Earlier text: SAMUEL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR; OR, THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFTPROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST WEEK.
The annual gathering of the Seventh-day Adventists of Michigan is now in progress in a grove two miles north-east of the city of Lansing. The meeting commenced on Tuesday, September 18, and will continue till Monday, October 1. There are now one hundred and thirty-eight tents on the ground, the average size of which is 16x20 feet. They are arranged in a hollow square, with extensions on the south and east, having regular streets and squares. The mammoth pavilion, 80x120 feet, occupies the center of the grand square. It is new, clean, well seated, and capable of holding five thousand people. There are twelve hundred persons encamped here, making the largest gathering of Seventh-day people ever known. The ministers of the denomination are present to the number of thirty-two. Friday, an excursion train from Battle Creek brought one hundred and sixty students in charge of the College Faculty. They will remain until Tuesday. The services on the Sabbath were devoted specially to the church. The social meeting at 9 A. M. was attended by fifteen hundred members of the church. To give opportunity for a greater number to take part in the exercises, this company was divided into three bands, each having separate leaders who carried on the meetings simultaneously. Three hundred and sixty persons spoke during the hour these meetings were in session. The main feature of the day was the discourse of Mrs. White at 2:30 P. M. Her remarks were based upon 2 Peter 1:5-8, and were specially addressed to parents, and the heads of families. Some excellent rules for domestic government were laid down; and the follies and sins of every day life were fearlessly reproved. Elder Haskell preached at 7:30 P. M. on the subject of repentance. The congregations through the day averaged two thousand people. The congregational singing is truly inspiring. It is led by a good organ and trained choir. Sunday was the grand day of the meeting, so far. The ground was literally flooded with people. The city turned out en masse, and the country was largely represented, while excursion trains from Jackson, Battle Creek and Port Huron brought in two thousand five hundred persons to spend the day. It was estimated that ten thousand people were on the ground during Mrs. White's lecture in the afternoon. The weather was lovely, and everything passed off smoothly. A students' meeting was held at 8 A. M. At 10:30 A. M. Elder U. Smith preached, using as a text, 2 Peter 3:3, 4. He dwelt specially on the two principal tenets of the S. D. A. church; viz., the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath; and the soon coming of Christ. With the aid of an illustrated chart he traced down the several lines of prophecy to prove that the latter event was near at hand, though no definite time could be set for its occurrence. The congregation again assembled at 1:30 P. M., and were addressed by Elder S. N. Haskell. His remarks were based upon Dan. 8:14, and related to the peculiar views of the church on the Sabbath and sanctuary questions. Mrs. White spoke on the subject of Christian temperance at 2:30. An immense crowd was in attendance, a third more than could be seated. Elder White, though just recovering from a severe illness, opened the meeting by prayer. Mrs. White gave a very practical and sensible discourse. She traced the great cause of intemperance back to the home, and the family board, to the indulgence of passion and perverted appetite in the child. She declared that when parents began the temperance crusade in their own families, and among their children, they would be more successful than in trying to conquer the fierce, full grown lion of intemperance. She denounced the popular vices and follies of the day unsparingly, and dealt a telling blow at the absurd fashions of the period, and the sin of mothers in neglecting their children to follow these changing styles. In the evening Elder H. W. Decker preached on the inheritance of the saints. Matt. 5:5. The intervals between services were entertainingly filled by music from the choir. Notwithstanding the immense crowd in attendance, good order prevailed throughout the day, and after the evening meeting the people quietly dispersed for their homes. Monday morning the bell rang at 6:30 for a social meeting in the pavilion. It was a season of deep solemnity. Fervent prayers and testimonies were offered, and the deepest feeling prevailed. A special meeting was held for the students at 8 A. M. One hundred came forward for prayers the previous day, and eighty-one of these penitents now testified to their determination to live Christian lives in the future. Elder White made some very impressive remarks on the importance of the youth commencing life by becoming Christians. The meeting was continued with much interest for two hours. The S. D. Adventist Educational Society was called together at 10:30 A. M. by order of the president, Elder James White. Prayer was offered by Elder D. M. Canright, who had just arrived from New York. An able address was then delivered by Prof. S. Brownsberger, acting president of the Battle Creek College. Subject: “What we owe to our children.” He advocated thorough educational culture for the youth, as the best fortune with which their parents can endow them. After the address, the meeting was organized. There were 92 stockholders present, representing 895 shares. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. It was voted that the address of Prof. Brownsberger be published in the Advent Review of Battle Creek. A committee was then appointed to nominate trustees for the ensuing year, and the meeting adjourned until 2 P. M. At the appointed time the meeting again came to order, Elder White in the chair. The auditor's report was read showing the following results: Receipts for the year $11,289.63. Expenses, $7,752.60. Present valuation of property held by the Association, free from all encumbrance, $47,171.33. The report of committee on nomination of trustees was submitted, which was as follows: Elder James White, Elder U. Smith, Prof. S. Brownsberger, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, W. C. White, Wm. Sisley, and Prof. A. B. Oyen. The nominees were unanimously elected by 740 votes. The meeting then adjourned to call of chair. A session of the General Conference was held on Monday, September 24, 2:30 P. M. Seventeen delegates were present, representing the Conferences of Michigan, New York, New England, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and the mission of Canada. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Elder James White; secretary, Elder U. Smith; treasurer, Mrs. M. J. Chapman; executive committee, Elders White, Haskell and Canright. The delegates presented reports from their various fields of labor, which were very interesting, giving the progress of the cause in different parts of our country. The secretary read reports from Elder I. D. Van Horn, North Pacific Mission, Elder S. Osborn, Kentucky and Tennessee; J. M. Elliott, Alabama, R. M. Kilgore, Texas; Geo. L. Butler, Missouri; T. H. Brant, Maine; J. Ertzenberger, Germany; and D. T. Bourdeau, France. Elder Canright arrived on the ground Monday morning, and preached Monday night to a goodly congregation from Titus 1:13. Tuesday morning, the Battle Creek students to the number of one hundred, were gathered in different tents, and special meetings were held through the greater part of the forenoon. Nearly all are seeking the Lord, and arrangements have been made for them to remain during the entire camp-meeting. A meeting of the Publishing Association was held on Tuesday, in which 87 stockholders were present, representing 190 votes. The auditor's report showed the total receipts of the Society during the past year to be $185,102.67. Total expenditure $181,466.46. Cash on hand to balance, $3,636.61. Assets of Association above liabilities, $98,973.53, which shows an increase of $2,253.94, above last year. The trustees elected for the ensuing year are as follows: Elder James White, president; W. C. White, vice-president; Mrs. M. J. Chapman, secretary; Wm. Ings, treasurer; Mrs. F. H. Sisley, auditor; Elder James White, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Elder U. Smith, publishing committee. Elder U. Smith was elected editor of the Review and Herald, with Elders James White and J. N. Andrews corresponding editors. Mrs. M. J. Chapman was elected editor of the Youth's Instructor. The religious meetings have all been excellent, and the weather has been most favorable so far. Elder White, being in feeble health on account of his excessive labor during the past summer, has not been able to preach during the camp-meeting, but has spoken briefly with great effect several times, and opened the meetings with prayer. We trust he is slowly, but surely, improving in health. REPORTER. (Condensed from Review and Herald.) Brockville.—Elder Reynolds writes that the Lord is blessing the work here. There are now twenty-nine grown persons keeping the Sabbath. He is holding meetings every afternoon and evening. The interest is deep, and is spreading. Howard City.—Brethren Burrill and Ellsworth write: “We had held but two meetings in Howard city, when Mrs. Morse, a popular Spiritualist lecturer, came to town, and for the first time introduced Spiritualism in this place. At the close of her second meeting, we gave notice that we would review her, and this has given us the ears of the people and an opportunity to introduce the life and death question, which appears to be taking wonderfully well, and awakening an interest to know more of our faith. Last evening about three hundred and fifty were out to listen to a discourse on the sleep of the dead.” Imlay City.—Brethren Van Deusen and Wellman report that tent-meetings here have now closed. This has been a hard field of labor, there being much prejudice and opposition. About eighty discourses have been given. The people have been faithfully warned, and many are “almost persuaded” to obey, but with the majority, “What will people say?” and “How shall we obtain a living?” have been weightier considerations than their duty to God, and eternal life with its untold blessings. About twelve, however, have taken a stand on the side of truth. Darlington.—The brethren report the work still onward here. The Lord has given freedom in preaching the word, and many have been deeply impressed. Doubtless a number will embrace the truth. The people are becoming friendly, and are fast losing their prejudice. Five more have been baptized at Thornton. Pardeeville.—Brethren Olds and Smith report thirty keeping the Sabbath, as the fruit of their labors here, twenty-five of whom have entered into covenant relations. An interest is awakened in the country round about, and there are urgent calls for labor. Westfield.—As some of the fruits of tent labor here, ten have commenced the observance of the Sabbath in this vicinity. A little company have been organized, and a leader appointed; also a Bible-class has been formed. Loyal.—Elder Decker reports: “I have just closed an excellent meeting at this place. It was well attended by brethren from Maple Works. Discourses were given on the signs of the times, the overcomer’s reward, and Christian duties. Brother Geo. Smith was chosen deacon of the Loyal church. Nine were baptized on first-day, September 9. This church is having a steady increase in membership. It was organized with a membership of sixteen, and now numbers about fifty.” Rush Creek.—Brother Tenney writes: “The result of the meetings held in this place was favorable considering the circumstances. Eight or ten good substantial people promised to obey the truth, and Sabbath meetings are appointed. We met considerable opposition, some of it arising from ignorance very primitive and complete. For instance, while I was speaking of the Sabbath on the round earth, a man who is an elder of the Disciple church arose and said, ‘The world is as flat as a pancake, and any fool might know it.’ We are thankful for a truth which is attractive to intelligent people.” Newark.—Elder Waggoner reports the interest in the meetings here increasing, though the circumstances are unfavorable. The weather has been cold and rainy. Some are reading, and are deeply interested who dare not attend at the tent on account of the bad weather. Book sales have not been large; but, including the sales at the camp-meeting, the purchases in the city will at least reach $60. Besides this, great quantities of reading matter have been lent by the tract distributors, and thousands of pages given away. Wherever a house has been missed by the distributors it is found that the neighbors have lent to them, so that about all in the city have read some. Half Rock.—Brethren Chaffee and Woodruff report having given seventy-five discourses here. Although there has been much opposition, twenty-five have accepted the whole truth. The Sunday following the close of the debate, sixteen were baptized, in the presence of at least eight hundred persons. There will be baptism again in a few days. The meetings still continue with increasing interest, and the whole country seems stirred for miles around. Bethany and Pioneer.—Brother Ayers writes: “At our meeting at Bethany four were baptized and united with the church. The debate with Elder Field on the nature of man, the destiny of the wicked, and the saints’ inheritance, lasted five days. The Lord vindicated his truth. The elder, after being routed from every line of defense, finally went over to Spiritualism, openly avowing himself to be a Spiritualist, and declaring that all would be obliged to indorse Spiritualism or Adventism (which he called materialism). He wound up with a long exhortation to the people to get their spiritual eyes opened, that they may enjoy the good time coming, when the nations will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, etc. We commenced meetings with the Pioneer church, Thursday, September 6, and continued over Sabbath and first-day. Seven were added to the church, and six were baptized.” Luverne.—Brethren Dimmick and Moore write that their meetings have now closed at this place. A church of thirteen members was organized, and as many more are keeping the Sabbath. John Corson was a tall, stout boy for his years. He was as full of life and spirit as ever a boy could be, running over with frolic and good feeling and restless energy. Any out-of-door business was his delight. He could skate, fish, row, hoe garden, and drive horses as well for his age as the best. He was manly and truthful, too—a noble fellow in his boyish style, that his mother loved, and his father was very proud of. Everybody liked him; I don’t know indeed why it should not be so, for he was my ideal of a boy. Only he was not quite perfect, just as nobody in this world is. He had a quick, passionate temper; but that is no fault if it is not allowed to get the mastery of a man. John’s temper did sometimes rule him; he had not learned to say “Down!” to the tyrant. John liked to read. “Robinson Crusoe,” all sorts of war histories, tales of adventure and heroism, and wild, exciting stories were devoured as greedily as a lunch at recess. Oh, how his boy imagination reveled in all dangerous exploits and longed for the dash and the daring of a soldier or a savage! He went to school, as most boys do; but that was the place he never appeared to the best advantage. He was a favorite in the school-yard, and was admired for many fine qualities by his teachers; but he did not like to apply himself to a book; his out-door nature rebelled against the confinement of the school-room and the discipline of close, earnest thinking. He was not much of a scholar; I should say, perhaps, such was his reputation, since many boys younger and weaker and less talented than he stood above him in every class study. But really John had all the capacities of a true student, and if he were only diligent, he could have been as far ahead of the majority of the school in mathematics and classics as he was in archery and horsemanship. Well was it for the boy that his preceptor was a judicious man; he opened no contest with his pupil, but he took with a true eye the measure of his capacity, and resolved to inspire him with an ambition he had never felt. For a day or two he waited, watching closely the boy’s habits and moods, not as one determined himself to subdue, but whose purpose it is to lead the offender, through his own sense of honor and right, to self-mastery. There he sat holding his grammar, and feeling as a bird fresh from the wood does the first day in a cage, and putting himself into ill-humor because he could not go off on some rollicking expedition with horse or dog. He was dreaming of Crusoe life, and wishing there were no such things as school-masters and Latin verbs. The bell struck, and John’s class was called for recitation. John’s lesson was the least understood and the worst recited of the whole. Such a failure was common to John’s case. He had been reproved, assisted, and encouraged, but his impatience of discipline left him always far below the standard of his fellows. The master looked stern; the boy, bright, noble and beautiful, stood before him, with his one great failing uppermost over all his young manliness. Mr. L. felt that the hour was a crisis in that young life. He could no longer allow in him the self-indulgence which should leave him weak and superficial in mental requirement; he must teach him to control his restless spirit, and to train his mind to think closely, and reason exactly, and act within itself in a way to become efficient in all worthy uses. “John Corson,” said Mr. L., “do you want to be a man?” John smiled, and answered promptly, “Yes, sir.” “A whole, true, finished man, John, that can always do whatever he finds to do, being a power in himself—that can fight the bad with the good, and be always a victor?” “Why, yes, sir,” said John. “I thought so; will you please tell me now what makes just such a man?” John had a pretty good idea of a man; he looked as though he had some pretty strong independent thoughts about it, but he did not know just how to express his thoughts. “Speak right out, John,” said the master; “tell us what you think.” “Why, sir,” said John, “a man is noble; he don’t do anything mean; and he is somebody.” “Not a bad definition, my lad; a man, you suppose, does his duty, comes right up to the mark, whether it is pleasant to him or not, and makes as much of himself as he can?” “John, who do you suppose does the most for one toward making a man of him—a man, as you say, that is somebody?” “I don’t know, sir, unless it is his father.” “A good father helps a great deal—a good teacher also; good companions and good books very much; but the work is done chiefly by the man himself. It is self-work, such as none other can do for him—more than everything else together. God gives one a being full of capacities to be developed and strengthened and enlarged; all good and right, you know; but they must be very carefully guarded and educated so as to do the best work and the most of it, and in the best manner. Some have more in themselves upon which to build a fine manhood than others; but it is for every one to say for himself how much of a man he shall be—whether little or noble—nobody or somebody. Did you ever think of this, John?” “Not very much, I guess.” “So I suppose. You see how it is—one must work upon himself constantly if he would grow into somebody worth being. His too strong points, like a hasty, disagreeable temper, he must subdue and keep down, because it is not noble to be overcome of a harsh and hateful passion; the weak places he must teach and train and strengthen as much as he can, or there will be great defects to shame and hinder him. The slack places he must take special care of. If there is anything in his duties of learning or training he does not like to do, he must gird his will and his resolution right up to see that he does not lose his chance of being a man just then.” “You have some nice accomplishments, John, and I am glad for it; they will help you to be a man; and you can be as brave and noble in many things as any boy I know, and that makes me proud and happy. But, oh, the slack spot, John! do you know where it is?” “It is about the lesson, I suppose,” said John. “Yes. Here you are, a bright, strong boy, ready to walk right up to a true, finished manhood if you will; but you come here day after day and sit restlessly and idly, with your hands full of true and important and beautiful work, which you leave half done because you are too slack to do it; you don’t want to grow strong and large in intellect; to learn the best ideas of the noblest minds; to reason and compare and calculate, because it costs an effort you are not fond of now. And I never feel that my pupil, with all his talent for being somebody, is sure to become a noble man, full grown in mind and soul, because he does not take his work with a right manly courage and say, I will do it!” “You see, the battle is all to yourself, John, and nobody can fight it out but you—the battle between duty and discipline on one side and ill-tempered slackness on the other. How shall it be?—will you conquer the lessons, and so grow efficient in mind and manly in will? or shall the lessons conquer you while your intellect lies weak and untrained, and your manhood becomes only a dwarf to the strong, brave character it can as well grow to as not? In this great life-battle will you be a common soldier, or an officer fit to command yourself and to lead other men?” John could not bear to think of being less than a man; he saw and was ashamed of his weakness. But he did not say much that day, and Mr. L. left him to his own meditations. The next day John came to school and sat down to his duties. “Well, my lad,” said the master, very kindly, “have you decided who shall conquer?” “I will do it!” answered John, promptly and nobly; “please, sir, see if I don’t!” “That is the point to be gained, John; hold to it, and I expect you to be a man.” Oh, it was hard work, sometimes—up-hill work for a while, but John Corson persevered and conquered. All the boy’s better nature was enlisted; the new motive, the manly aim, accomplished the master’s ideas. Mr. L. became proud of his pupil. I wish you could see John now that ten years are added to his age—ten years of close study and earnest thinking and doing. He has been looking carefully to the weak places and the slack places, for which he has reaped an honorable and glorious reward. He is somebody, and whoever looks upon his intelligent face and manly figure acknowledges it. John Corson will never forget that school-master; he loves him with a noble friendship, and thanks God that there was one to inspire him at the right moment with a right ambition. I think, also, that Mr. L. was never more grateful that God had given him some true work to do than when a few years ago John called on his old teacher to express his gratitude for the few kind words that startled him out of his indolence, and set before him a true and noble endeavor. “Conquer or be conquered, as you spoke the word that afternoon,” said he, “has stood by me ever since.” “Rather say,” replied Mr. L., “that the ‘I will do it!’ you uttered the next morning has carried you through.” Boys, take up the “I will do it,” fill out the pattern of your best, noblest being, and see if that is far different from, or much less than genius! Tom Jones was a little fellow, and not so quick to learn as some boys; but there was nobody in the class that could beat him in his lessons. He rarely missed in geography, never in spelling, and his arithmetic was always correctly done; as for his reading, no boy improved like him. The boys were fairly angry sometimes, he outdid them so. “Why, Tom, where do you learn your lessons? You don’t study in school more than the other boys.” “I rise early in the morning and study two hours before breakfast,” answered Tom. “Ah, that is it! ‘The morning hour has gold in its mouth.’” There is a little garden near us, which is the prettiest and most plentiful little spot in all the neighborhood. The earliest radishes, peas, strawberries, and tomatoes, grow there. It supplies the family with vegetables, besides some for the market. If anybody wants flowers, that garden is sure for the sweetest roses, pinks and “all sorts,” without number. The soil, we used to think, was poor and rocky, besides being exposed to the north wind; and the owner is a busy business man all day, yet he never hires. “How do you make so much out of your little garden?” “I give my mornings to it,” answered the owner, “and I don’t know which is the most benefited by my work, my garden or myself.” Ah, “the morning hour has gold in its mouth.” William Down was one of our young converts. He united with the church, and appeared well; but I pitied the poor fellow when I thought of his going back to the ship-yard to work among a gang of loose associates. Will he maintain his stand? I thought. It is so easy to slip back in religion—easier to go back two steps than advance one. Ah, well, we said, we must trust William to his conscience and his Saviour. Two years passed, and instead of William’s losing ground, his piety grew brighter and stronger. Others fell away, but not he, and no boy perhaps was placed in more unfavorable circumstances. Talking with William one evening, I discovered one secret of his steadfastness. “I never, sir, on any account let a single morning pass without secret prayer and the reading of God’s word. If I have a good deal to do, I rise an hour earlier. I think over my weak points and try to get God’s grace to fortify me just there.” Mark this. Prayer is armor for the battle of life. If you give up your morning petitions you will suffer for it; temptation is before you, and you are not fit to meet it; there is a guilty feeling in the soul, and you keep at a distance from Christ. Be sure the hour of prayer broken in upon by sleepiness can never be made up. Make it a principle, young Christian, to begin the day by watching unto prayer. “The morning hour has gold in its mouth;” aye, and something better than gold—heavenly gain. “Sarah, I wish you would lend me your thimble. I can never find mine when I want it.” “Why can you not find it, Mary?” “If you do not choose to lend me yours, I can borrow of somebody else.” “I am willing to lend it to you, Mary. Here it is.” “I knew you would let me have it.” “Why do you always come to me to borrow when you have lost anything, Mary?” “Because you never lose your things, and always know where to find them.” “How do you suppose I always know where to find my things?” “I am sure I cannot tell. If I knew, I might, perhaps, sometimes contrive to find my own.” “This is the secret. I have a place for everything, and after I have done using anything, it is my rule to put it away in its proper place.” “Yes, just as though your life depended upon it.” “My life does not depend upon it, Mary, but my convenience does very much.” “Well, I never can find time to put my things away.” “How much more time will it take to put a thing away, in its proper place, than it will to hunt after it, when it is lost?” “Well, I’ll never borrow of you again, you may depend on it.” “Why! you are not affronted, Mary, I hope!” “O, no, dear Sarah. I am ashamed, and I am determined, now to do as you do, to have a place for everything, and to put everything in its place!” EVER so little the seed may be,
Ever so little the hand.
But when it is sown it must grow, you see,
And develop its nature, seed, flower, or tree;
The sunshine, the air, and the dew are free
At its command. If the seed be good, we rejoice in hope
Of the harvest it will yield;
We wait and watch for its springing up,
Admire its growth, and count on the crop
That will come from the little seeds we drop
In the great wide field. But if we heedlessly scatter wide
Seeds we may happen to find,
We care not for culture, or what may betide,
We sow here and there on the highway side;
Whether they've lived, or whether they've died,
We never mind. Yet every sower must one day reap
Fruit from the seed he has sown;
How carefully then it becomes us to keep
A watchful eye on the seed, and seek
To sow what is good, that we may not weep
To receive our own. Uprightness in the Christian Life
I do not expect to find perfection, but I do expect to find that uprightness in the Christian, which will not allow him to live in a single known sin. Improperly Pressing Reform
He who presses even a reform improperly injures himself and the cause he advocates. —Dr. R. T. Trall, the famous water-cure physician and lecturer, is dead. —Two-thirds of the population of Austria-Hungary are engaged in agriculture. —Palace Hotel, San Francisco, has been mortgaged to the Hibernia Bank for $1,000,000. —A slight shock of earthquake was felt along the eastern coast of British America, September 19. —It is estimated that the twenty Probate Courts of Utah have granted 5,000 divorces within the past three years. —The petrified figure of a man seven feet, five inches in height is said to have been exhumed near Pueblo, Colorado. —Rome has increased 100,000 in population since it became the capital of Italy, and has now over 285,000 souls. —September 30, two freight trains on the Toledo, Wabash and Western railroad collided. Two engines and fifteen cars were burned. The loss is estimated at $150,000. —Peru has so far advanced toward civilization that its Government has decided to issue $20,000,000 in paper money. —Victor Emanuel collected heavy duties on all the presents to the Pope. The German pilgrims had to pay $12,000 and the Spanish $8000. —The village of Putnam, in Eastern Connecticut, was nearly destroyed by fire on the morning of September 30. The loss is estimated to be about $200,000. —Saturday, July 7, was the seventh day of the week, the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year of the seventh decade, and the decade of the seventh century. —A new and terrible cattle plague, very infectious, has made its appearance at Cleveland, Ohio. It is pronounced to be a species of Texas fever, and numbers of cattle are dying daily. —The wheat crop of the United States in 1873 was 281,254,700 bushels; in 1874, 309,102,700; in 1875, 282,136,000; in 1876, 256,000,000; and this year the figure is placed at 325,000,000 bushels. —The State tax levy for the fiscal year 1877–78 has been fixed at 63 cents on the $100, against 73½ cents last year. This, with the city and county tax, makes a total tax for San Francisco, this year, of $1.83 on the $100. —An eastern paper states that it is proposed to have another Centennial International Exhibition in 1887, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitution, and to have it in New York city, where the new Government was inaugurated. —There are now only 17 cargoes of California wheat and flour en route to Europe, of which seven belongs to the crop of 1876. From this time on, the departures hence will exceed the arrivals out, and the fleet afloat will therefore steadily increase for the next six months. —It is estimated that the total worth of the furs collected by the Hudson Bay Company since its organization represents a money value of $100,000,000 in gold. Still, strange to say, owing to the careful preservation of game by the Company, the average yearly catch is not sensibly decreasing. —A fire broke out in the borax factory, across the street from the Market street depot, in this city, at half past 4 P. M., September 26. The factory, a house and a barn were completely destroyed, but the fire department was promptly on hand and saved adjoining property. Loss estimated to be about $4,600. —The official statistics show that in the forty-seven years from 1820 to 1876, inclusive, the population of this country was increased 10,481,940 by immigration. The highest point of this tide was reached in 1871, when the arrivals numbered 498,823. In the seven years 1870-'76, the immigration amounted to 2,633,761. During the latter period the increase of the population by births was 5,700,000. —The coal areas of the world aggregate 270,200 square miles, of which the United States has 192,000; Great Britain, 11,900; Russia, 11,000, and Nova Scotia, 18,000. The production in 1874 was 274,262,000 tons; of which England took the lead with 125,070,000, while the United States mined 50,000,000; Germany, with only 1800 square miles of coal area, 46,658,000; Russia produced only 1,292,000 tons, and Nova Scotia, 1,052,000. Belgium, with an area of only 900 square miles to draw from, produced 14,670 tons. —There is no country in the world where a little money appropriated in reclaiming valuable land will do so much as in China. Mr. Unthank thinks that an outlay of $1,000,000, in draining the lake caused by the Grand canal at Yellow river, would reclaim rice lands to the value of $50,000,000. The Chinese do not dredge their canal, but build the banks higher as the sediment in the bottom raises the water, and the consequence is the surface of the water is in many places 15 or 20 feet above the land on either side. The canal is 800 miles long, and from 75 to 100 feet wide. The depth, according to Mr. Unthank’s measurements, varies from 7 to 20 feet. Life’s Discipline.
By A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH
An Essay, read before the Signs of the Times Literary Society, August 16. “Life is real, life is earnest,” are words of one of our own American poets, and found in a short poem called, “A Psalm of Life.” A truer sentiment was never expressed; and though there be mysteries connected with our existence, such that cannot be solved, we know of a certainty that we do live, and at times are “overburdened with a sense of life, and cause, and consequence,” and to intensify the thought we add, life is short. Should we live the allotted time for man, three-score years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be four-score, it would then be comparatively short, but when we consider that the average life of man is not half that number we say emphatically, life is short. We just begin to live when life ceases. We have time merely to taste of earth’s joys, its pleasures and its honors. We experience its sorrows, its toils and hardships, and then the summons comes, and we must go. Go where? To the place from whence none ever return. Where the rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old, bond and free are alike food for worms. And is this all there is to life? Is it indeed like a vapor that passeth away, and like grass that springs from the earth and withers, and like the flowers that blossom and decay? Is it to pass away like smoke or the wind that cometh not again? Job, the afflicted of the Lord, bereft of all that was dearest in life, swept, as it were with a breath, of friends, wealth, honor, and almost life itself, held in contempt by his own familiar friends, could with unwavering faith, and unlimited confidence exclaim, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another.” David the sweet singer of Israel, while contrasting the life of the righteous with those who have their portion in this world says, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness.” John, the beloved disciple, with the same undaunted assurance affirms, “That though the earth shall pass away and the lust thereof, he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” There is then life for the righteous beyond this, and as we turn the sacred pages of inspiration evidence accumulates that strengthen the belief that there is, for those who comply with the requirements of the written word, a far better and brighter world than this. It is only to those who reject the calls of offered mercy, trample the law of Jehovah under their feet and spurn the tender, persuasive pleadings of the Holy Spirit that the future is dark and uncertain. The Lord in mercy often leads his chosen in strange and crooked paths. Often does he call them to travel the same road over and over again, be it ever so rough and thorny, all because the lesson he designed should be learned on passing the way the first time was not learned. The life of the Christian can be compared to that of a student. Carefully does the diligent pupil prepare each day’s lesson. Many, very many times is it studied and reviewed before it is perfectly learned. The weary brain throbs, and the discouraged sigh may be heard, and the tear drop seen as, perhaps, the clock strikes the midnight hour, and still the task is incomplete. The morrow comes, and with it the imperative command of the tutor, “Take the lesson over again.” So month after month plods the student till his mind becomes disciplined to think long and well, and is fully prepared to grapple with the most difficult problems. The Christian enters the school of Christ all covered with imperfections. An entire change must be wrought in his character. He must be refined and polished, fitted for the Master’s use; and to affect this he is tested in various ways. Sometimes by prosperity, and then by adversity and afflictions. He is disappointed, perplexed, and tempted, yet in all this the Lord is carefully guiding, so much so that not a hair of his head falls to the ground without his notice; though he chastens he pities. Although the Christian marvels at the straitness of the way, and at times grows weary in it, he is beckoned on by the example of those who have traveled the way before him. He thinks of David, the son of Jesse, a humble lad tending his father’s flocks upon the hills of Bethlehem. He thinks of him as a pious youth, when on hearing the defiant words of the boastful Goliath, in the name of the Lord he throws the well directed stone, and the giant falls, and then is heard in all the cities of Israel this triumphant song; “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” He thinks of him as the prosperous king of Israel, possessing unrestricted power. He thinks of him as he crosses the brook Kidron fleeing from his rebellious son Absalom, and as ascending the Mount of Olives, barefooted, with his head uncovered, and weeping. Then comes the rebellion of Adonijah, and Sheba, the famine and plague upon his afflicted people, and finally when the crimes of Joab are rehearsed, the king cries out, Oh that I had the wings, like a dove; then would I fly away and be at rest. Such in brief was the life of David, the man after God’s own heart. And were these trials unfruitful? Witness his humility, and nobleness of character, and deep piety. Do not these trials shine forth with greater luster after these afflictions than ever before? We might multiply examples of this nature, but this alone is sufficient to show the Lord’s manner of disciplining, subduing and softening man’s spirit and that it is all needful for the perfecting of character that we may be fitted to live here in this life, and be prepared to live the better and unending life.