BOWNSBERGER.—On the morning of Oct. 9, 1883, in Healdsburg, Cal., Bessie B., infant daughter of Prof. S. and Florida V. Brownsberger, died of marasmus, aged seven months and eight days. From the time she was six weeks old there was a gradual wasting away, which the care of friends and the skill of physicians were powerless to prevent. From that time the body did not increase in weight, although the mind developed as rapidly as is usual in children who enjoy good health. A large company of students and sympathizing friends assembled in the parlors of the College Boarding Hall, where the writer spoke the words with which Christians are commanded to comfort one another (1 Thess. 4: 13-18). E. J. W.
NOSLER.—Katie Myrtle, daughter of H. E. and M. E. Nosler, died in Healdsburg, Cal., Oct. 9, 1883, of cholera infantum and pneumonia, aged one year, nine months, and one day. Brother and sister Nosler, who have but recently embraced the Third Angel's Message, through the missionary efforts of members of the Healdsburg Church, are sustained by the "blessed hope" that Christ will soon return to bring again the little ones from "the land of the enemy." E. J. W.
PIERCE.—Died at Madison, Dakota, of typho-malarial fever, our dear brother, Eld. Stephen Pierce, aged seventy-nine years. Bro. Pierce was born in Cavendish, Vt., and resided in that State many years. He afterwards lived at Stewartsville, Minn., and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His last days were spent at Madison, Dakota, with the family of Bro. A. D. Smith. He was President of the S. D. A. Conference in Vermont and Minnesota five years each, and at one time occupied the position of corresponding editor of the Review and Herald. Many, in hearing of the death of Bro. Pierce, will feel that they have sustained a personal loss. He was a man of deep and genuine piety, possessing at the same time much of the precious grace of humility. The Bible was his study and delight, and he was an able expositor of its truths, seeming to have a clear understanding of many of its parts "which are hard to be understood."
Bro. Pierce was ever a friend of the poor and suffering; and while he made few claims for himself, he was thoughtful of the comfort and convenience of others. His last sickness was borne with much patience, and he earnestly desired to have death come that he might be at rest. God has spoken by his Spirit that Bro. Pierce was a man of fine conscience, and the fear of the Lord has been before him. Yet at times he doubted, and feared he was not accepted of God. We have good reason to believe he will come forth at the first resurrection and share in the triumph of God's people. Not long will the prairie sod cover his precious form; for the voice of God will call him from his dusty bed, and he will reap the reward of a faithful, godly life. He certainly is of the class spoken of in Rev. 14: 13: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." A. D. OLSEN.
Manners Corrupted.
By Editor
A MAN who has tried to be prominent in California as a professed "Christian" preacher, has written a communication which is published in a professedly "Christian" paper, in which he speaks of the labors of Brother Briggs in Los Angeles County, and calls him "old Briggs." Now considering that Elder Briggs is a young man, and that the writer of that report is considerably older than he, and that Brother Briggs is a gentleman in his bearing and deportment, that does not speak well for the writer of the article or the paper which would publish it. The New Testament says that, "Evil communications corrupt good manners." We have no assurance that the writer of that communication or the editor who published it ever had good manners. But if they had they must have been accustomed to "evil
communications," for their manners are sadly corrupted.
We believe that a man may be a gentleman without being a Christian, for our idea is that "Christian" is a higher title than "gentleman." Therefore we think a man can hardly be a Christian who is not high enough in the scale of "good manners" to be a gentleman. But that, however, will depend somewhat on his intelligence and good sense.
Feeble-Minded Children.
By Editor
THE following circular was received from the Secretary of the "California Association for the Care and Training of Feeble-minded Children," with a request to notice in our pulpit a meeting to be held in this city, to consider this object. It being on the evening of our prayer-meeting we appointed to dismiss our meeting promptly at 8 o'clock, and advised our attendants to go to the First Congregational Church, which they did, where we listened to an interesting and instructive address by Dr. Stratton. We wish the Association abundant success. Its Secretary is J. H. Applegate, Jr., Room 43, Halleck Block, No. 320 Sansome Street, San Francisco, who will give information concerning their work.
IT is believed that the time has now come for the establishment of an Institution in California for the care and training of feeble-minded children, similar to those in operation in Europe and most of the Eastern States. Several meetings have been held with reference to this work; and a Board of Directors has been elected and incorporated under the laws of the State.
It has been ascertained that the services of a most efficient superintendent, teacher and attendant can be obtained from the oldest institution in the United States, provided sufficient funds can be secured for the support of the enterprise.
The undersigned, directors of the proposed Institution, ask all those who are charitably disposed to aid in this necessary and most noble work. The plan of the Institution, from its nature, must be beyond the scope of individual enterprise. It is not designed for the wealthy alone, who will render ample compensation, but for those poor and needy cases from all parts of the State for whom there is no place in any other educational institution, and who would otherwise be left to suffer and sink into hopeless fatuity, to which their condition inevitably tends. The desire of those interested in behalf of this class of unfortunates—of which, from our last census returns, there are 500 in this State—is simply, that they may be provided with accommodations adapted to their comfort, and supplied with an education of the most practical character, promoting their usefulness, their happiness, and the public good. All doubts as to the practicability of educating feeble-minded children have now been removed, and it has ceased to be regarded as an experiment. The necessity and utility of institutions for this unhappy class are everywhere acknowledged; and all demands for their benefit are cheerfully met by the people of the State in which they are located. It is a fact certified to by all leaders in this work, that eighty per cent of this class in such institutions are rendered self-supporting. One-half of this number are returned to their homes cured, and in the case of children even a greater percentage. The educational processes which produce such happy results have now for a long time been reduced to an exact system; and the beneficent influence of institutions founded for this purpose is attested by official reports from every State where they exist. We have in California no provision whatever for this afflicted class. Can there be a worthier charity, or one which more deeply appeals to our humanity and our sense of justice? Will not every reader of this circular take an active part in this great work, and those who can, by contributions, and all, by personal effort and influence, aid in its successful foundation?
We invoke upon our enterprise the blessing of Him who through his inspired apostle enjoined upon us to "comfort the feeble-minded."
News and Obituary Notices
By Editor
WE learn by the last Review that Bro. Andrews was very feeble, not able to prepare matter for the French paper, of which he is editor. His life has been prolonged, we trust, in answer to many prayers in his behalf. But we are yet mortal, and he too may sleep, for one by one the old laborers in this cause are falling. But not long will they sleep. Soon shall “mortality be swallowed up of life.”
WE copy from the Review the obituary of our highly-esteemed brother, Elder Stephen Pierce. Brother Pierce was a man of excellent qualities; he had a good education, and a sound judgment; but he was of a retiring disposition, and well satisfied to do good without making himself prominent in the work. He will be missed especially by those who looked to him as a counselor. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth.”
JUST before our paper went to press we received the Review and Herald and find that the editor has also noticed the article in the Crisis on “Miller’s Mistake Explained.” We said in closing our article we would be pleased to notice some other things in the comments of Mr. S., and we are now pleased to find that Bro. Smith has noticed some of them. It is very seldom that the editorials of the two papers happen to be on the same subject. But as the method and matter of the two differ so largely the readers will probably not regret it this time.
A Question.
WE earnestly request the Herald of Truth to inform us if it is the faith of the Baptist Church that the ten commandments are abolished, as taught by Dr. Anderson in a communication in that paper on the Sabbath question. We were a member of that denomination a number of years, but as that was some time ago it may be that we have not kept pace in our knowledge with the changes which have taken place among the "regular" Baptists. We ask for information.
Justification by Faith.
By Editor
IN a few days we shall print an edition of our tract on "Justification by Faith." It will be a reprint of the six articles in the SIGNS on that subject. At the General Conference in Rome, N. Y., in 1882, the ministers there present requested us to preach on that subject, which we did. Then a vote was passed requesting us to prepare the matter for publication in tract form. This request was repeated by a vote at the State Missionary Society meeting in Greenville, Michigan. It has been delayed beyond our expectation by the many other matters pressing on our time and attention. Of course in writing we had to enlarge upon the ideas barely outlined in a single sermon. We have received some assurances that the articles were satisfactory as presenting the ideas upon which inquiries were made.
The Wine Interest.
By Editor
A TRACT written by Capt. A. D. Wood, editor of the Rescue of San Francisco, is on our table. Its title in full is as follows: "The Truth and the Wine Interest. Prosperity or Pauperism? Will Wine-making Pay? A Question of Finance."
We are an easy convert to the Captain's view that wine-making is not profitable to any country. The wine-maker may amass money faster than his neighbor who raises grain, but that is not evidence that he is doing the most good, or benefiting the country most largely. The tobacco-raiser may make more money than his neighbor who raises corn, but his prosperity is society's curse. It is generally supposed that there is more money to be made in making wine than in raising grapes and converting them into raisins. But good business men in the grape industry dispute that. However that may be, there is no dispute that he who produces raisins more substantially benefits the country than he who produces wine. The Bible says, and we believe it, that "wine is a mocker." And it is simply a mockery to say that a country is greatly benefited by turning the products of its acres into wine. Wine is not a necessity; it is not life-sustaining; it has turned untold thousands into the way of drunkenness and ruin. How, then, can it benefit a country?
$25,000 Wanted.
WE, the undersigned, hereby give the sums set to our names, to raise the sum of $25,000 to be placed under the control of trustees chosen at the annual session of the California Conference. Said sum to be loaned to some of our Institutions at 5 per cent., the proceeds of which shall be used to assist those who are seeking an education at the Healdsburg College, to fill positions in the cause of God. Said individuals must be recommended by the Conference Committee and the College Faculty.
William Butcher........................................$5,000
Joseph Leininger....................................... 5,000
John Morrison..........................................1,000
F. H. Adams............................................500
Mrs. Mary Scott........................................500
A Friend to the Cause..................................800
"Who'll be the next?"
International Tract and Missionary Society.
By Stephen N. Haskell
THE International Tract and Missionary Society was organized Aug. 13, 1874. It has furnished health and religious publications to co-operative missions and individuals in every State and Territory in the United States, and to every civilized nation on the globe. During 1883 it placed in free public libraries in this country over 6,000 volumes of standard religious books at a cost of over $6,000, two-thirds of which was donated by other funds and the publishers. It has also placed valuable books in many libraries in England, and supplied reading-rooms with health and religious periodicals.
It has a free reading-room, No. 371, Third Avenue, New York City, where it will keep constantly on hand Health and Temperance publications to furnish co-operating missions and branch offices on the Atlantic Coast and in Europe. William J. Boynton, 200 East 27th Street, manager and city missionary.
It has also a free reading-room 316 Fremont Street, San Francisco, Cal., from which place all ships are visited which enter that harbor. Andrew Brorsen and H. C. Palmer, city missionaries.
Free reading-room at H Street, between Sixth and Seventh, East Portland, Oregon. Boston, Mass., J. R. Israel, residence Rowly, Mass. New Bedford, Mass., Mrs. Anna H. Bradford, residence Acushnet, Mass. The ship work at Liverpool, England, is under the charge of Geo. R. Drew, 40 Price Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire, Eng. Eld. A. A. John, 161 Willingham Street, Great Grimsby, Eng. At the above-mentioned places the public are cordially invited.
The society is sustained by the liberalities of friends of missions. Donations by draft or otherwise will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged by any of the above-mentioned agents, or Miss M. L. Huntly, Secretary South Lancaster, Mass., U. S. A.
S. N. HASKELL, President.
A MINE OF INFORMATION.
By John Nevins Andrews
HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AND FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.
BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.
The Bible record of the Sabbath; the secular history concerning it; the successive steps by which the change to the first day was made, and the work of restoration, are given in detail.
EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE concerning the Sabbath is commented on at length; and the COMPLETE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS in regard to the Sabbath and first day is given. The comparative merits of the seventh and the first-day Sabbaths are fully shown. A copious Index enables the reader to find any text, or the statement of any historian.
Should be read by everybody. 523 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THOUGHTS ON BAPTISM.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACTION, SUBJECTS, AND RELATIONS OF THE ORDINANCE OF BAPTISM.
Also, a Brief Refutation of the
HISTORICAL CLAIMS FOR TRINE IMMERSION.
SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.
Prices, post-paid,—In flexible cloth, 35 cents; paper covers, 25 cents.
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.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, RAVENSWOOD, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
MRS. C. L. BOYD, Salem, Oregon.
S. E. WHITEIS, Sec. Nebraska T. and M. Society, Fremont, Neb.