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A Sunday Argument Illustrated.
The Lord always called that day of the week upon which he rested, the seventh day. And this was the Sabbath of the Lord—the day upon which he rested from his work of creation. But some are so determined to have their own way, and elevate the first day over the seventh, that they say that that day was properly the first day. Dropping out of the account that it was Jehovah's seventh day in creation week, they solemnly proclaim that, though Adam was created on the sixth day, he never saw the whole of that sixth day, and therefore the seventh was his first complete day; and therefore man's first day is the Sabbath, and therefore not that self-same day—the true seventh day—but another day, the original first day of the week, is the Sabbath. Probably logic never run riot so wildly in all the world before. The Scriptures never make mention of the first day that Adam saw; but the testimony of the Scriptures is of little worth in the estimation of Sunday people. Sunday must be upheld by some means; and the greatest absurdity is grasped with the greatest avidity if it only has the appearance of giving aid to the cause of the venerable day of the sun.
We lately struck an excellent parallel to this Adam's first-day argument. A bright little girl went to Sunday-school. Her catechism had been neglected at home, and the teacher commenced the work.
"Who was the first man?"
"My pa," was the ready reply.
"Oh, no," said the teacher, "your pa was not the first man."
"Well, he was the first man I ever saw, anyway," was the decisive answer.
Was not the little girl right? Her pa was the first man as surely as the original Sabbath—the seventh day—was the first day.
Visit to Healdsburg.
By Editor
LAST week we took a hasty visit to Healdsburg. Our call there was very short, but very gratifying to us. We found Sister White in good health, and of good courage. She is making good progress in her work on Volume Four of Spiritual Gifts. She has efficient assistants, and is very pleasantly situated for her work.
We cannot imagine a more beautiful scene than is presented from the windows of her study; the combination of valley and mountain, vineyard and orchard, is truly pleasing to the eye. Those who are interested in her work, and are acquainted with her love for the beautiful in nature, will be pleased to hear of her favorable situation.
The unusually cold weather somewhat hindered the work on the new building known as the boarding house; but the material for finishing has been so prepared that it can be pushed forward with great expedition when the plumbing is done and the plastering finished. It was prudently considered better to delay the plastering than to finish it in weather which was not favorable to doing a first-rate job. The whole building is inclosed and presents a fine appearance.
The prospects of the school are bright, and Professor Brownsberger is of excellent courage. The enrollment of pupils is 117, and the regular attendance slightly less. The instruction given in the school is fully adequate to the wants of all the pupils; Bible history is very properly made the foundation of instruction in all history, and this comprises all the study of the Bible that the most advanced can take in connection with their other studies. We are highly gratified with the progress made in school matters in California in the last year.
This Week's Signs.
By Editor
THE articles in every department of this week's paper are interesting and instructive. A large part of the contents is original. The importance of the subject is a sufficient reason for calling special attention to the objections and answers on the atonement, in the first editorial. We hope to be able to publish at considerable length on this subject in this volume.
The article by Bishop Merrill is worthy of a careful reading. Although the Bishop does not consider the Judgment in its various phases and relations, his argument is none the less forcible. If some small writers in the Methodist Church would carefully read the Bishop's book they might be instructed, and save themselves from the humiliation of uttering some unwise things.
Hard at Work.
By Editor
WHEN we returned from the East we found a great many things on our table which demanded our attention, beside the regular work of the office. If some matters are delayed we hope our friends will bear with us, for we found those who had labored here in our absence nearly worn out with overworking, and we were not in a condition to write constantly. It has been difficult to do justice on every point: to give prompt attention to all the business which came to hand, to give some rest to our associates, and to avoid prostrating ourselves with overwork.
Time of the Resurrection.
By Editor
ELDER LITTLEJOHN, of Michigan, is publishing in the Review and Herald a series of articles on the time of the resurrection of Christ. At this time they are not concluded, but we find them of unusual interest. They will be of considerable length for our paper, but we expect to publish them or a material part of them, as the argument appears to us conclusive, and cannot fail to be both interesting and profitable to our readers.
Two Months' Subscription.
By Editor
A MISSIONARY worker in an eastern State gives us the following as the result of getting a friend to take the SIGNS two months: "This led him to investigate further, till he and his wife commenced to keep the Sabbath; and by their labors ten others, adults, are keeping the Sabbath. He says all this is due to the SIGNS. I think six of these converts are or have been school teachers. Others whom I got to take the paper for two months are interested."
These are the results as now seen, but the full results will not be known till the great day reveals them.
Work in Harmony.
By Editor
A FRIEND asks for advice in regard to the matter of canvassing for the SIGNS, and wishes to know if he had better select a place which he thinks would be suitable for tent labor, and thoroughly canvass it. We suggest that before he does this he counsel with some experienced minister who labors with a tent in his State, or with the Committee of his Conference, in regard to the time and manner of canvassing in such a place. It might be very important to canvass the place at the proper time if a tent is expected to go there. And it is best to counsel and so understand what are the prospects of a tent going to that place. Our work will always be more satisfactory to ourselves and to others, and be more effective, if there is a mutual understanding between those who are in any wise connected in their labors.
To S. S. Superintendents.
By Editor
ONCE we had occasion to caution our schools against electing as superintendents those who did not take an earnest interest in the work. Now we wish to say a few words to superintendents.
1. Study the lessons thoroughly. The teachers and scholars will all expect to receive help of you on their lessons, and if you are not prepared to give it, they will be disappointed, and their work will not be so well done thereafter, because their confidence in the leader of the school is gone.
2. Have your school thoroughly organized, so that when the school is assembled you know just what you can do, and what you are going to do.
3. Do not have any changing of teachers during the quarter if it can possibly be avoided. A class cannot make good progress without a steady teacher; it takes some time for a teacher and class to get acquainted and have confidence well established. A stranger cannot understand them as well as a regular teacher, and cannot benefit them as much.
4. Have something for every one to do, and keep them all busy during class exercises. If visitors come in, old or young, invite them to take a place in some class.
5. Have your school as quiet as is consistent with the work, and have good order positively.
Books to Canada.
By Editor
THE following, which we copy from the Review, will be of interest to our readers :—
"By a recent ruling of the Canadian Postal Department, it is decided that bound books cannot be sent into Canada by mail. They must go by freight or express, so that duties can be collected on them. Under these circumstances, the office will keep a supply of bound books with Eld. A. C. Bourdeau, South Stukely, P. Q., and our Canadian friends can get them by mail from him."
Goldbeck’s Musical Instructor.
By Editor
WE have received the January number of this monthly. It is in magazine form, and is just what it professes to be—a musical instructor. Its exposition of the “Art of Music” is in three graduating courses. The lessons and explanations cannot fail to be useful to every student. The name of Robert Goldbeck is a sufficient guarantee of its thoroughness. Published in St. Louis, Mo., at $1.00 a year. M. Gray, San Francisco.
Sabbath-School Department Discontinued
By Editor
The Sabbath-school Department of the SIGNS will be temporarily discontinued during the present review. At the beginning of the next quarter the schools will begin the study of the book of Acts, when we hope to make that department both interesting and profitable.
OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE FORETOLD.
By Editor
THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY.
By Eld. U. Smith.
This is a full exposition of a portion of prophecy which applies to our own Government, showing the position the United States holds in prophecy, and the part it has to act in the closing scenes of time.
THE SUNDAY MOVEMENT,
Which is now attracting such general attention, is thoroughly canvassed, and abundant testimony is given to prove that it is fast coming to be the ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION in this country. Facts and statistics are largely presented, showing in the most conclusive manner that this Government is the one pointed out in the prophecy quoted.
200 pp. Bound, 40 cents. Paper covers, 20 cents.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
SABBATH READINGS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE.
COMPILED BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
THESE are some of the few really good books. For twenty years Mrs. White has been selecting choice, interesting, and instructive stories, the best of which are presented in these four volumes of 400 pages each. It would be difficult to find a better collection. The selections have been carefully made, and none need fear to place them in the hands of the young. They are not, however, designed exclusively for the young, but are adapted for general home reading. All the members of the family circle will find something in them to entertain and instruct. They are just the thing for holiday or birthday gifts. Price per set, neatly put up in box, $2.25. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.
NEW MUSIC! THE LAST IS THE BEST!
JUST PUBLISHED,
By Geo. D. Russell, 126 Tremont Street, Boston, a new book of Music, entitled,
PEARLY PORTALS.
By D. S. Hakes.
The music and words of this book are mostly entirely new, and well adapted to the Sabbath-school and social circle. It is receiving the most unqualified praise from all who have examined it. The music is of a high order throughout, and yet not at all difficult.
160 pp. Per copy, 35 cents; $3.60 per dozen. Bound, 50 cents; $5.00 per dozen.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, . . . . . $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary Work, . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Michigan.
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
MRS. C. L. BOYD, Salem, Oregon.