p. 303 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 38. (10/4/1877)

Tea and Coffee.

WHY THEIR USE IS UNHEALTHFUL.

(Concluded.)

GENERAL SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE AGAINST TEA AND COFFEE.

1. Their employment as beverages is a useless habit.

2. They are poisonous. Every pound of tea contains one-fourth of a pound of a poison called tannic acid. It contains, in addition, from half an ounce to an ounce of a poison that is fatal in any but very small doses, a few grains causing speedy death.

3. They are medicines. All medicines are poisons, according to medical authority, and are always productive of disease. When coffee was first introduced, it was first of all sold by a tobacco merchant as a “panacea for all diseases.”

4. They produce many painful, chronic, and sometimes incurable, diseases.

Here are a few of the diseases resulting from the use of tea, coffee, chocolate, and similar beverages. Nervousness, sleeplessness, hypochondriasis, sick headache, insanity, tremens, convulsions, paralysis, insensibility, torpidity and congestion of the liver, vertigo, palpitation of the heart, tawny and torpid skin, consumption and other lung diseases, all sorts of nervous diseases, decay of the teeth, loss of sense of taste, constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, general muscular and nervous debility, epilepsy, cancer, and defective circulation.

5. The use of these articles encourages gossip and scandal by exciting the mind to an unnatural degree, and so leading to unguarded and thoughtless assertions and remarks.

6. They are among the chief causes of intemperance, for they foster and encourage the desire for stimulation, which always increases with gratification.

7. A large proportion of all the tea and coffee is dangerously poisoned by adulteration with numerous injurious articles. Prussic acid is common in tea, and Venetian red and other coloring matters in coffee!

8. Especially injurious is the influence of tea and coffee upon children. When the habit of using these articles is not contracted until adult age, their baneful influence is soon and painfully apparent. But when children are allowed to indulge it, its injurious influence is increased many fold. The physical development is dwarfed. The mind is stunted and stupefied. Healthful beauty and youthful freshness and elasticity are obliterated; and if the poor victim survives adolescence, it is only as a mental and physical dwarf, a chronic dyspeptic, a nervous, irritable, suffering invalid.

HOW TO STOP DRINKING TEA AND COFFEE.

Shall the habit be discontinued at once, or shall a gradual change be made? This question is certainly worthy of serious attention, as it is much discussed. It would seem to be self-evident that when a person finds himself indulging a habit which saps his vitality, undermines his constitution, shatters his nerves, and exposes him to the influence of every malady to which humanity is subject, the best thing he can do is to abandon so dangerous a practice as quickly as possible. A person who is not completely saturated with tea or coffee, or who has not entirely shattered his nervous organism by their use, can abandon them at once, and with little difficulty except the strong cravings of appetite and taste.

Even the most inveterate user of either tea or coffee can cease its use at once without any fears of shortening his life by so doing, although he may feel as though death would certainly result. All his bad feelings are simply evidences of the injury which the tea and coffee have already done, and not of the necessity for their use, or of any injury resulting from abstaining from them. But when so sudden a change is made, the individual should make an exclusive business of the matter. Lay aside all cares and responsibilities. Do not attempt to pursue your usual avocations, at least let only a very small proportion of the ordinary amount of work be done. Avoid anything taxing or unpleasant. Secure rest and quiet. If the head aches severely, and the nerves seem to be all unstrung, apply hot cloths to the head for a few minutes, take a tepid bath, and go to bed. A few days of persevering effort will end the struggle and give you the victory.

A less satisfactory plan is to gradually decrease the strength of the beverage and the frequency of its use until it can be relinquished unnoticed.

OBITUARY

Died, at Windsor, Sonoma county, California, September 23, 1877, of inflammation of the stomach, Eugene H., youngest son of Joseph and M. F. Dimmick, aged eleven months and five days.

RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.

—Rev. Joseph Cook will be in Brooklyn this month.

—It is stated that a guard is kept at Brigham's grave to drive away body snatchers.

—Of the 7,944 periodicals published in this country only 397 claim to be religious papers.

—The corner-stones of two African M. E. churches were laid in Baltimore, Md., the past month.

—The American Bible Society received during the month of August $17,411, and issued 49,112 Bibles.

—Cardinal Riario Sforza, who was believed by many to have the best chance of succeeding Pius IX, is dangerously ill.

—The deficiency in the receipts of the American Missionary Society for August, 1877, as compared with August, 1876, was $6,984.

—St. Louis has only 169 congregations, of which 42 are Roman Catholic. The German Lutherans are very numerous in that city.

—It is stated that John Taylor, president of the twelve Mormon apostles, and acting president of the Mormon church, is to retain that position until a new president is elected. He is represented as a bigot of the most pronounced stripe.

—England allots more money for religious purposes than any other government. Last year she gave $23,500,000; Spain came next with $12,500,000; then France, $10,000,000; Russia, $9,500,000; Italy, $6,250,000; Bavaria, $4,500,000; Austria, $3,000,000; Norway and Sweden, $2,000,000; Portugal, $900,000.

—The London Times says: “The Pope grows weaker. He is unable to stand while saying mass and is becoming difficult to manage in matters conducive to his health, such as refusing to occupy larger and more airy apartments, and persisting in eating indigestible food, which is especially hurtful because of his inability to take exercise.”

Report of the Annual Meeting of the Cal. T. and M. Society.

By John Norton Loughborough; A. M. Loughborough

The seventh annual meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society was held in connection with the Yountville camp-meeting, September 14, 1877, at 5 P. M., as per appointment. After the opening prayer by the president of the Society, the minutes of the previous meeting were called for, read, and unanimously approved.

It was ascertained that six of the nine directors were present, namely: Wm. Harmon of district No. 1, M. J. Church of No. 2, John Mavity of No. 3, H. C. Yerby of No. 5, J. E. White of No. 7, and Chas. Chittenden of No. 9.

As the business before the meeting was that of electing officers and directors for the coming year, and as changes in some of the districts was necessary to be made, it was

Voted, That the president appoint a nominating committee, who shall also take into consideration the present condition of the districts and suggest such changes as might seem necessary. It was further

Voted, That the president appoint an auditing committee, who shall examine the books kept by the various officers of this Society.

September 17, immediately following a session of the California Conference, a second session of the Society was held, when the following committees were announced by the president:—

Committee on Nominations—J. W. Bond, chairman; Chas. Chittenden, James Creamer. Committee on Auditing—Geo. Manuel, chairman; Mrs. Lucie Bush, Miss Alice Canfield.

September 18, 1 P. M., a third session of the Society was held, when the committees reported as follows: We, the nominating committee, recommend the following persons as officers for the coming year: President, J. N. Loughborough; vice-president, J. E. White; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. A. M. Loughborough. For directors—District No. 1, Wm. Harmon, Sebastopol, Sonoma county; No. 2, M. J. Church, Fresno city, Fresno county; No. 3, John Mavity, St. Helena, Napa county; No. 4, John Judson, San Pasqual, San Diego county; No. 5, H. C. Yerby, Woodland, Yolo county; No. 6, J. H. Disher, Red Bluff, Tehama county; No. 7, E. R. Gillett, Oakland; No. 8, C. R. Chittenden, San Francisco. We also recommend that district No. 9 be known hereafter as No. 8, with Santa Clara county attached thereto; that the counties of San Benito, Merced, and Inyo be left to added to district No. 2, and that portion of Solano county lying north of Bridgeport taken from No. 3 and added to No. 5.

J. W. BOND, JAMES CREAMER, C. R. CHITTENDEN, } Committee.

Voted, That the report of the committee be accepted, and also

Voted, That the officers and directors named be elected. Whereupon the above mentioned officers and directors were unanimously elected. Further

Voted, That the changes in the districts as suggested, be made.

The auditing committee reported that they had satisfactorily completed the work assigned them, which report was accepted.

The Conference committee on resolutions was appointed to act as a committee for the same purpose for the Tract Society.

The secretary then read the report of missionary labor performed during the last nine months. The report reads:—

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
Libraries furnished	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Almanacs distributed	1,370	963	100	200	50	1,757	270	1,540	—	6,250
Ships visited	—	—	—	—	—	21	—	222	—	243
Other periodicals distributed	482	31	447	117	76	25	245	419	3	1,845
Signs distributed	2,374	114	1,617	100	202	1,004	1,054	682	5,643	21,590
New subscribers for other periodicals	87	2	39	7	21	9	136	2	46	348
New subscribers for Signs	116	7	58	25	5	182	11	181	—	600
No. pp. Tracts, etc., given away	54,125	35,681	61,344	25,499	—	60,837	17,937	55,437	—	310,353
No. pp. Tracts, etc., loaned	12,252	23,417	21,434	6,582	—	20,810	13,362	14,395	—	112,367
Book sales	$117.16	88.72	88.62	—	39.99	6.25	71.60	26.65	283.23	$672.22
Donations	$110.84	4.00	65.43	15.60	38.00	36.00	121.86	8.85	92.45	$493.12
New Members	9	9	2	—	—	22	1	3	—	47
Letters written	109	66	119	—	20	6	121	35	159	625
Families visited	92	57	334	10	35	212	144	374	—	1,260
Memberships	87	32	52	11	31	56	14	38	—	332
District	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total

As seen above, the total amount of money received for memberships, donations and book sales is $1,212.34. The total number of tracts and pamphlets loaned and given away is 422,700 pages. The Society has done business with the offices of publication for the last three quarters of the year to the amount of $3,258.95.

The evening of the 18th a fourth session of the Society convened, when an interesting and lively discussion arose as to the number of almanacs for 1878 the Society could distribute. It was stated that preparations were being made for this work, and it was time to get ready for the campaign. A proposition was made that the Society procure 15,000 copies.

A report of the committee on resolutions being called for, the chairman, Elder Healey, said the action of a previous meeting was sufficient resolution. An invitation had been given for all who desired to assist in raising a missionary fund of $1,000 for the coming year, to state how much they could do by the first of January next; and in response, over $1,300 had been pledged, of which $436 was paid on the camp-ground. This act, he said, spoke louder than any resolution that could be framed in words, and anything more under the circumstances would be unnecessary.

The treasurer's report was then read, as follows:—

CALIFORNIA T. AND M. SOCIETY TREASURER'S REPORT. Balance on hand at last report................................$167 31 Since received..............................................2,190 09 Total......................................................$2,357 40 Paid Review Office on account...............................$208 30 Paid Signs Office on account................................2,132 80 Paid for directory and sundries...............................10 50 $2,341 60 Balance on hand.............................................$15 80

GEORGE MANUEL, California State T. and M. Society Treasurer.

The report being accepted, the meeting adjourned to call of the chair.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President. A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Secretary.

The Goodness of God.

THE following is from the Review and Herald, September 20:—

Every true believer can say from the heart, God is good. But the writer has especial reasons to praise the Lord for his great mercy. Several times he has raised us up from feebleness in answer to the prayers of his dear people. And now we are receiving strength daily in answer to the prayer of faith.

We have erred in trying to do more than we were able to accomplish, and resolve to do so no more. We seek that rest that change from mental to physical labor will give, and expect to triumph in God, and in his precious cause. Let the faithful remember us in their prayers.

J. W.

Southern California Camp-Meeting.

ELDER LOUGHBOROUGH writes from Lemoore, September 30:—

“This camp-meeting is of the same quality of the Northern, the only difference is in the quantity. But it is ‘a big thing’ in this newly settled country, and ‘astonishes the natives.’ We have twenty-two tents, besides the 50-ft. tent. There are one hundred and fifteen campers on the ground, and a good outside attendance. We have about five sermons a day, besides other meetings. Yesterday we had twenty-five join us. Twenty-two of these are to be baptized in Kings river to-morrow. All the campers were desirous of having the meeting continue another day, and all agreed to stay; therefore the meeting will not close until October 2.”

A full report will be given next week.

North Pacific Mission.

By I. D. Van Horn

SINCE moving our tent to East Portland we have continued meetings for about four weeks. Three weeks of the time we used the tent, but the weather becoming unsettled and nights cold, we took down the tent and laid it away for winter. We are now occupying the school-house. There are a few much interested, some of whom have commenced to keep the Sabbath. This week will tell whether we shall be able to form a church or not. Some twenty or more are entirely convinced, and are almost to the point of acting. We hope to establish a small society here, that the light may shine in this large city, even if it be caused to shine by a few.

We are pleased at the prospect of forming a Conference in this mission. I think it will be an important step in the right direction for the cause here. May the blessing of God attend our effort. I. D. VAN HORN.

Portland, Oregon, September 24, 1877.

Vacaville, Cal.

By B. A. Stephens

Commenced meetings here September 25. Four lectures have been given to date. The attendance has ranged from fifty-five to eighty. Books are taken quite readily, and the people seem to be interested. They are hospitable, and we have more invitations to visit than we can conveniently attend. This town has a good share of churches. The Baptist college is located here. We meet on the Sabbath with the Dixon church. B. A. STEPHENS.

September 30.

Danvers, Mass.

Elder Canright writes as follows: “The last week has been the most encouraging of any we have had. Our audiences have kept up much better than we could expect. We still have a regular attendance of from two to five hundred. All the unpopular features of our faith have now been presented, and still the people come. Twenty took their stand upon the Sabbath last week, making seventy in all. I think they average as well as any company I have ever seen. We feared that in this manufacturing town the men would not embrace the truth, but have been happily disappointed. A good many whole families have embraced the truth. There are about thirty men among them. Several of these are quite capable, and will make good leaders in the church, so that we have as promising a prospect as I have ever seen.”

Seeking God for a Broken Heart

If we cannot go to God with a broken heart, let us go to him for one. The Spirit breaks and binds up.

Texas.

By R. M. Kilgore

We labored eight weeks with the tent in Cleburne; as the result forty-five are keeping the Sabbath, forty of whom signed the covenant. A Bible-class and Sabbath-school have been organized. We have sold about sixty dollars' worth of books, have given away a large number of tracts and papers, many of which have been carried many miles in every direction, by travelers passing through the place, and camping near the tent at night. We have obtained fourteen subscribers for our periodicals.

We encountered a terrific rain storm which began about midnight. Before daylight the ground was covered with water, and the little stream near which we were camping was rising rapidly. The stakes of the large tent gave way, the two center poles crossed, and the tent lay flat on the seats. All took shelter in our family tent. Soon we saw wagons, a cow, and rails in abundance, afloat in the little stream. A friend indeed, knowing the character of the stream (though it had not swollen so for six years), came and told us that we were in imminent danger. He brought his team speedily, and we succeeded in rescuing my wife and children, and much of our furniture. Both tents were covered with water. We succeeded in saving some of the seats, while a new angry current carried some of them away in spite of us. While we feel very grateful that it is no worse with us than it is, we are sorry to see the destruction around us, and to have our new tent in such a condition.

Having received an invitation from the citizens of Peoria, in Hill county, we expected to strike tents the coming week, but now we shall not be able before another week.

R. M. Kilgore.

Later the following has been received:—

Meetings have been in progress here in Peoria nearly a week. We began with two hundred and fifty on Monday night, and we expect nearly a thousand out to-night. The interest is very great. Books and Bibles go off lively. We are of good courage in the Lord.

September 18. R. M. K.

Walking in Darkness

When people walk in darkness they may be left to insure each other.

North Pacific Conference.

By I. D. Van Horn

THERE will be a general meeting of all the Seventh-day Adventists of Oregon and Washington Territory, at Walla Walla, October 25-29, 1877, for the purpose of organizing a Conference, and transacting other business necessary for the promotion of the cause of present truth. Elder J. N. Loughborough will preside over this meeting.

Each company of Sabbath-keepers are requested to select delegates to represent them in person if possible. If not, be sure to send letters to the place of meeting. Each company of twenty members or less, should select one delegate, and one additional delegate for every fifteen members over the first twenty.

I. D. VAN HORN.

Western Oregon.

By I. D. Van Horn

There will be a general meeting of all the Seventh-day Adventists in Western Oregon held at Salem, October 13, 14, 1877. All scattered friends of the cause of truth living west of the Cascade mountains are earnestly invited to be at the meeting. Elder J. N. Loughborough, president of the California Conference will be present.

Elder Loughborough will preach in Portland, Oregon, Sabbath and Sunday, October 20, 21.

I. D. VAN HORN.

Memorandum Books.

By Editor

ATTENTION is hereby called to our new memorandum books. Feeling the want of something cheap in this line, we have manufactured some that are cheaper, considering the quantity of paper they contain, than anything we have ever seen. Something that everybody needs. Price, 5 cents; per dozen, 40 cents; per gross, $4.25.

Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.

The Backslider

When a Christian backslides, it is as if the prodigal re-acted his former folly, and left his father's house a second time.

APPOINTMENTS

OAKLAND—Services at the new church, on the corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 10:30 A. M., and Sunday evening at 7:30. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:30. Sabbath-school at 9 o'clock Sabbath morning.

SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the house of worship, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M., and first-day evening at 7:45. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:45. The Hayes Valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central R. R. cross Laguna street near the church.

Quarterly Meeting.

By John Norton Loughborough

LET all our churches in California remember, that, according to the new arrangement, the quarterly meeting of each respective church will be held the first Sabbath in October; the district quarterly meetings, the second Sabbath; while the State quarterly meeting will be held at Oakland, the third Sabbath in October. The places of the district quarterly meetings are given in this number.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.

District Quarterly Meetings.

By John Norton Loughborough

ALL of the district quarterly meetings in the eight districts of California are to be held this quarter on Sabbath and First-day, October 13 and 14, as follows:

District No. 1, at Santa Rosa. District No. 2, at Fairview, Fresno county. District No. 3, at Napa, Napa county. District No. 4, at San Pasqual, San Diego county. District No. 5, at Woodland, Yolo county. District No. 6, at Brother Himstreet's, Tehama county. District No. 7, at Oakland. District No. 8, at San Francisco. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.

Received for the Signs.

$2.00 EACH. Mrs H Ferguson 4-1, Anna Winkler 4-38, Mrs M A Frush 4-38, Richard Atkinson 4-29, Wm Griffith 4-35, Mrs A A Grimes 5-1, A B Cushing 4-47, Wm McCoy 4-38.

$1.50 EACH. John M Church 4-38, Geo W Chase 4-38, Chas B Barber 4-38, Emma R Welch 4-38, Mrs M E Richardson 4-38, Mary A Hoxie 4-38.

$1.00 EACH. D V Douglass 4-16, William Thompson 4-14, Mrs Sylvia Ferrin 4-14, F O Newcarts 4-14, Mrs Sarah Prosper 4-1, Pascal Peebles (4 copies) 3-39, L Doble 4-22, W S Dailly (8 copies) 3-36.

75 CTS EACH. James Urquhart 4-16, Mrs J F Obrock 4-14, S E Kellogg 4-14, Mrs S E Randall 4-12, Mrs Jennie T Haynes 4-12, Henry H Burnham 4-12.

50 CTS EACH. Mrs M Mulliken 4-6, Mrs S. Boyle 4-6, Mrs M F Roulson 4-6, G H Reeder 4-6.

Received on Account.

Cal T and M Society $123.05, Maine T and M Society 90.00.

California Conference Fund.

Santa Rosa per H Ferguson $2.25, Sacramento 16.25.