REV. 6:12--17. "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood ; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
Such are the solemn and sublime scenes that transpire under the sixth seal. And a thought well calculated to awaken in every heart an intense interest in divine things, is the consideration that we are now living amid the momentous events of this seal.
Between the fifth and sixth seals there seems to be a sudden and entire change in the language, from the highly figurative to the strictly literal. Whatever may be the cause of this change, the change itself cannot well be denied. By no principle of interpretation can the language of the preceding seals be made to be literal; nor can the language of this any more easily be made to be figurative. We must therefore accept the change, even though we should be unable to explain it. There is a great fact however to which we would here call attention. It was to be in the period covered by this seal that the prophetic portions of God's word were to be unsealed, and many run to and fro, or "give their sedulous attention to the understanding of these things;" and thereby knowledge on this part of God's word, to be greatly increased. And we suggest that it may be for this reason that the change in the language here occurs, and that the events of this seal, transpiring at a time when these things were to be fully understood, are couched in no figures, but laid before us in plain and unmistakable language.
The great earthquake. The first event under this seal, perhaps the one which marks its opening, is a great earthquake. As the more probable fulfillment of this prediction, we refer to the great earthquake of Nov. 1, 1755. Of this earthquake, Sears, in his "Wonders of the World," pp. 50, 58, 381, says :—
"The great earthquake of Nov. 1, 1755, extended over a tract of at least 4,000,000 of square miles. Its effects were even extended to the waters in many places where the shocks were not perceptible. It pervaded the greater portion of Europe, Africa, and America; but its extreme violence was exercised on the southern part of the former. In Africa, this earthquake was felt almost as severely as it had been in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed. 'Many houses were thrown down at Fay and Mequinez, and multitudes were buried beneath the ruins. Similar effects were realized at Morocco. Its effects were likewise felt at Tangiers, at Tetuan at Funchal in the island of Madeira. It is probable that all Africa was shaken. At the north it extended to Norway and Sweden. Germany, Holland, France, Great Britain, and Ireland, were all more or less agitated by the same great commotion of the elements. Lisbon (Portugal), previous to the earthquake in 1755, contained 150,000 inhabitants. Mr. Barretti says that 90,000 persons are supposed to have been lost on that fatal day."
On page 200 of the same work, we again read : "The terror of the people was beyond description. Nobody wept—it was beyond tears—they ran hither and thither, delirious with horror and astonishment, beating their faces and breasts, crying, 'Misericordia, the world's at an end!' Mothers forgot their children, and ran about loaded with crucified images. Unfortunately many ran to the churches for protection; but in vain was the sacrament exposed; in vain did the poor creatures embrace the altars; images, priests, and people, were buried in one common ruin."
The Encyclopedia Americana states that this earthquake extended also to Greenland, and of its effects upon the city of Lisbon, further says: "The city then contained about 150,000 inhabitants. The shock was instantly followed by the fall of every church and convent, almost all the one-fourth of the houses. In about two hours after the shock, fires broke out in different quarters, and raged with some violence for the space of nearly three days, that the city was completely desolated. The earthquake happened on a holy-day, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of whom escaped."
If the reader will look on his atlas at the countries above mentioned, he will see how large a portion of the earth's surface was agitated by this awful convulsion. Other earthquakes have been as severe in particular localities; but no other one combining so great an extent with such a degree of severity, has ever been felt, of which we have any record.
The darkening of the sun. Following the earthquake, it is announced that "the sun became black as sackcloth of hair." This portion of the prediction has also been fulfilled. Into a detailed account of the wonderful darkening of the sun, May 19, 1780, we need not here enter. Most persons of general reading, it is presumed, have seen some account of it; besides, many are living who have no need of the written description, having eye-witnesses of the extraordinary scene. The following detached declarations from different testimonies will give an idea of its nature.
"In the month of May, 1780, there was a terrific dark day in New England, when 'all faces seemed to gather blackness,' and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the village where Edward Lee lived; 'men's hearts failing them for fear' that the Judgment day was at hand; and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man, who 'spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude."—Tract No. 379, Am. Tract Society—Life of Edward Lee.
"Candles were lighted in many houses. Birds were silent and disappeared. Fowls retired to roost. It was the general opinion that the day of Judgment was at hand."—Pres. Dwight in Ct. Historical Collections.
"The darkness was such as to occasion farmers to leave their work in the field, and retire to their dwellings. Lights became necessary to the transaction of business within doors. The darkness continued through the day."—Gage's History of Rowley, Mass.
"The cocks crew as at daybreak, and everything bore the appearance and gloom of night. The alarm produced by this unusual aspect of the heavens was very great."—Portsmouth Journal, May 20, 1843.
"It was midnight darkness at noon-day. . . . Thousands of people who could not account for it from natural causes, were greatly terrified; and, indeed, it cast a universal gloom on the earth. The frogs and night-hawks began their notes."—Dr. Adams.
"Similar days have occasionally been known, though inferior in the degree or extent of their darkness. The causes of these phenomena are unknown. They certainly were not the result of eclipses."—Sears' Guide to Knowledge.
The moon became as blood. The darkness of the following night, May 19, 1780, was as unnatural as that of the day had been.
"The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as has ever been observed since the Almighty first gave birth to light. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet."—Mr. Tenny of Exeter, N. H., quoted by Mr. Gage to the "Historical Society."
And whenever on this memorable night the moon did appear, as at certain times it did, it had, according to this prophecy, the appearance of blood.
U. S.
(To be Continued.)
Christiana, Norway.
By John G. Matteson
I DESIRE to acknowledge with thankfulness that we have received great encouragement from our brethren in America, and also substantial help. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
The cause is onward here. The number of Sabbath-keepers is increasing, as well as the number of interested hearers and readers. Twelve hundred copies of our little paper, The Signs, are sent out and read every week, besides those that are sent to America and Denmark, and besides all the tracts and books that have been circulated. We have sold tracts the last two weeks for Kr. 30 ($8).
This city is a central point for commerce on the sea in Northern Europe. The greatest source of income to Norway is the sea. Vessels go from here to almost all parts of the globe, and it is astonishing to see the mass of ships that now fill the harbors. Here is, consequently, an excellent place, with good opportunities to send the truth unto the ends of the earth.
We are connected with Sweden by railroads as well as by steamers; and she is calling for help. Near Soderhamn six brethren and sisters have commenced keeping the Sabbath, and meet for worship. They want instruction and baptism. Our prayers ascend to the Lord for old Sweden, that the commandments of God and the soon coming of our divine Lord may soon be proclaimed in power.
Sunday forenoon we hired the theater on Tivoli to answer Pastor Brun's lecture against the Sabbath. We had to pay Kr. 50 ($13.32) for this hall. This expense was nearly covered by the audience. Between eight hundred and nine hundred were present. Hundreds more would have attended if it had been in the evening, but then we could not have the hall. This man is one of the most respected priests in town. His admissions are therefore of no small importance. We quote here seven remarkable admissions:--
1. The rest-day, Saturday, which God has instituted in the third (fourth) commandment, is really the Sabbath.
2. In the law, God has expressly commanded to keep holy the seventh day, or Saturday.
3. The holy word of God shall be our rule and guide in faith and practice.
4. The Sabbath-commandment is expressly instituted by the law given on Sinai, and the third commandment is written with the other nine on the two tables of stone. By this we understand the great importance of the commandment, and that it stands on the same ground as all the rest of the commandments.
5. Our Lord Jesus did himself keep holy the Saturday; . . and he has honored the Sabbath by the very works which he performed on that day.
6. We do not find in all the New Testament any commandment which says that the Sunday must be kept holy, and the Saturday set aside as a day of rest.
7. The Lord has not ordained that the seventh day should be changed, and Sunday take its place.
His proof for Sunday was purely Catholic,--the authority of the church.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
Dependent Women.
WHAT a variety of meanings this phrase conveys! It may refer to the pecuniary relations of women, or it may refer to their social, moral, or mental conditions. In every case it means a pitiable and unfortunate condition. The woman with no family cares, who is pecuniarily dependent in these days is most unhappily situated; and if she is a woman of spirit, health, intelligence, and energy, she will not long remain so. She will find work in the world which shall make her feel that she renders a quid pro quo for her living.
Very often the wife and mother feels that she is a dependent. This is a most unhappy condition, and is utterly inconsistent with the rightly constituted home. The home is a sacred partnership in which the husband and wife join. Both give their labors to it, and if one's labors bring in the money, while the labors of the other conduct the internal affairs of the home, this constitutes no reason why the wife should not be the pecuniary partner of the money earned. In a business firm one partner often has nothing whatever to do with the sales or collection of money, but he is none the less entitled to his share of the profits. The merchant never complains that he has to support the family of his bookkeeper. A wife or mother who feels that she is "supported," that she is dependent, who lives off the generosity of her husband without doing her full share in the building of the home, is to be pitied indeed.
But there is another kind of dependence that is even more unfortunate for women, and yet which is often praised as though it were a merit in them. The beauty of a dependent, clinging nature is much extolled in women by a certain class of men, and its possession is much affected by a certain class of women. In real life nothing is more tiresome. The woman who has no resources within herself, who depends on her husband or society for her happiness, who cannot entertain herself, who is not self-poised, rotating on her own axis, pursuing and keeping her own orbit, falls far short of being the attractive woman she might be. Men praise helplessness and dependence in women only when it ministers to their own love of power. But they tire of it. They may not know the reason why; they may even reproach themselves with their inconstancy, but that does not alter the fact.
Women ought to understand men better than they understand themselves, and the really intelligent and comprehensive woman does. One of the most important things for any woman to understand who would retain the freshness and ardor of her husband's affections, is that she must constantly be bringing forth from her mental treasure-house things new and old, but especially new. She must grow; she must improve; she must have her own resources; she must possess herself; she must in short, spiritually and mentally, be independent of him. How fatal a mistake for her own happiness does that wife make, who proposes to secure her own happiness by devoting herself to him to the extinction of her own individuality!—Ex.
The Home Circle.
SCATTER GLADNESS.
THE Seasons in passing, one sweet moral bring,
And well, if he marked it, would man do;
"Spread pleasure like me," is the language of Spring,
"Make all hearts as glad as you can do!
What a world it would be, if—less mindful of pelf—
You esteemed every neighbor a brother;
And if each, while he did a bit good for himself,
Did a little bit, too, for another!"
The Summer but varies the lesson—"Make glad!
Treat all men with love and affection!
My sun shines alike on the good and the bad,
And shall you dare think of selection?
What a world it would be, if—less mindful of pelf—
You esteemed e'en a bad man a brother;
And if each, while he did a bit good for himself,
Did a little bit, too, for another."
The Autumn repeats it—"My stores are for all,
But should one, in the scramble get favor,
Let him share it with those to whom little may fall,
And what's left will have all the more savor!
What a world it would be, if—less mindful of pelf—
You esteemed the unlucky a brother,
And if each, while he did a bit good for himself,
Did a little bit, too, for another.
And Winter affirms it while shaking the door,
And binding the stream with his fetter—
"Keep the cold that I bring, from the hearts of the poor,
And your own will burn brighter and better!
What a world it would be, if—less mindful of pelf—
You esteemed every poor man a brother;
And if each, while he did a bit good for himself,
Did a little bit, too, for another!"
Readiness for Great Sacrifices
WHAT ground have we for believing that we are ready to make the greatest sacrifices, when we daily fail in offering the least?
Seeing Mother.
A LADY was riding one day in her carriage among the mountains, when she came upon an old woman, with a funny little hood on her head and a staff in her hand, walking on all alone. She was neat and clean, and her skin was soft and delicate, but her back was bent and she was barefoot.
The lady saw she was shoeless and stopped the carriage. "Here is some money," said she in a tender tone.
"What for?" said the woman, looking up pleasantly.
"To buy shoes for your poor feet. Do you not want a pair of shoes?"
The woman laughed a little, low laugh, which seemed to come from a heart filled with simple, happy thoughts.
"Don't you want a pair of shoes?" asked the lady, a little hurt.
"I s'pose I do," said the woman, "but I didn't think of anybody's giving'em to me."
"Take this bill, please, and buy you a pair," said the lady.
"God bless and reward you!" answered the woman heartily.
The carriage drove on, and the lady sank back on the seat with tears in her eyes. "Oh!" said she, "I thought I saw my own mother in that dear old lady. She had just such a sweet face and pleasant voice. You don't know how I felt when I thought of my mother, old and feeble, walking with bare feet over this rough, rocky road."
If we all saw fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the poor, the cold, and the hungry, what a world this would be.—Sel.
Delicacy of Feeling.
The best parts of human qualities are the tenderness and delicacy of feeling in little matters, the desire to soothe and please others, the minutiae of the social virtues. Some ridicule these feminine attributes, which are left out of many men's natures; but I have known the brave, the intellectual, the eloquent to possess these gentle qualities; the braggart, the weak, never! Benevolence and feeling ennoble the most trifling actions.
Peace Rather Than Triumph
EVERY person, however low, has rights and feelings. In all contentions let peace be rather your object than triumph; value triumph only as the means of peace.
Slavery of Fashion
Slavery of Fashion.
SOME people think the milliners and dress makers can make fashions at their will, but this is not quite true. Fashion is above all, —a most inexorable tyrant. Convenience, comfort, health, are nothing in this scale. The following paragraph is a good commentary on the condition of the world of fashion:—“Several years ago a number of American women who had become interested in the question, sent to Worth, the celebrated Parisian modiste, asking him: ‘ What costume can be devised that will be perfectly healthy and at the same time beautiful?’ He replied: ‘I have to make the same answer to you that I have made to the women of Europe. The costume of the Persian women is the handsomest upon the face of the earth. It consists of a loose waist, short skirt and trousers not too loose. I have made this costume beautifully and hung it up in Paris, but the women will not wear it. I can do nothing more. They must suffer until they are willing to adopt it.’”
Fine Gold Fears Not the Fire
FINE gold fears not the fire, nor solid stone the water.
Reports from the Field.
By John Norton Loughborough
Southampton, England.
ANOTHER busy week has passed since I reported. We have made some advancement in our work. One more took a stand with us last Sabbath; and others have promised to keep next Sabbath. A brother writes me from London that there is some stir on the Sabbath question there. One joined them last week, and they have many interesting cases of those who are reading and almost persuaded. The efforts of Bro. W. M. Jones and his associates are producing good fruit.
This week we have received another pound ($5.00) from a party here, as a donation toward our new tent. Our congregations at our home increase, and the interest on the part of those who attend is deepening. On the last two Sunday afternoons the sessions of our Bible-class have been quite interesting. We shall soon start a Sabbath-school, as the children of those embracing the truth come in.
Last week a brother in San Francisco, who formerly resided in Southampton, sent me the names of about sixty persons of his acquaintance with whom he, with others, will open correspondence, sending them reading matter. May God bless the workers who shall strive with us to place the truth before the people of this vicinity, and all England.
In response to calls from America we have this week sent out over one hundred addresses for V. M. workers to use in connection with their distribution of SIGNS. Two or three parties in America have sent us SIGNS, so that with the thirty copies we take ourselves we now have about fifty copies a week. If we erect a tent, we could use nearly that number each day. We shall do the best we can, and increase our facilities for labor as circumstances demand. We have already a number of subscribers for the SIGNS and the weekly Instructor, who pay by the week. That is the mode of "taking in" papers here, especially with those of moderate means.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Salisbury, Missouri.
By George I. Butler
Our meetings have been in progress over five weeks, and yet we dare not leave. We have had a good, healthy interest all the time, and have yet. Last Sunday our congregations were as large as at any time since we came, and there is as much stir in the community as ever. The town has been stirred more than ever before; all admit this.
Quite a number are keeping the Sabbath, and many more are almost persuaded. We had a good Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. Several spoke, and the Lord's Spirit was with us. Have sold over $20.00 worth of books. Bro. Hollenbeck has been with me for two weeks, and helps much in the music and other ways. About $20 has been raised by donations. It seems to require a tremendous effort to get the people to take a stand; but our faith is, we shall have a church in Salisbury. Pray for us that God will help us.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
March 25.
Finlay, Dakota.
By S. B. Whitney
SINCE my last writing, one more family have embraced the Sabbath. They had but just come into the territory, had made no profession of religion before, and heard but one discourse before deciding to obey the present truth. Their testimony in meeting last Sabbath was very decided, and borne with much feeling. Seventeen have signed the covenant, and the majority of these had made no profession of religion before our meetings. The Sabbath-school, numbering over twenty, is in working order, having a club of ten weekly Instructors, register, class records, penny box, etc.
Held our last meeting with them for the present last evening; it was full and interesting. S. B. WHITNEY.
March 24.
Pittwood and Martintown, Ill.
By Daniel T. Bourdeau
At least twenty-five persons have embraced the message in these places. Some have moved away, yet we have organized a Sabbath-school, and a systematic benevolence pledge has been made. Bro. R. F. Andrews has been with me the past two days, and is taking hold of the American branch of the work in good earnest. To-day he has baptized ten persons, nine of whom are French.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
Wakeman, Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
Since my last report, two more persons have heartily accepted the truth. We shall hold a few meetings in a school-house in the country, and then close the work here for the present.
H. A. St. John.
Speak to Strangers.
"Who was that quiet appearing girl that came into church quite late, last Sabbath?" I asked a friend of mine who was an active member in the church to which I belonged.
"Did she have a striped shawl and dark dress?" inquired my friend. "If so it was Annie Linton, a girl who is a seamstress in Brown's shop."
"I did not notice her clothes in particular," I answered, "but I think she did wear a striped shawl. Her face attracted me, I should know it among a thousand faces."
"You are always discovering something very unusual about the appearance of somebody that we know nothing about," laughed my friend.
"I would rather be guilty of this, than to pass by a stranger as indifferently as you did by this young lady. I expected that you were going to ask her to remain at Sabbath-school and go into your Bible-class, but you never once looked at her," I answered my good natured but careless friend.
"I did not once think of it, and if I had I believe that she would not have accepted the invitation, as she is a stranger in town, and undoubtedly will not remain here long," my friend replied quickly, in the way of defense.
I did not say anything more, for Mrs. G. was really an excellent Christian woman, with this one little fault—carelessness—which sometimes caused her to make grave mistakes.
But I could not help thinking about the stranger girl, although I did not say anything more about her. Her large dark eyes and finely formed face revealed more than ordinary intelligence, and then in some way I gained the impression that she was deeply impressed with religious conviction, if not a Christian already. It seemed to me that she left the church very reluctantly, and was half waiting an invitation to the Bible-class.
The next Sabbath she came again and occupied the same seat—just in front of my own. She bowed her head very reverently during prayer, and once during the sermon I saw her lip quiver with emotion, and a tear came into her eye. The services closed, and the stranger lingered as before. My friend, good Mrs. G., bustled along but again forgot to speak to the girl. She passed out of the church slowly and did not come again. I thought she must have left town, as I had not seen her for several days, but one Sabbath as I attended another church I saw her again. She seemed a little more at ease I thought, and there was a quiet smile on her face. After the services were concluded I saw many a pleasant smile given to the stranger girl and I understood the secret of the changed look upon her face. I made some inquiries and learned that she had joined this church, and was earnest and active in all its work. I also learned that she had just made a profession of religion before coming to our village, and had an unusually clear experience.
How much the indifference of our own people had to do with her finding a home in another church I know not.
Several years have passed since this occurred, but I have never forgotten it. Many a stranger's hand I have clasped as I thought of Annie Linton's sweet face. I was young in Christian experience then, and that lesson was a profitable one to me.
Speak to the stranger, Christian friend, with the assurance that no evil will grow out of it. It is better sometimes to step over the rules of etiquette than chill some warm stream of God's new-given love by coldness and indifference.—Exchange.
Good Health.
Let Children Sleep.
THE instinct of children against early and especially sudden, rising is well founded; and it is pleasant to have the learned faculty confirm a long and growing conviction that it is not a sin to lie in bed till the second bell rings. It is the experience of the majority of people that the most delicious moments of the whole day are those when they ought to get up, and do not.
Hereafter let them linger in this delightful borderland with a quiet conscience. Nature is about to be vindicated by the scientists. We have been now for several thousand years going to the ant and getting away from the sluggard to that degree that we have developed a very nervous condition. To say nothing of being defrauded of our rights, and of the legitimate and healthy luxury of sleeping long and waking up slowly, as plants do, no doubt many of the nervous diseases that are attributed to stock gambling, tobacco and unrequited love are due to the want of sufficient sleep, from childhood up.
It is not an idle fancy that we moderns do not sleep enough. It is, perhaps, right to shoot soldiers, who are hired for that purpose, for sleeping at their posts. It disciplines them; but it might be better to relieve guard oftener and send them to bed. Yet civilians generally ought to be lectured for sleeping too little. All the passages in school-books about early rising should be stricken out, and there should be verses promising a moderate competence as the reward of sleeping enough and coming out of sleep by degrees. In old times, perhaps, it did not matter so much, when the world was less busy, and there was less strain upon the faculties during the waking hours. But every one can see now that the world is red hot with money-getting and vast enterprises, and politics, and ritualism, and all sorts of rights, patent and some that are not so patent, and a feverish literature; and, in order to bear the wear and carry the load of it, a man needs to sleep more hours than he did when he only rose to eat and drink, and hunt the wild boar, and slay a few of his neighbors before an early dinner.
But we do not sleep as much as the former generations did, who had less to do. We are becoming more and more wakeful, so that we cannot sleep soundly in the season we give to rest. It is a nervous wakefulness, however, and not the full vigor of all the powers which should result from proper rest of the system. No one can be at his best in any hour unless he has given as many hours to solid sleep as his system requires. The demands of business and the exactions of society keep most of us out of bed unmercifully, and in time we get jadedly used to the unnatural life, and take credit to ourselves that we can do with the fewest hours of sleep. It is a great mistake. There have been great men who were able to accomplish a great amount of work with little sleep; but we may be sure that, if we want to be great men, or, what is more important in this day, great women, we shall reach the goal soonest by being good sleepers. That was an honorable epitaph on the Dutchman's tombstone: "He vas a gut sleeper." It will not be said of many of this nervous excited generation.
It is well, however, to plead for children. Let it be understood that it is no merit in a child to pop out of bed instantly upon the stroke of the bell, like a surprised and obfuscated jack-in-the-box. And give everybody time to wake up decently and in order. And let all the people say, Blessed is the medical man who preaches the gospel of morning "catnaps." —C. D. Warner, in Independent.
St. Helena and Vacaville.
By W. M. Healey
I CLOSED my meetings in St. Helena, one week ago, and notwithstanding we had a very unfavorable time for holding them, as it rained almost continually, the effort was not lost, the church has been greatly benefitted and six adults have signed the covenant and others are keeping the commandments.
I visited Vacaville last Sabbath and first day, preaching five times; there is quite an interest here among those outside. We completed the church organization and ordained Bro. Wm. Butcher as local Elder. Bro. Winfield Swayze is Clerk, Brn. George Blair and John Bolton were elected Deacons.
Two signed the covenant to keep the commandments. The truth has faithful witnesses in St. Helena and Vacaville. May they ever remain such. W. M. HEALEY.
April 7, 1879.
Lemoore, Cal.
By John Norton Loughborough
SABBATH, April 5th, I met with and organized the Lemoore church, and celebrated the ordinances with them. They have an organization of thirty-five members besides several keeping the Sabbath who have not united with them.
This is the strongest point in this section; they have a neat little house of worship, and every thing is in a good condition.
The following resolution was unanimously passed by them.
Resolved, That we request to be admitted into the Cal. Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, at its next session, and till such time we request the watch care of the Conference Committee."
May the Lord bless and lead this people in future as he has in the past.
J. L. WOOD.
Eagle, Cass Co., Neb.
By Chas. L. Boyd
Four weeks ago Brn. Hackworth and Williams came to this place, and commenced a series of meetings. Two weeks ago I joined them. The Lord has blessed the labors, and the good seed sown has been springing up. Seventeen have signed the covenant. I remain for a time. Brethren and sisters, pray for the reapers, and thus be co-laborers in the great harvest field.
Chas. L. Boyd.
March 25.
A Captain's Confession.
"This week," writes a friend, "I met a captain puffing away at his pipe. His face had that dirty, tallowy, parchment hue so common among smokers, and I ventured to ask him what benefit he derived from the practice.
" 'Benefit!' he exclaimed, 'what are you talking about? This here baccy is the greatest curse on earth, worse than drink itself, and that's bad enough. I can take a swill at the drink and leave off, but as for the baccy, I can't let it alone. I've seen me on board take a pipe before breakfast, and then I could scarcely eat a mouthful; same at dinner, and so on till the very flesh was wearing off my bones; and there are big blockheads who'll tell you that one of the great advantages of baccy is that you never know when you're hungry. Why, sir, my father, 73 years old, is no smoker, but sober and hearty. When we're walking together, folks say that I look older than the old boy himself—ay its true, too. I feel like an old man, though only 42. Well, sir, during one voyage our baccy run short, and we had to do without it for more than three months. Both me and the sailors began to enjoy our victuals, and before long we were as plump as partridges. We all declared we wished there wasn't a grain of that—rubbish left on the earth; but when we landed and saw others puffing away—why, like a pack of stupids as we were, we went back like so many pigs to their wallowin' in the mire. I tell you what, sir, I'm only a poorish fellow, but for all that I would pay down £50 this very day to be free forever from the slavery of the baccy.'"
" 'Cheer up, captain,' I replied, 'I can tell you how to give the vile reptile his death blow, and that without money and without price.'
" 'Ay, ay, sir, how's that to be done?'
" 'In this way: whenever tempted to indulge in this degrading habit go at once, through Christ, to the Great Father of us all, and pray for strength to resist it, and you will come off victorious.'
"He was clearly moved by these words, and looked thoughtfully at the ground for a minute or two, and then shaking my hand, said: 'Well, sir, you have struck out a new idea; I'll try it, and when we meet again I'll tell you how it works.'"—English Tract.
Are Fat People Healthy.
"Why are fat people always complaining? asks some one who entertains the popular though erroneous notion that health is synonymous with fat. Fat people complain because they are diseased. Obesity is an abnormal condition of the system, in which the saccharine and oleaginous elements of the food are assimilated to the partial exclusion of the muscle-forming and brain-producing elements. In proof of this, it is only necessary to assert the well-known fact that excessively fat people are never strong, and seldom distinguished for mental powers or activity. Besides they are the easy prey of acute and epidemic diseases, and they are the frequent victims of gout, heart disease, and apoplexy."
And yet people will persist that hogs are healthy, and their flesh fit for food, when they are confined in close pens so as to add as much as possible to their natural filthiness, and fattened to the very point of suffocation, where they are just ready to die of liver complaint. Scrofula by the pound! If people would stop to consider, it seems as if they would turn with disgust from the sickening mass of disease known as fat pork.