There is only one Catholic newspaper in the United States to every 300,000 Catholics.
Of the 754 journals published in Paris, 53 are devoted to religion and theology.
The Methodist Bishop Roberts of Liberia, Africa, having died, it is not thought best to endeavor to sustain a bishop there longer.
The fiftieth anniversary of the American Tract Society was celebrated March 28; in New York. In the past fifty years it has issued over 10,000,000 publications.
The Presbyterian General Assembly meets at Cleveland May 20. It is proposed to limit the office of elder to a term of years instead of for life as heretofore. The effort to unite the North and South Presbyterians is a failure for the present.
A new mission to the interior of Africa has been started. $50,000 has been raised for this purpose.
A new religious society has risen in Ohio. The members call themselves Eternalists, and hold that the soul is immortal, and occupies a succession of bodies on earth, both of men and animals.
Everybody rejoices that all the testimony in the Beecher case is finally ended. It is hoped that in a few more days this case of scandal will be dismissed from public attention.
The Methodists are fitting up an extensive camp-ground on the sea coast near Monterey, Cal. It is to be permanent after the fashion of the Eastern camp-meeting watering places.
FOREIGN.
A Baptist chapel has just been dedicated in Rome to the great horror of the Catholics.
A few years ago some copies of the Bible were sent to the interior of Abyssinia, Africa, which have caused much stir. About seventy Jews have embraced Christ.
The city of Berlin has only sixty-three Protestant places of worship, and only 115 clergymen, that is, one church or chapel to every 11,603, and one pastor to every 6,365 souls.
Eld. S. Carpenter, Seventh-day Baptist missionary to China, reports some encouragement in his work there.
In Burmah, India, the first home missionary society of natives has just begun its work.
The new school of the Church Missionary Society at Acca, Palestine, which has been closed by the Mohammedan authorities, has been re-opened by order of the Governor of Syria. A good deal of interest in the gospel has been manifested by the people of Acca.
The Paris papers publish a Papal Encyclical renewing the excommunication pronounced against the Old Catholics of Switzerland and censuring the authorities for protecting them.
The Jesuits have taken an extensive plot of ground at the east end of Beirut, Syria, and are beginning to build what promises to be a very large college upon it.
It is reported from Russia that 250,000 United Greek Catholics of Poland intend to join the Orthodox Russian church. Their priests have presented a statement to the Government explaining that the change of faith arises from the impossibility of their accepting the dogma of Papal infallibility.
The brave Moravian pioneers, who a few years since established themselves on the snowy mountains of Central Asia, far beyond the boundaries of civilization, were cheered last year by the coming of several converts, and one has lately professed faith in Christ.
BERLIN, May 10.—The bill for the suppression of religious orders passed to a third reading to-day in the lower House.
Word comes from Vienna that the Turks have murdered two hundred and seventy Christians in Roumania and Bulgaria during the last three months.
The London Times states that according to the Protestant statistics 30,000 Spaniards have become Protestants since the revolution of 1868.
NEW YORK, May 14.—A special dispatch from Rome states that the Pope's birthday anniversary was celebrated with extraordinary rejoicings. Deputations, letters, and congratulations arrived throughout the day. Twelve preceding pontiffs reached the age of 84. Pio Nono alone surpasses the years of St. Peter in his chair.
Images and figures, it is finally decided on appeal, are not objectionable features in the decoration of a church of the English Establishment, provided they do not give occasion for any idolatrous or superstitious practices. The ritualists now have as broad a license as they could wish.
The "nominally Christian countries" which the American Board has added to its field of operations seem to be about as hard to impress as those that are not Christian in any sense. In Austria, for instance, the opposition to Rev. Mr. Shauffler's mission at Brunn is open and bitter. The books and tracts which he gave the people have been taken away from them and torn up or burned. He and his wife have been summoned before the authorities, to answer the complaints made against them by the priests, of illegally distributing literature and enticing minor children into their meeting, and they have also been peremptorily forbidden to hold any more meetings either public or private.
D. M. C.
News and Miscellany.
By Editor
PENNSYLVANIA DISTURBANCES.
The labor disturbances in Pennsylvania are proving more widespread in their consequences than was at first anticipated. The disaffected miners now exercise complete domination in the coal regions, and the long suspension of work has resulted in a scarcity of coal that is injuriously affecting manufacturing, shipping, and other industrial interests. For several weeks the stocks in the hands of the extensive dealers have been rapidly dwindling, until now they are nearly exhausted. Even if the difficulties between the mine owners and the men were to be soon adjusted, it would be too late to prevent serious damage to many important interests. There has never been a strike in the United States bringing in its train so much and such varied mischief as this is likely to cause, aside from the suffering of the miners and their families. The longshoremen's strike in New York last year was but a bagatelle to it.
TYRONE (Penn.), May 19.—Xingo Parks, the agitator, was arrested to-day at Osceola. Twenty-five Italians have arrived from New York for the Philadelphia mines. The strikers' meetings at various points last night were poorly attended. The strikers are demoralized, and many men have gone to work.
FIRES.
The papers report everything drying up in the East, and predict that from present indications the coming summer will be a remarkably dry one in all parts of the United States.
Following this are accounts of terrible fires, especially in the forests of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Such disasters are becoming so common that they scarcely occasion comment. Had they occurred fifty, or even twenty-five years ago, general terror and apprehension would have been occasioned by such extensive and quickly-following calamities.
THE EASTERN FOREST FIRES.
TYRONE, May 22.—Reports were received here last night that the fire was approaching Phillipsburg, and in order to save the town Mayor Burgess ordered the brush around the place set on fire. About 250 men were sent out to fight the flames at points from which the most danger is to be feared. All that is now left of the thriving town of Osceola is about thirty houses. Soon after the commencement of the fire the turnpike roads in every direction were a mass of flame, and there seemed no way of escape until Daniel Wood, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, brought a train of cars, with which it was found necessary to pack the men, women and children as close as possible, and even then it was found necessary to make four trips. It is estimated that one thousand people were saved in this manner. The sight was terrible to witness. A gentleman who was obliged to take this means of escape says it was past description. The flames leaped up from the trees hundreds of feet high. The crackling of the flames was something awful, cinders and branches falling on the riders, and the men were kept busy putting out the fires on the women's and their own clothing.
NEW YORK, May 22.—Dispatches from Milford, Pa., says the forest fires are sweeping over ten or eleven townships in Pike county, and unless rain comes soon there will be great suffering and loss of life.
NEW BRUNSWICK (N. J.), May 20.—A large fire has been raging since midnight of the 18th in the woods near Milltown, N. J., four miles from this city.
SCRANTON (Pa.), May 20.—This afternoon the forests around Lobihanna, some twenty-five miles distant, on the Delaware, Lackawana and Western Railroad, took fire and much excitement prevailed among the citizens who feared the destruction of the town. The fire is still raging and gangs of men are fighting it at many points.
Thirty million feet of lumber are destroyed. The total loss so far is about $2,000,000. The insurance generally is very light. No lives were lost. The people are in very destitute circumstances.
PORT JERVIS (N. Y.), May 20.—The mountains near this city are again being devastated by fire and the air is thick with smoke. No further damage than the destruction of young growths of timber has been caused in this section, but all the timber along the Delaware for twenty or thirty miles has been destroyed.
LACKAWANA (Pa.), May 19.—Destructive fires are raging in the mountains about this place. Great damage is being done to timber land, and several buildings have been destroyed. About 200 men, women and children are engaged in fighting the fire surrounding this place. Large quantities of bark and cordwood have been destroyed.
POTTSVILLE (Pa.), May 20.—An attempt was made to burn the town of Shenandoah this morning. At Riles' Hotel it was discovered that coal oil and lighted matches had been thrown in the windows.
LONDON, May 19.—A dispatch from Lancaster, Cornwall (England), says that a terrible conflagration is raging in that town.
THE INDIANS.
The delegation of Sioux Chiefs now at Washington, preparing for interview with the "Great Father" make bitter complaint of the cruel frauds practiced upon their tribes by the government agents. Plenty of supplies are promised but they never come. Red Cloud in conversing with Mr Rosewater of the Omaha Bee said: "When Dr. Daniels was agent we recieved rations four times a month. Since Dr. Saville is there we get them only once in a while. We ought to have them at least every ten days, but we are often without rations for thirty days and even longer." Mr. Rosewater asked "How much longer." Red Cloud produced a paper on which were six long pencil marks saying "This is a record which I am going to send to the Great Father. It shows that we have been without rations for sixty days at one time. My people have been suffering awfully. Last winter they had to eat their dogs and live on horse meat to keep from starving. Many children are dying off. I am going to see my Great Father with tears in my eyes to implore him to relieve us."
The other chiefs report similar dishonesty in their agents.
MEXICAN OUTRAGES ON THE TEXAS BORDER.
WASHINGTON, May 22.—Official information has been received here showing that the Mexican outlaws who have been raiding on the Texas border have been aided and abetted by Mexican residents on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. The Governor of Texas has failed so far to take any measures for the proper vindication of the State laws.
Take the Safe Path
DURING the progress of a “Union Temperance Conference” held in England a few weeks ago, one of the speakers, Rev. C. Garrett, urged that even if an occasional glass did not harm some who took it, the example might prove exceedingly harmful to others. No man liveth to himself. He (Mr. Garrett) was fond of climbing. He had pretty strong limbs and a cool head. A few months ago he was climbing a precipice—he thought he could hold on with safety. When at a dangerous point, he heard a voice which almost paralyzed him; it was the voice of his own boy who had caught sight of him and was following not far behind. The voice said, “Papa, take the safe path, for I am following you.”
Obituary Notices.
By John Norton Loughborough
"I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death." Hosea 13:14.
DIED at the house of Bro. Wesley Diggins, San Francisco, Cal., May 23, Oliver P. Diggins, aged 56 years. He had been troubled with a cough for the last five years, but took a violent cold some twelve days since which was the immediate cause of his death.
Bro. Diggins had been a professor of religion about 35 years, and was an Adventist so far as he understood the doctrine. He has lived, for several years near Lawrence, Kansas. His crops being destroyed last year by grasshoppers, he and one son came to California, leaving a companion and five other children in Kansas. He came on before to secure a home for them, but five short weeks have terminated his life here, and blasted his earthly plans. His friends here kindly and tenderly cared for him. He frequently said, "I am afraid I am making too much trouble and expense for the family. You are doing everything for me that can be done." He said, "Tell all my friends that I was well taken care of, and amply provided for, from the time I landed here."
A discourse was given on the funeral occasion, May 24, by the writer, from Rev. 20:4.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
The Millennium not Yet.
It is a truth much to be deplored that money is the criterion of merit in the judgment of the majority. Anything is endurable from a man who is rich; it is wealth alone that hides a multitude of sins. While this is so the poor will not only strive to be rich, but will generally follow the ways of the rich as far as possible. This shows the great responsibility resting upon the rich to be examples, which very few of them consider or care for. When those who stand in high places become corrupt, we find the corruption contagious. Men high in office, men who prefix "honorable" to their names, are proverbially unreliable at this time in this nation. Honesty in office is now rarely found. The following from the Chronicle gives a sad, but no doubt truthful view of the wealthy business men of San Francisco, and of the perversion of justice in the land.
"There is more than a minority, who, in their greed of gain and lust of lucre, will in their business operations step close to the line of crime. Transactions are not of uncommon occurrence which, by every standard of moral right, ought to consign the wealthy operators to the prison at San Quentin. There is here a different standard by which to determine the honesty of rich men; what would be blackmailing, swindling, subornation of perjury, conspiracy to rob and cheat, if perpetrated by a man of small means in ordinary occupations, is, when done by millionaires in the carrying out of their stupendous enterprises, regarded as evidences of shrewd management and business capacity. The result of this is to demoralize the business community and to lower the standard of commercial honor. It is only disgraceful to steal small amounts, and the grade of rascality is in the inverse ratio to the magnitude of the offense. San Quentin is only intended for poor men and small offenders. Of nearly a thousand prisoners at present confined in our State Penitentiary there is not one who is worth $10,000. Men worth $100,000 are never convicted; while a man worth $1,000,000 is never legally arraigned and never put on trial."
Camp-Meetings.
By Editor
Brother and sister White design to hold meetings in each of the Conferences before returning to California. If the Oakland, Cal., Office can be built in season to receive the new press by the first of September, and if a commodious church in San Francisco can be ready by the middle of November, their plan will be to attend the California Camp-meeting the last of September; then immediately after camp-meeting join in a large tent-meeting in San Francisco, to be advertised by a daily paper from the new Office and press, and adjourn to the new house of worship the last of November.
Both Bro. and sister W. are in the enjoyment of freedom of spirit, and a good degree of physical strength, and probably were never better qualified to speak to the people, and give counsel as to ways and means to advance the cause than at the present time. They design to labor to the point to make our camp-meetings, seasons of the greatest interest possible. They ask for a general attendance of all our people, and an effort on the part of all to gather in all those who may be benefited by the camp-meetings.
What has been said relative to ministers attending our camp-meetings only to hear was not designed to keep any away; but was intended to harness them into the work the very first day of the meeting and keep them at work until its close. Preaching is not a tithe of the work to be done at a camp-meeting when properly conducted. The work of preaching, however, as well as other labor, can be divided among all our ministers, not excepting the young ministers. If it be a task to young men to speak, then let them make their discourses short. Nothing is more killing to a camp-meeting than long discourses day after day from the same set of speakers.
Let there be a general rally at all our camp-meetings. And let all come up to these general convocations with faith and hope and a heart to work for the salvation of souls.
Napa.
By John Norton Loughborough
Our meetings with this church were seasons of interest, and we trust of profit to the church. All of the Napa Sabbath-keepers who remain in the place are holding on their way. Several who embraced the truth in Napa have moved to other places which has lessened their numbers somewhat, but they are glad to learn that absent members are making endeavors to shed rays of light, and scatter the truth in other places.
At the close of our meeting Sunday, one was received into the church by letter, and a sister who had been an Adventist since 1843, took her stand with us and united with the church.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
A New Book.
By Editor
We have just received from the author, Uriah Smith, a copy of a bound book, with this title, "A word for the Sabbath : or, False Theories Exposed." This interesting and terse poem of 60 pages is put up in neat muslin covers, printed on heavy book paper, yet offered at the small sum of forty cents a copy, post-paid. Send in your orders which we can soon fill as we have ordered a quantity of them to this coast.
Missionary Districts.
By John Norton Loughborough
By request we republish a list of the districts of the T. and M. Society of California:—
District No. 1, consisting of the southern portion of Sonoma county and Marin, including the churches of Petaluma, Bloomfield, and Green Valley. (T. M. Chapman, Director, Petaluma.)
District No. 2, consisting of the northern part of Sonoma county and Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Klamath and Del Norte counties, and including the churches of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. (Wm. Harmon, Director, Healdsburg.)
District No, 3, Napa and Lake counties, including the churches of Napa and St. Helena. (John Mavity, Director, St. Helena.)
District No. 4, Solano county, including Vallejo church. (J. S. Howard, Director, Vallejo.)
District No. 5, consisting of Yolo, Colusa, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, and Amador counties, including Woodland church. (G. C. Martin, Director, Woodland.)
District No. 6, consisting of Tehama, Shasta, Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Siskiyou counties, and including the church of Red Bluff. (J. H. Disher, Director, Red Bluff.)
District No. 7, consisting of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono and Mariposa counties, including the Oakland church. (D. B. Rickey, Director, Oakland.)
District No. 8, consisting of Santa Clara, San Benito, Merced, Fresno, Tulare, and Inyo counties, and including the churches of San Jose and Santa Clara. (Wm. Swinnerton, Director, San Jose.)
District No. 9, consisting of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Kern, Los Angelos, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, including San Francisco church. (Charles Chittenden, Director, No. 733 Bryant street, San Francisco.) J. N. L.
Note.
By John Norton Loughborough
To the brethren in Santa Clara Co. You will see by the change in the quarterly meeting appointments this week that we decide to provide preaching for the quarterly meeting at San Jose as you request. J. N. L.
Camp-Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
INQUIRIES come in as to the location of the camp-ground I mentioned last week. It is thirty miles east of Oakland, on the Central Pacific R. R. To get to it with teams from Sonoma and Napa counties, you would have to cross the river from Benicia to Martinez, which costs $2.00 per team, and 50 cents each for all passengers. From Martinez it would be one day's drive to the ground by way of Mount Diabalo.
Our attention is called to a ground near San Rafael, Marin Co., some twelve miles up the bay from San Francisco. We will examine the grounds and report upon it next week.
J. N. L.
Appointments.
By John Norton Loughborough
OAKLAND. I will speak at Oakland, Sabbath, May 29, at 11 A. M. Baptism immediately after service.
SAN FRANCISCO. I will speak in San Francisco, Sunday evening, May 30.
LAKE CO. I will speak in Lake Co., Cal., as Brn. Poulson and Hicks may arrange, Sabbath and First-day, June 5, 6. Bro. Healy and myself will spend some ten days at least in that County. Arrangements can be made for baptism at our first meetings, and the time fixed upon. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
I. D. VAN HORN
By I. D. Van Horn
The next quarterly meeting of the S. D. Adventists of the Walla Walla Valley and vicinity, will be held at Walla Walla City, on Sabbath and first-day, July 3 and 4. Friends from Pendleton, Weston, Milton, Dayton, and Mill Creek, are especially invited to attend. The house of worship will be dedicated at this meeting. We shall hope to organize a Tract and Missionary Society, and it is hoped that all will be prepared to pay their s. B. pledges as far as possible. Come brethren and sisters all make preparations to be at the meeting.
I. D. VAN HORN
Quarterly Meetings.
By John Norton Loughborough
The Quarterly Meetings for the third quarter will be held as follows :—
The State Quarterly Meeting will be held at Oakland, Cal., July 3 and 4.
District Quarterly Meetings will be held in District No. 1, at Bloomfield, June 19 and 20. District No. 2, at Healdsburg, June 19 and 20. District No. 3, at St. Helena, June 19 and 20. District No. 4, at Vallejo, June 19 and 20. District No. 5, at Woodland, June 19 and 20. District No. 7, in connection with the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, July 3 and 4. District No. 8, at San Jose, June 19 and 20. District No. 9, at San Francisco, June 19 and 20.
We will try to furnish ministerial labor for the State Quarterly Meeting at Oakland, and at the San Jose meeting. The other Quarterly Meetings will be presided over by the directors of the respective districts, except No. 3, which, in the absence of the director, will be presided over by the Vice President of the Cal. T. and M. Society.
The blanks should be passed out by the church librarians June 5, and then filled out and returned to the librarians June 12, so as to give the librarians ample time to make up their reports for their district Quarterly Meeting. The report of each church should be sent, or carried, to the district secretary at the Quarterly Meeting, so that the district secretary can make a report of the workings of the district for the quarter.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Pres. Cal. State T. and M. Society.
Business Department.
By Editor
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully," (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$2 EACH. Mrs H Canright, Mrs L M Bradley, J W Moody, Mrs Lemuel Herendeen, Wm H Smith.
$1 EACH. Mrs Wm Gobin, J C Westbay, Ernst Wagner, Joseph Jellis, A Weeks, Edwin T Lake.
MISCELLANEOUS. Jarie Gates 25c, Geo Hill 10c, Mrs M J Otis 50c, Timothy Reed 50c, Wm Diggins 50c, M F Gracy 50c, James Hannon $4, G W Hale 50c, Mrs M Brace 25c, Nelson Diggins 50c, Russell Diggins 50c, Franklin Diggins 50c, Wm Diggins 50c, Orson Diggins 50c, Alonson Diggins 50c, Mrs M E Woods 50c, Ambrose Owen 50c, Elaunson Owen 50c, Angeline Diggins 50c.
Donations to the Signs.
A H Clymer $10.
California Publishing Fund.
James Hannon $50, John I Tay $25, Mrs C E Comstock $20, A V Dyberg $3.50.
Books, Pamphlets, Tracts, etc., etc.
By Editor
For Sale at this Office.
☞ OUR BOOK LIST.—Any persons on the Pacific Coast wishing any of the publications named in our book list can obtain them by mail or express by writing to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, California, enclosing the published price of the same. When sent by mail, books will be post paid; when by express, at the expense of the one ordering the books; but in this case a liberal discount will be made when ten dollars worth or more are paid for with any one order.