p. 752 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 47. (12/11/1884)

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

FOR 1885

A 16-page Religious Paper, Published Weekly, at Oakland, California.

THE publishers take pleasure in announcing that the past year has been the most successful and prosperous in the history of this paper. It has steadily gained in patronage and favor, and has come to be acknowledged as a LIVE RELIGIOUS JOURNAL, and RELIABLE EXPOSITOR OF SCRIPTURE, as well as a first-class HOUSEHOLD PAPER, the contents of which, in every department, are pure and elevating.

The first of January, 1885, the SIGNS enters upon its Eleventh Volume, and the publishers are determined to spare no pains or expense in order to make it the MOST USEFUL AND INTERESTING RELIGIOUS JOURNAL PUBLISHED.

To our friends who have been taking the SIGNS, and who are constant readers, we need make no explanations or promises. A reference to its past record will tell them all we would say, and will be sufficient assurance to them that the future will be marked by progress. To the thousands who may read this prospectus, to whom the SIGNS has not been a visitor in the past, we would say a few words in explanation of what the SIGNS is.

The Editorial Department, which is that which gives the tone to every paper, will contain articles on religious topics of special interest, discuss the questions of the day, so far as they are of interest to the student of prophecy, carefully note the signs of the times, as fulfilling the prophetic word, answer questions on Bible subjects, and consider practical matters concerning daily Christian life and church government. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is in no sense a political paper, but is strictly devoted to the spread of practical Christianity. The articles in this department cover a range of subjects wider and of greater interest than those of any other religious paper in the land.

Under the head of General Articles, will appear both original and selected matter—practical, doctrinal, historical, etc. The articles on Bible history and matters purely practical, from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White, who is a constant contributor to this department, are read with delight by thousands, and are alone worth double the price of the paper. A series of historical articles, showing the exact fulfillment of the chief prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, will begin near the first of this new volume. This will be an important feature. Sermons by various eminent preachers will also appear in this department.

The Sabbath-school Department is conducted in such a way as to interest not only Bible students, both teachers and scholars, but also the general reader. It contains comments on two series of lessons,—those found in the Youth's Instructor, and the International Lessons. It will also contain original and selected articles of great service to superintendents and teachers.

On the subject of Temperance, the SIGNS will utter no uncertain sound. As in the past, so in the future, it will advocate the entire suppression of the liquor traffic, believing that States are in duty bound to suppress crime to the extent of their power, and that they have no right to license it in any form. Besides abstinence from intoxicating drinks, opium, etc., it will advocate that higher Christian temperance which will fit one for the Judgment to come.

The SIGNS is entirely a missionary paper, but the Missionary Department will contain matter of a special nature. Reports of home and foreign missions, the wants of the mission fields, and brief sketches of the lives and works of missionaries, will be given, in order to beget and strengthen the true missionary spirit in the minds of all its readers.

In the Home Circle department will be found choice, entertaining reading matter of an elevated character. No serial stories, or anything bordering on the trashy or sentimental, will be admitted. The object of this department is always to instruct, while it entertains.

The News Department of the SIGNS is made up with great care. Current news and interesting facts are given, but nothing of a sensational character. To those who do not take the dailies, this department will be of real value in enabling them to keep abreast of the times; and in many cases it will be preferred to the dailies, since the chaffy and pernicious matter is left out. Interesting items concerning the religious world are also given in this department.

The SIGNS contains no paid advertisements, its only notices being of standard religious books. Its entire sixteen pages are filled with choice reading matter in endless variety. The publishers have in view the good of the subscribers, and are determined to give them many times the worth of their money. Advantageous offers from would-be advertisers have been steadily refused, that the paper might not be diverted from the course marked out for it, which is to advance the cause of Christian morality and the truth of God, and to oppose sin wherever and under whatever form it exists.

RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION

By Editor

Regular subscription, one year (48 numbers), - - - $2 00 To new subscribers, with premium, - - - - - 2 25 To new subscribers, without premium, - - - - 1 75 To new subscribers, six months, with premium, - - - 1 20 For six months, without premium, - - - - - 1 00 For three months, without premium, - - - - - 50 Per year, if sent to friends, or sent to the poor by tract societies, 1 50 Per year, to public libraries and free reading-rooms, - - 1 00

TERMS TO CLUBS.

In clubs of five or more, to one name and address, @ - - $1 50 In clubs of three to one name, for missionary use, @ - - 1 60 Less than three copies to one name and address cannot be mailed at club rates.

Copies of the paper may be transferred from one name to another or from clubs to individuals to whom the society sends it free, for ten cents per copy. The time of such will expire with the club. Large clubs may be broken up into clubs of five or more without charge; into clubs of three to five at ten cents per copy.

LIBERAL PREMIUM OFFERS TO NEW SUBSCRIBERS.

By Editor

No. 1.—“HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES,” with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES one year, for $2.25.

Dr. Wylie's History of the Waldenses gives a vivid sketch of the conflicts waged and the martyrdoms endured by the Waldenses, in defense of their faith and their liberties. In their mountain fastnesses they retained the faith of the early Christians, and by their untiring missionary labors this faith was diffused to all the nations of Europe, thus preparing the way for the great Reformation.

This edition is elegantly bound, and illustrated by twenty full-page engravings. Publisher's price, $1.25.

No. 2.—“SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE OF PAUL,” by Mrs. E. G. White, with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES one year, for $2.25.

This work traces in clear and fascinating style the history of the apostle Paul, and from his labors and sufferings, and the instruction he gave to the churches, are drawn practical moral lessons for the church of to-day.

No. 3.—“THE LIFE OF CHRIST,” by Cunningham Geikie, D. D.

No. 4.—“GOLDEN GRAINS,” ten pamphlets for children, with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES six months, to new subscribers, for $1.20.

Canvasser's Outfit.—Canvasser's Outfit, comprising a Premium Book, Circulars, Blank Receipt Book, Order Sheets, and Suggestions on Canvassing, will be furnished by mail, post-paid, for $1.00.

Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Feasting for Christ's Sake.

By Editor

THE California Christian Advocate comes to the rescue of the church festival, in the following style:

"The Signs of the Times grows pathetic over a supper held at the First Methodist church for the purpose of raising money for a purely benevolent purpose. There is no harm in a supper and a good, social time. It may cost every cent of the twenty-five cents charged for the supper; yet, coming together for better acquaintance, for Christ's sake, is an advantage."

We call attention to this, because it illustrates that which we condemned,—a spirit that is getting to be so common in the church, to dignify self-indulgence with the name of "charity." It is a natural result of the so prevalent notion that the chief object of religion is to make men "happy." We believe in sociability, but we do not believe that it is the duty of the church to provide "amusement" for either young or old. We have never claimed that there is any harm in a supper, nor in any other meal, providing the viands are wholesome, and the partakers are in need of food, and do not gorge themselves; but we do protest against the custom of stuffing one's self for a "purely benevolent purpose," or having a "good, social time," and calling it philanthropy. It is a sad comment on the times, that in order to get the mass of people, young and old, to engage in anything like a religious or benevolent act, it must be sugar-coated so that not the slightest particle of self-denial shall be tasted.

In our article we allowed ten cents profit on each twenty-five-cent meal. The Advocate, better posted in such affairs, says that it may cost "every cent of the twenty-five cents charged for it," yet it is "an advantage," because it is for a "purely benevolent purpose!" If that was the case with the supper in question, we fail to see the advantage to the old lady who needed assistance. The Advocate, however, is critical. It doubtless uses the word "benevolent" in its strict etymological sense, "wishing well." Much of such benevolence, however, consists in wishing well to one's self, rather than to others. We commend the words of James: "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you [or the whole church] say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body [because the supper absorbed all the money]; what doth it profit?"

"Church and State."

By Editor

UNDER the above heading the Catholic Standard gives a six-column report of a sermon by Bishop Ireland, of St. Paul, Minn., before the Plenary Council at Baltimore. The subject of the sermon was "The Church the Support of Just Government," and the text was Rom. 13:1. The speaker professed the highest love for this country, and claimed that the Roman Catholic Church is now, and always has been, the champion of liberty; that slavery, tyranny, and despotism have always vanished before it. The two short extracts from the sermon, which follow, indicate the kind of liberty that the Catholic Church fosters:—

"Among the brightest pages of history, and the most honorable for the human race, are those which tell the battles of the church in defense of liberty. She fought for the possession by herself of liberty. Never did the Catholic Church bend the neck under the yoke of temporal prince. She held directly from Christ, and she permitted no sovereign of earth to rule over her."

"The church fought the battles of civil liberty. During the Middle Ages she was recognized as the arbiter of nations; her popes judged and deposed sovereigns."

These two extracts show the spirit that has always actuated the papacy. It is the same spirit that would be manifested by any church having authority over the civil government. Once let the "National Reform Party" gain its ends, and Protestantism will exhibit the same spirit. And Rom. 13:1 will be quoted in justification of it, too. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." What powers, it will be argued, can be higher than those commissioned to bear Heaven's own message—the gospel? People do well to deprecate the rapid spread of Romanism in America, but should not be oblivious of the rapid strides of a movement which is destined to subvert true liberty as surely as ever the Catholic Church did.

Combination Offer.

By Editor

WE would call the attention of our tract societies, colporters, canvassers, and others to the plans laid at the General Conference to increase the circulation of the Signs of the Times, by combining it with the popular and fast-selling book, "Sunshine at Home." Many thousand copies of this book have been sold during the past year, and it takes well wherever introduced.

On account of the Signs admitting no paid advertisements into its columns, the publishers are not able to give as liberal commission to agents as some other papers do; but by combining the paper with the valuable book above mentioned, we are enabled to offer a very liberal commission to agents.

Now is the time to work, and active agents are wanted in every city and village in the United States.

The canvass for the book in combination with the Signs will be carried on through the different State tract and missionary societies. Therefore, those wishing further particulars will please correspond with their State secretary (the address of whom is given in this paper), when circulars and full information will be furnished. The same commission will be given on "Sunshine" as heretofore.

This offer is made in addition to the liberal premium offers, as given on another page of this paper, in order to get a large number of canvassers to take hold of the work at once.

A Valuable Reference Book.

By John Orr Corliss

I HAVE had the privilege of examining the California Year Book, just issued. It contains eighty pages of valuable matter relative to the workings of our various institutions on the Pacific Coast, also the annual proceedings of the California Conference, Tract Society, and Sabbath-school. Besides a complete directory of the three Conferences, there are two excellent cuts, one of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing House, the other of the Healdsburg College. At a glance, one refreshes his mind upon any point connected with the workings of the cause on this coast. The book is a model of neatness. I think it safe to say that the mechanical execution of the work excels that of any previous production of the kind issued by our people. It ought to be in every Seventh-day Adventist family.

J. O. CORLISS.

Special Notice.

By Editor

ANY book, pamphlet, or tract advertised in the SIGNS can be obtained from either the N. E. Tract Depository, South Lancaster, Massachusetts, Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Michigan, or Pacific Press, Oakland, California.

1,000 Agents Wanted.

By Editor

ONE thousand agents wanted to canvass for the SIGNS and "Sunshine at Home." Liberal commissions paid. Best terms to subscribers ever offered. Indorsed by the General Conference and International Missionary Society. For terms and full particulars write to the State agents (see list on page 750), or address Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.

By Uriah Smith

BY ELD. U. SMITH.

This work presents every verse in the book of Revelation, with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. It is a new and harmonious exposition of that important book, and is designed to create an interest in its study.

416 pp. Price, $1.25.

Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Appointments.

By Editor

OAKLAND.—House of worship, northeast corner of Clay and Thirteenth Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:30 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:00. Seats free. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30.

SAN FRANCISCO.—House of worship, 912 Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler Streets. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:45 A. M. Preaching at 11 A. M. Prayer and missionary meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:45. Preaching every Sunday evening at 7:30. Mission Reading-rooms at the church.

The Teaching of the Apostles

By Editor

AND now, according to an article in the Andover Review, by Mr. E. C. Grosvenor, of Constantinople, Bishop Bryennios has gone to work on a new volume on the "Teaching of the Apostles." So badly have some of the translations been made, and so erroneous are some of the comments, that the Bishop thinks it necessary to correct and refute them. This, no doubt, will be an interesting bit of information to those who have settled so many doctrines by the "Teaching." But whatever changes may be made, they will not affect the various theories that zealous theologians have built upon the document. Those theories are of such a kind that they can stand without even so much support as the false translation of the "Teaching" could give.

The Value of Accuracy

By Editor

An exchange says:—

"The value of accuracy was well illustrated in a recent examination by the Regents of the State of New York. A class of twenty students were being examined in mathematics. The answers given to the questions showed that the entire class was familiar with the principles involved in the questions, and that, consequently, each member should have passed creditably the examination. In point of fact only ten out of the twenty so passed, the remainder being thrown out by inaccuracies in the simple processes of addition and subtraction."

We commend this paragraph to the special attention of the students who are just entering upon their course at Healdsburg College. From observation and experience we know that some students feel inclined to murmur at the strictness with which they are drilled in every particular at that institution. To some, the thoroughness which characterizes the teachers there may not seem at present joyous, but grievous, but we can assure them that in the end it will work wonders for them.