p. 239 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 15. (2/13/1893)

SECULAR.

—The California Senate has defeated the eight-hour labor bill.

—Advices from Sweden are to the effect that influenza is spreading rapidly.

—Reports from Minnesota, Montana, and the Dakotas announce very severe weather during the greater part of last week.

—An explosion of fire damp in a coal pit at Recklinghausen, Westphalia, on the 1st inst., caused the death of 18 men, and 47 were severely injured.

—Hon. Wm. F. Fitzgerald, San Francisco, has been appointed by Governor Markham to the Supreme Court bench in place of Judge Sharpstein, deceased.

—Three negroes were lynched near Richmond, Virginia, on the 2d inst., because of the murder of two white men who were camped in the vicinity of the city.

—A colony is being formed in Cincinnati to go to Nicaragua and establish an American agricultural community. It is designed to have thirty or forty persons leave for Greytown in May.

—The regular line steamer City of Peking, which runs between San Francisco and China and Japan, is ten days overdue at San Francisco, and nothing has been heard from her.

—Robert J. Beatty, charged with being an accomplice in the poisoning of non-union employes at the Carnegie Steel Works at Homestead, Pennsylvania, has been convicted on six indictments.

—The Fourth National Bank of New York says in a circular letter that its total volume of business transacted during 1892 amounted to the vast sum of nearly five billion dollars ($4,996,672,000), a sum so vast as to be incomprehensible.

—In consequence of a strike of journeymen bakers in Marseilles, France, last week, the military bakeries had to supply the people with bread. The strikers attempted to plunder the bread carts, and the military was called out to protect them. But the strike was of short duration.

—President Harrison has appointed Hon. Howell E. Jackson, judge of the U. S. Circuit Court for the District of Tennessee, to the vacancy on the U. S. Supreme Court Bench caused by the death of Judge Lamar. The appointment has caused much surprise to all parties, because Judge Jackson is a lifelong States' Rights Democrat.

—Governor Hogg, of Texas, seems to think that when the summary punishment of negro criminals without trial goes to the extent of burning them alive, it is about time to interfere. So he declares that the perpetrators of the latest recorded depredation, which occurred at Paris, must be prosecuted. He says, "Mob law in Texas must be stamped out."

—The Harrison International Telephone Company, which has been incorporated in Chicago, proposes to do away with the ordinary telegraph and telephone system. In its stead it is proposed to introduce a system worked like an ordinary typewriter, producing a fac simile in letters at the desired destination. It is promised that the cost of messages will be greatly reduced by this simplified method.

—The island of Zante, in the Mediterranean Sea, was terribly shaken by a succession of earthquakes January 31 and February 1. In the town of Zante over 100 houses were wrecked, and several villages were entirely destroyed. Many people were killed, and thousands left their homes and camped in the fields. The town of Zante, which is the capital of the island, was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1841.

—Rev. Gilbert Reid, a missionary for ten years in the interior of North China, passed through San Francisco last week on his way to Washington, to make an appeal for a modification of the Chinese Exclusion Act. He is confident that if the Chinese should be summarily excluded next May, as contemplated in the Geary Act, the Chinese Government will retaliate upon the Americans in China, and it will go hard with the missionaries.

—The petitions calling for the World's Fair to be open on Sunday are pouring into Congress daily at such a rate as must demonstrate to that body that they were wofully deceived by the advocates of Sunday closing, who represented that they spoke the sentiments of a large majority of the people. The honesty of these petitions is shown in the fact that they contain bona-fide signatures of persons who do not claim to speak for anybody but themselves.

—A dispatch received in London from a high church authority in Rome states that England, Austria, and Germany are pressing the Vatican on the subject of reconciliation between the pope and King Humbert. It is evident that such pressure, if the report be true, indicates an urgent necessity on the part of the Italian Government, and the Vatican is said to treat the suggestion "with reserve." Italy is weak financially, and the pope's favor would greatly strengthen the weak places. The house of Savoy is shaky on account of financial scandals.

—The general expression of the press, the politicians, the merchants, and the naval authorities, on the question of the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands is that the United States are to control them, either by annexation or by a protectorate. And such control is probably only a question of time.

RELIGIOUS.

By Editor

—The Pennsylvania Sabbath Association and the Philadelphia Sabbath Association have issued a call for a convention at Harrisburg, February 22.

—Revivalist C. N. Crittenton has been holding a series of meetings in San Bernardino, and the result is said to be one hundred additions to the churches of that city.

—At Lakeport, Cal., a great revival is said to be in progress, in which the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians are uniting their efforts. It is claimed that about ninety conversions were the result up to the 2d inst., and the work was still progressing.

—The Baptist Ministerial Union of San Francisco spent most of its last week's session in discussing the Chinese Registration Act. Finally a memorial to Congress was adopted, protesting against the law on the ground that it is class legislation. While recognizing that some degree of exclusion is necessary, it was suggested that the Geary law is not consistent with common law in that it throws the burden of proof on the defendant.

—Last July an article in the New York Sun, written by a priest in Rome, stated that the pope believed the time had come for the scattered elements in America to be gathered into one. He saw the tendency to unite political and ecclesiastical forces, and says that what the church has done for other nations she will do for the United States. He expects through the success of the church in America to infuse new life into the old organization in Europe.

—The State religion of Germany is Lutheranism. The following item, clipped from the Lutheran Witness, would indicate that Rome is insidiously undermining the nominal faith of the empire: "In the new Reichstag building in Berlin busts of Germany's great sons are to be set up, but the bust of her greatest son, 'her bright particular star,' Martin Luther, will not be set up. The Catholics object to the bust of the 'heretic,' and the 'Protestants' meekly bow obeisance. Rome still knows what struck her in the sixteenth century and we do not blame her; but shame upon the Germans."

—The Christian Statesman, the abettor of religious persecution in the United States, says, "We ask only obedience to law." That's what Rome said when she inaugurated and maintained the Inquisition. The church did not execute heretics, she simply pointed them out to the law's executors. But, on the other hand, all we ask is obedience to law—the law of God, and all other laws that are not antagonistic to its provisions. Man owes no duty to his fellowman, or to the State, that is inconsistent with his duty to God. "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29. Nor do we "resist" any law, good or bad. Everyone has a choice between obedience and the penalty. If the law be at variance with the law of God, we choose the penalty, just as the true disciples of Christ have always done. This is not resistance.

—An item in the Christian Statesman states that "the Boston chief of police has stopped Sunday work by photographers, most of whom in that city were found to be in the habit of breaking the law." Boston is the city whose police arrested and whose court condemned Rev. H. L. Hastings for reading the Bible on the public common. That city could not tolerate the public reading of the word of God on the common even on Sunday. Such is the element that always insists upon the enforcement of religious tenets by civil law. It is because of their rejection of the plain teaching of God's word that they feel the necessity of some other power or authority to support their dogmas. Therefore we find that because the law of God in regard to the Sabbath is rejected, the law of man is invoked to enforce the human substitute. Iniquitous hypocrisy always follows the rejection of the word of God.

—U. S. Senators Quay, of Pennsylvania, Gray, of Delaware, and Hawley, of Connecticut, have all been re-elected. These were prominent supporters of the Sunday-closing legislation enacted at the last session of Congress. Senator Quay was especially prominent as a champion of the Sunday cause, advocating the closing of the World's Fair on religious grounds. It was perfectly fitting that he should assume such a role, inasmuch as his reputation as a corrupt politician had become so notorious through charges and challenges of the press—particularly the New York World—that some very moral act on his part was essential to re-election. What more effective political dash could have been made in the strong Sunday-law State of Pennsylvania than a successful effort to open the way for religious legislation in the national Congress. Turn which way we will, we always find such streams flowing from a corrupt fountain.

OVERLAND EXCURSIONS.

If you are going East, you will find it to your advantage to correspond with the undersigned and obtain full particulars of the "Weekly Overland Excursions," which leave every Wednesday. Experienced managers in charge, whose duties are to look out for the comfort of the passengers, especially ladies and children traveling without an escort. This is the most popular manner of making an overland trip, and no other line offers advantages equal to the "Great Santa Fe Route," the favorite winter route. It is the only line running Pullman palace and tourist sleeping cars through to Chicago every day on the same train. Baggage checked through to destination. Union depot connections in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. Steamship tickets sold to and from all European points. For full information address W. A. Bissel, G. P. A., 650 Market Street, Chronicle Building, San Francisco, Cal., or J. J. Warner, agent, 972 Broadway, Oakland, Cal.

RISE AND PROGRESS

By John Norton Loughborough

—OF—

Seventh-Day Adventists.

Tokens of God's Hand in the Movement, and Brief Sketch of the Advent Cause from 1831 to 1844.

By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

This new book, fresh from the pen of one of the oldest ministers in the advent movement, cannot but be of great interest to all, and especially to those who have become Seventh-Day Adventists in recent years and know but little of the early history of the cause and its leaders.

The following are some of the chapter headings: Extent of the Advent Proclamation; The Tarrying Time; The Midnight Cry; The Disappointment; Fresh Tokens of Divine Guidance; Perils, Reproaches, Victories; New Features in the Work; Providence of God in the Publishing Work; Organization; Rapid Advancement; Though Workers Faint, God's Work Advances; Truth Advanced Even by Opposition.

The book contains nearly 400 pages, with 50 illustrations, several of them full page, and is neatly bound in cloth, and furnished in two styles.

Cloth, plain edges . . . . . $1 25 Cloth, gilt edges . . . . . . 1 50

Books sent postpaid on receipt of price.

Address, ## PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO., OAKLAND, CAL. Or 43 Bond St., New York.

BIBLE SANCTIFICATION:

By Editor

A CONTRAST OF TRUE AND FALSE THEORIES.

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

This is a pamphlet of only 84 pages, but its value is not to be judged by its size. It is just what its title indicates: a faithful presentation of Bible truth on this important subject, and an exposure of the false theories prevailing in regard to it. Every believer in Bible truth should read it. Buy it, read it, and lend it to your neighbor. Price, 10 cents.

Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.

OFF TO GENERAL CONFERENCE.

By Editor

THE editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, together with nearly a score of others, left for the General Conference in a special car, February 2, by the Santa Fe route. He left in charge one who has ably assisted him, especially in Our Work and Workers and Notes and News departments, since the SIGNS was changed to its present form. We have wondered how much the readers have appreciated the gleanings of wheat from many fields found in these departments, or how much labor it costs. But we know many of them do, and that the workers on the SIGNS have their fervent prayers, and we ask them for the future. General Conference begins February 17 and closes March 6. Let our readers pray for that gathering, that God may especially pour out upon it his Spirit.

AN amendment to the national Constitution has been introduced in both houses of Congress, forbidding any State to form a union of Church and State (as Congress only is now forbidden to do so), and forbidding sectarian appropriations also.—Christian Statesman.

As Congress and the Supreme Court have both overridden the national prohibition with reference to a union of Church and State, what would be gained by a prohibition of the States to form such a union? Or, would the States be expected to counteract the unwarranted steps already taken by the national government?

WHEN men of such renown as that enjoyed by Rev. Joseph Cook can stoop to offer as a reply to appeals in behalf of the religious liberty guaranteed by the Constitution, that they lack "literary finish," it is evidence that he has been accorded an elevation in popular esteem entirely unmerited. To say that a speech is "rubbish of the worst sort" does not answer it. Such replies may satisfy bigoted prejudice, which is generally beyond the pale of true dignity; but there is no argument in derision, there is no argument in sarcasm, there is no argument in scurrility. How the mighty fall when they espouse the cause of religious intolerance!

THE present number of the SIGNS is especially valuable for its religious liberty articles. An extra edition is published, in anticipation of orders that will no doubt be given by individuals and societies for distribution in their immediate neighborhoods. The articles "Two Supreme Court Decisions," "The Tribunal of the Future," "A Blow at the Freedom of the Press," and "A Christian Nation," should have an extended reading. The people are just now somewhat stirred up in regard to these things, and are consequently in a mood to read. They should by all means have the opportunity. Extra copies of this number will be furnished for $1.25 per hundred.

LEAFLET No. 14 of the "Sabbath Observance Department" of the W. C. T. U., entitled "Crown of the Week," is a catechism on the Sabbath. In the entire leaflet, of forty-seven questions, every Bible text referred to or quoted save one refers to the seventh-day Sabbath. That one (Acts 20:7) is brought in to help the first day, after the teaching of the law and the prophets and Christ in reference to the only true Sabbath, the seventh day, had been referred to over and over again. But for this error the leaflet has an antidote in itself, namely, question forty-four:—

"Are men's opinions or conduct [or nonsense either, we venture] to influence us when they disagree with the Scripture? "A.—Not in the least. 'To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to his [this] word, it is because there is no light in them.' Isa. 8:20." Let the tract be circulated, but let the people follow the word of God.

IT is not necessary that the child of God should sin. Christ died that man might be kept from sin. Man should therefore make no provision for sin. Yet if man should fail, there is hope for him in Christ. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." We may sin again and again, yet there is pardon. Man's sin cannot exhaust God's mercy; the danger does not lie here; the real danger lies in the hardening of the heart, in the turning away from the pleadings of the Spirit of God, till all sensitiveness is destroyed, and the truth and mercy of God have no longer any power to reach the hardened heart, and the conscience is powerless to discern between good and evil. Keep the conscience tender by keeping, through faith in Christ, from sin.

THERE is friction between the Unitarian students at the University of California and the College Y. M. C. A., growing out of the use of Stiles Hall, which was donated to the institution for religious and library purposes by a Mrs. Stiles. The president of the College Y. M. C. A. has this to say on the subject:—

"Any student or member of the faculty of good moral character may become an associate member, be he Christian, Jew, or Mohammedan. Unitarians cannot become active members, because the International Convention of the Y. M. C. A. decided at a convention held at Portland, in 1869, that active members must belong to some evangelical church, and these were defined as believers in the Bible as the only infallible guide, and in the Trinity. I can't say anything as to their use of Stiles Hall, but I know we discussed the question as to admitting Unitarians to the Y. M. C. A., and found we could only admit them as associate members."

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

The Californian for February in its literary tone and the excellence of its illustrations is a decided improvement on its predecessors. The frontispiece shows a fine view of the famous Multnomah Falls of Oregon. The lines of John Vance Cheney, on Tennyson, embody all the sincerity of feeling which characterizes the work of this well-known poet. An article on the Columbia River, by Laura B. Starr, beautifully illustrated, describes the picturesque and inexhaustible beauties of this section of Oregon. Ex-Governor Sheldon's personal reminiscences of James G. Blaine is an article of unusual interest and importance. Other articles of importance and interest are found in this excellent number. Published in San Francisco. Twenty-five cents each, $3.00 per year.

The Good Health is one of the old standard journals, devoted to everything which pertains to health of the physical man and purity of life. The January number seems better than ever. It deserves a wide circulation. Price, with fine premium, $2.00 a year. Address at Battle Creek, Mich.

The Columbia cycling calendar for '93 is a very novel and truly artistic practical calendar for the year. It begins with February, '93, and ends with February, '94. It consists of a circular piece of cardboard, forty-seven inches in circumference, the calendar picture being framed with a reproduction of the pneumatic rubber tire. The picture is in fifteen water colors, and represents a country scene with a bicycling couple in the foreground, resting in a cozy nook, after a delightful ride. The original picture is by a celebrated American artist, and the reproduction is so close to the painting that one hardly realizes that the delightful tones and shades are not the true brush marks. This calendar, issued by the Pope Mfg. Co., of Boston, is adapted for the library, dining room, parlor, or business office.

Do you want a public office? There are 180,000 offices within the gift of the new administration, and now is the time for those seeking public employment to take proper steps to secure one of these lucrative positions. All who are interested should at once send for a copy of the United States Blue Book. It is a register of all Federal offices and employments in each State and Territory, the District of Columbia and abroad, with their salaries, emoluments, and duties, shows who is eligible for appointment, questions asked at examinations, how to make an application, and how to push it to success, and gives besides a vast amount of important and valuable information relative to government positions never before published. Handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents, postpaid. Send all remittances by draft, money order, or registered letter. Address, J. H. Soule, Publisher, Box 43, Washington, D. C.

Admirers and enemies of Mr. Blaine will alike be interested in the very full article which appears in the February Cosmopolitan, reviewing his characteristics as a man and statesman. A number of fine portraits are printed with the article. For sale at all news stands.

The Health Exponent, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, for January is the first number of the second volume. It has been all that its name implied during the past year, and this number gives promise of greater usefulness in the year to come. Subscription price, 75 cents a year.

W. F. Southard, M.D., of this city, sends us a reprint of an article from the Pacific Medical Journal on "An Examination of the Eyes of 311 Students, with Charts." The subject is an important one.