropriate innovation will be putting to death those who dare to disregard the pseudo-Sabbath and who observe the Sabbath of the Lord. See Rev. 13: 13-17.
Question Corner.
By Editor
"If ye will inquire, inquire ye." "But avoid foolish questions."
[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.]
153. ON WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK DID CHRIST RISE FROM THE DEAD?
Is there any proof in Scripture that Christ rose on the first day of the week, according to the present way of reckoning time, from midnight to midnight? My opinion is that the grave could not hold him any longer than to have the Scripture fulfilled that he should rise again the third day according to the Scripture.
Our common version, Mark 16: 9, reads, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene." While this does not positively state that he rose early on the first day, yet that is the obvious sense of the passage, but other translations make it positive. The Diaglott reads, "And having risen early the first day of the week." Rotherham's emphatic translation reads, "And arising early on the first day of the week, he was manifested first to Mary of Magdalene." Murdock's Syriac translation reads, "And in the morning of the first day of the week he arose." This is very positive, and there are no other translations which are opposed to it, so far as we are aware. This was on the third day from the time when he was delivered into the hands of the powers of darkness. Now while it is clear that Jesus arose on the first day of the week, that has nothing whatever to do with the first day of the week as a holy day or as a Sabbath. He was doubtless betrayed Thursday, and he ascended on the same day, but that does not make Thursday a holy day. He was crucified on Friday, and redeemed us by his death, but that does not make Friday a holy day. In fact, there is nothing in the keeping of the day which would make it at all applicable to an event which occurred in the first part of that day, before even it was light. With the Sabbath it was far different. God rested the entire day and blessed and hallowed it, and the Scripture plainly declares it. But Jesus was not an entire day in rising from the dead, nor did he bless or set apart the day in any way. In fact, it is only by perversion of the Scripture record that Sunday can find the least warrant of support therein, and a perversion is not support.
154. HIVING BEES ON THE SABBATH.
Is it right to hive bees on the Sabbath, providing we have the hive all ready on Friday, and only need to set it in the right place on the Sabbath?
God's command is to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." An inspired commentary upon this command, in Isa. 58: 13, reads, "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord." It would seem that hiving bees would be doing one's own work, following one's own ways. Would it not be much better to do everything that could be done to meet all eventualities of that kind on "the six working days" of the week, and then leave the rest with the Lord. He certainly can prevent bees from swarming if he will, and his blessing with a swarm less would be worth much more than the added swarm without his blessing. Of course Satan will suggest to us the question of loss. That was the question which Amaziah asked at one time. He had hired the rebellious children of Israel to go with him to war against the Edomites. The prophet of the Lord told him that the army of Israel should not go with him, and if he went, although his army was greater, he should certainly fall before the enemy. Amaziah immediately asked, "What shall we do for the one hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" And God's answer was, "The Lord is able to give thee much more than this" (2 Chron. 25: 9); and that is God's answer to every similar suggestion which Satan may present to us. Worldly profit may say that it is all right to do some work that is not necessary on the Sabbath day, in order to prevent loss, but where the loss comes in the regular course of nature, as in the case of bees swarming, to us it would seem to be better to let them go, trusting the Lord to be able to make up all the loss of that kind. This would not be a parallel case to having a horse or a cow fall into a pit. Mercy would demand the measures for their relief, as it also demands the feeding and care of such animals. It is always well in such cases as that to ask the question, Is it for God's glory?
SOME INTERESTING PUBLICATIONS.
By Editor
"His Glorious Appearing." This is a neatly bound illustrated book of nearly 100 pages, on the glorious theme of our Lord's coming, published by the Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich. It is the exposition of Matthew 24, revised and illustrated with nearly 20 full-page cuts. It is especially designed to circulate among those who know not the blessed hope of our Lord's coming. It is a good book to loan. Bound in boards, 25 cents; in cloth, 40 cents. It can be obtained of Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.; Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., or any of our offices or tract societies.
Our Little Friend, volume 4, neatly bound in illustrated colored cloth. We do not know where one dollar could be put to better purpose in the literary line for children than in the purchase of a volume like this. It contains a wondrous variety of subjects, which are always of interest to children, with many fine illustrations. The reading is pure, elevating, instructive, and interesting. It will prove a friend indeed in any family where there are little ones. There are 416 pages. Price post free, $1.00. Address, Our Little Friend, Oakland, Cal.
"Au Peuple Suisse Appel en Faveur de la Liberté de Conscience," which, being Englished, means, "To the People of Switzerland; an Appeal in Behalf of Liberty of Conscience." This was written by Pastor H. P. Holser, the manager of Imprimerie Polyglotte, Bâle. This document of 16 pages is just what its name indicates, and its cogent arguments and reasonable appeal should have an effect upon every liberty-loving soul in the Swiss republic. God grant that it may.
The Sanctuary of the Bible
By Editor
We begin in this issue a series of most important articles on a subject around which every truth of God clusters, namely, the Sanctuary of the Bible. While these articles will bear independent titles, they are necessarily connected. We hope our readers will study them carefully.
A Life of Christ for Young People
By Editor
MR. GEO. T. ANGELL, the editor of Our Dumb Animals, shows uncommonly good sense in the reply to one of his correspondents. On receiving a request to write a life of Christ for young people, he answered by saying that he did not believe he could write a better life of Christ for either young or old people than has already been written in the New Testament. We wish that many others were of the same opinion.
“The Lord's Day.”
By Editor
Last week we printed in our editorial department an article on the Lord's day from the Biblical standpoint. This week we print another, on the same subject, which the exigency of “make-up” has thrown into our department of General Articles. In it the subject is discussed from the standpoint of the “Fathers,” about which volumes might be written and nothing learned save that the “Fathers” are most unreliable, and everything and nothing may be proved from them. It is interesting to note that the first writer (Tertullian), who with certainty applies the term “Lord's day” to the first day of the week, classes it with certain postures in prayer, offerings for the dead, and the sign of the cross. But as Brother Glenn has said in his article, although all the “Fathers” adhered to Sunday, it would not add “a feather's weight to the silence of the New Testament concerning the first day, nor take from the abundant Bible evidence for the Sabbath.” “Let God be true,” though it make the “Fathers” all liars.