—The first banks were established in Italy, in the year 808, by the Lombard Jews, of whom some settled in Lombard street, London, where many bankers have ever since resided.
—The Chinese in Shanghai state that measures have been concerted between the Taotai and the literati and gentry, to incite the people to destroy the Shanghai and Woosung Railway within two months, but that the Taotai was afraid to act on his own responsibility.
—Perhaps the largest coinage ever reported in the San Francisco Mint in one day, was reported last week, viz.: One million one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in gold, and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars in silver, making a total of $1,248,000. In number there was two million six hundred thousand pieces of coin.
—The Japanese do not get weary of the endeavor to transform Japan into some likeness of an American or European State. They now have a Commission in this country visiting the schools, intending to learn the best methods of educating children. Another Commission, also now in this country, is ascertaining the measures taken by the governments of cities through boards of health to protect the health of their inhabitants.
—And now Greece has put in her plea for a piece of the Sick Man’s estate. The telegraph tells us the King demands the cession of Crete to Greece. This island with upwards of 200,000 inhabitants, geographically belongs to Greece, as it does also by race affinities, and has made some determined struggles to throw off the Turkish yoke. The fact that King George of Greece is a son of the Danish king, and husband of a Russian princess, will have a significant bearing.
INTEMPERANCE IN AMERICA.—Dr. De Marmon, in the New York Medical Journal, says: For the last ten years the use of spirits has, 1. Imposed upon the nation a direct expense of $600,000,000; 2. Has caused an indirect expense of $700,000,000; 3. Has destroyed 300,000 lives; 4. Has sent 100,000 children to the poor-house; 5. Has committed at least 150,000 people to prisons and work-houses; 6. Has determined, at least, 1,000 suicides; 7. Has caused the loss, by fire or violence, of at least $10,000,000 worth of property; 8. Has made 200,000 widows, and 1,000,000 orphans.
—At last the District Attorney of New York has succeeded in placing on the court calendar about thirty of the indictments procured, through the efforts of the “Society for the Prevention of Vice,” against dealers in obscene literature. Of the thirty, only one case, and that of a comparatively small offender, was ready for trial, but the promptness with which the offender was tried and found guilty is encouraging to the thousands of respectable people who were beginning to think that the District Attorney and his assistants noticed offenders of this class only for the purpose of shielding them. The future course of these indictments will be awaited with curiosity and interest by the most respectable members of society.
—Fearful atrocities are reported from different points in China. At Kienning-fu, in Fohkien, a mob surrounded the premises of the Roman Catholic mission, and set fire to them, burning two priests and sixteen converts, who could not make their escape. On the 18th of July, in the town of Yuen-shin-chang, in the district of Loui-kiang, placards hostile to Christians and Europeans were posted in various places in the market. About 9 o’clock on the morning of the 20th, a line of 4000 or 5000 armed men drew round the market to prevent Christians from escaping. They manufactured a large wooden cross, and tied on it successively all the Christians they could catch, and then cut them in pieces. Among the victims were two heathens, of whom one was the father of a convert, and the other a young girl of fifteen, whose brother was a Christian. The houses of the Christians were pillaged and destroyed. About thirty other persons are missing.
On the 22 the brutes went to the market of Peimow-chen, where they murdered four more Christians, but of this butchery we have no details. It is said that the principal chiefs of this band of assassins are emissaries from Kiang-peh, where the persecution first broke out, who are traversing the province in full sight and knowledge of the mandarins, to excite trouble against the Christians and drive out Europeans, and thus check any inclinations on the part of foreigners to extend their trade with the interior of China.—N. C. Daily News.
Too Much Food, Too Little Air
Men consume too much food and too little pure air. They take too much medicine and too little exercise.
RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.
—The Religious Book Society of London has sold 2,000,000 copies of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress within a few years.
—The new organ of the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland arrived last week. Several weeks will be occupied in setting it up.
—The itinerant Methodist preachers throughout the world number 27,591. The local preachers number 61,474, making an aggregate of 89,065.
—Rev. Lyman Abbott, a writer of long experience and acknowledged ability, is now associated with Henry Ward Beecher in the editorship of the Christian Union.
—The Biblical Messenger, formerly published in Waterbury, Vt., will henceforth be merged into the Bible Banner, published in Vineland, N. J., and which will be edited by A. A. Phelps, A. M., D. T. Taylor, and Wm. Sheldon.
—Twenty French journals have recently been prosecuted by the Jesuits, and fined on an average of $3,000 each for attacks on Jesuit proceedings, and the journalists and their friends have retaliated by demanding the expulsion of the Jesuits from France according to an unrepealed ordinance of 1826.
—Bishop Burdon recently ordained four native preachers in connection with the English Church Mission at Foochow, China. There are now at Foochow twelve ordained native Methodist preachers, five of the Church of England, and two of the American Board, making nineteen ordained native ministers.
—The Abyssinians have the Bible in ancient Ethiopic. They worship the Virgin Mary and the saints, and include the old Jewish patriarchs and prophets in their calendar. They observe the seventh day as the Sabbath, and their priests marry. They do not recognize the Pope.
—During the past three months the Spanish clergy and aristocracy have made a severe attack upon their employees and servants who dare to worship in, or send their children to, Protestant schools or churches. Hundreds of poor men and women have thus suffered for their faith.
—The Roman Catholics claim that the following members of their hierarchy in the United States are converts from Protestantism: Archbishop Bayley, of Baltimore; Archbishop Wood, of Philadelphia; and Bishops Doyle, of Hartford; Becker, of Wilmington, Gilmore, of Cleveland; Rosecrans, of Columbus; and Wadhams, of Ogdensburg.
—The success of Christian missions has led to the curious result that the leaders of heathen religions are sending out counter missionaries. A sect of Buddhists in Japan are preparing young men to preach against Christianity. In order to fully grasp their own doctrines, students have been sent to China to examine the Chinese forms of Buddhism, and two young men have gone to England. After their stay in England they are to go to India to receive instruction in the Buddhist doctrines of that country.
—John D. Lee, the leader in the Mormon massacre at Mountain Meadow, has been tried and found guilty of murder in the first degree. He was convicted on the evidence of the parties to the massacre, and it seems to be generally believed that he has been made a scapegoat by the Mormon leaders to secure immunity to the other implicated parties.
Lee's counsel have asked a delay of ten days before passage of the sentence by the Court, to give time to file grounds of appeal. Lee is sad and threatening betimes. There is a rumor that he intends to expose more than is already known.
Business Department.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully,” (margin, negligently). Jer. 48:10.
Received for the Signs.
$3.00 EACH. C S Briggs 4-1, J L Rumery 4-1, Mrs T Hickox 4-8, B M Osgood 4-1, Mrs T McFarland 3-35, A D Jones 3-8, Fannie Glascock 4-1.
$1.50 EACH. Wilmington Library 3-42, E H Pratt 3-24, H W Holmes 3-42, J M Shrock 3-42, Louis Ingalls 3-42, Geo Jones 3-42, Mrs Susan Washburn 3-42, Abram Lyttle 3-42, S J Plummer 3-42, S N Stillman 3-42, M A Allen 3-42, F Cummings 3-42.
MISCELLANEOUS. Mrs F 50c 3-10, Joseph Jellis $1.00 2-45, Mrs Henry Evans 75c 3-18, L B Kneeland $1.00 3-14, John Post 50c 3-10, A Cole 50c 3-10, W H Wild 10c, M A Carlock $1.00 3-26, Alvin Merriam $2.00 3-1, Mary E Prince $1.00 3-42, Sarah Dunton $2.00 2-82, M M Buckland $2.00 4-1, Mrs Morand $2.00 3-42, Mary A Howe $1.00 2-47, Wm Wallace 75c 3-18, Mrs W C Batson $1.00 3-18, Wm Wakeham $2.00 3-15.
California Publishing Fund.
Mary K White $100.00.
Donations to the Signs.
Wm Saunders $10.00, L Ross $1.00.
California Conference Fund.
Church at Middletown $12.00.
One Year's Progress.
By Editor
THE report of the Michigan Camp-meeting shows the largest gathering of Sabbath-keepers ever congregated in the present century, and the reports of the annual meetings of the several societies and associations centered in that State show a degree of interest and a record of progress which no other annual reports have ever equaled. To the experienced eye that has watched for years the gradual rise and slow progress of an unpopular cause, the advancement of the last year is unexplainable; and only when we look to the page of prophecy and see that the hand of God is in this work is the mystery solved.
From the very full and lengthy reports in the Review and Herald we shall select a few of the most interesting facts and present them to the readers of the SIGNS.
The increase of the General Conference during the year includes twenty-seven ministers, fifty-nine churches, and two thousand and twelve members. But we are anticipating. The report was received too late for publication in this paper, but we promise it in full next week.
Truth Ever Onward.
This year has been one in which marked success has attended both camp-meetings and tent-meetings throughout the Eastern States. The whole country seems to have been wonderfully stirred by the summer’s campaign, as will be shown by the following reports of tent labor from different parts of the Union, and from Canada.
Kentucky.
Bro. S. Osborn speak of his labors in this State as follows:— “I have given fifty-two discourses thus far, and it seems that the interest is as good as ever. I had continued over six weeks without any intermission, and last Sunday night I proposed to rest a few days. Two men offered 100 pounds of flour apiece to have the meetings continue over all winter. The people bring us all the country produce we want. I have sold between twenty and twenty-five dollars worth of books—a thing unparalleled in this State, because the people think so little of reading; everything must be preached to them. Seventeen are now keeping the Sabbath. We shall stay here as long as it seems duty. Pray for us.”
Virginia.
Elds. Lane and Corliss report that the work is still onward here. “During the last week we have held thirteen meetings. On Sunday the congregation was estimated at eight hundred. The country is stirred for miles around. We have never had so many pressing calls for labor as now.”
Ohio.
Eld. T. M. Stewart of Ohio tent No. 1, says: “We left New Antioch one week ago to-day, after seeing twenty names attached to the covenant, and others promising to come along soon. Bro. Butler remained there to spend another Sabbath with them.
Kansas.
“Our meeting at Elm Creek,” says Bro. J. Lamont, “is still in progress, with interest unabated. Those who were almost decided, have, to the number of fifteen, taken a decided stand, while others fill the place these occupied a week or ten days ago. Eighteen have already signed the covenant. A few others are keeping the Sabbath.”
Canada.
Eld. A. C. Bourdeau and R. S. Owen who have for some time been laboring in this Province among both French and American, report concerning their meetings in Waterloo as follows: “We have found many friends. Ten more have embraced the truth, one of whom has preached and helps already in advocating the truth, and another one, an educated French Canadian, will aid in the work. Upwards of thirty are now rejoicing in the present truth in these parts. Have baptized some every Sabbath for three weeks.”
Florida.
JACKSONVILLE.—From this distant State we hear a voice saying, “There is a little company here, who have accepted the seventh day as the Lord’s day of rest, and the truth is spreading. We expect to see others soon start out on the journey to the kingdom.”
This Week's Paper.
By Editor
Some changes will be noticed in the arrangement of subject matter this week. The space usually occupied by “Doctrinal Articles” is devoted to the Conference Address, and the sixth page is filled with some very interesting missionary articles, which have crowded out the “Home Circle” for this week. The reports on the editorial pages will be read with unusual interest.
By reading the condensed report of the meeting of the Publishing Association under the heading “One Year's Progress,” it will be seen that Eld. White intends to return to this coast to spend the winter. It is expected that he will take the immediate management of the Signs, that the Sketches of the Life and Christian Experience of Mrs. White will be continued, and that additional life will be put into all the columns of the paper.
A Missionary Quarterly.
By William C. White
THERE is much for our T. and M. Societies to do the coming quarter. It was voted at the camp-meeting that full and complete directions should be written out and published. Competent persons have pledged their assistance in this work; but the SIGNS has not the space to devote to these lengthy plans and suggestions. A Missionary Quarterly has been proposed to contain a complete plan of work for the next three months, with full directions to canvassers, and some of the best reading matter on missionary work. Let the directors who want such a paper respond by letter as soon as possible.
W. C. WHITE.
San Francisco and Gilroy.
By John Norton Loughborough
Most of the time since our good camp-meeting I have spent in San Francisco, in holding meetings and in visiting from house to house among our people. We are encouraged to see an increased determination among our people there to press together, and to go on with the body in the great work of extending the cause of present truth. Some are feeble in health so that they cannot meet in the church, but are trying to serve God at their homes.
I have just closed an excellent meeting with the company in Gilroy, in which I have given five discourses. Two more were baptized, and beside these three others signed the covenant. Two who have joined the company here within the last three months have embraced the truth by reading our papers and books. So the good work goes on.
Bro. Otis, the newly appointed director of this district, was with me at these meetings and arranged missionary matters in this church. He seems to have a mind to the work. May the Lord help him in his determination to make the T. and M. work a success in district No. 8.
A number who have embraced the truth in Gilroy have moved to other points, and with the blessing of the Lord are trying to let the light shine where they are, and that with some success. Bro. Phipps who went to Missouri, reports some as having commenced to keep the Sabbath in Laclede Co., from conversation and reading his books and papers. If the few who remain here in Gilroy are firm in the work they may expect to see others take their stand to obey the truth.
J. N. Loughborough.
MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.
The sixty-four churches of the Michigan Conference were represented by eighty-seven delegates. Hart was represented by letter, and sixteen new churches were admitted to the Conference, under the following names: Lyons, Muir, Armada, Lakeview, Saranac, Thetford, Green, Monroe Center, Mattawan, Ovid, Estella, W. Plains, Douglas, W. Liberty, Spring Harbor, and Flint. The companies of Sabbath-keepers at Adrian, Bronson, and Dimondale were, by their request, taken under the watch-care of the Conference. The officers elected for the coming year were—President, S. N. Haskell; Secretary, D. H. Lamson; Treasurer, Alice Canfield; Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, E. H. Root, and Jerome Fargo.
Ministerial Credentials were issued to Eld. James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, H. M. Kenyon, U. Smith, E. R. Jones, John Corliss, J. B. Frisbie, A. O. Burrill, E. H. Root, Orlando Soule, and C. C. Stoddard; and M. B. Miller, E. Van Deusen, and J. Fargo were recommended to receive ordination.
Licenses were granted to D. W. Milk, Wm. Potter, H. S. Guilford, Sr. E. S. Lane, Delphus Wellman, Delmer Wellman, Gardner Owen, Augustus Rasmussen, Frank Starr, R. T. Sisley, John Sisley, I. A. Olmstead, E. P. Daniels, C. C. Dorren, J. L. Edgar, John Wright, Worthy Ford.
Eld. Haskell resigned as President of the Conference, stating as chief reason that his residence being in another State, it would occasion at times a necessary absence. His resignation was accepted, and Jerome Fargo was elected President of the Conference.
THE PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
The seventeenth annual session of the S. D. A. Publishing Association was also held on the Lansing Camp-ground. The Treasurer's report shows the assets of the Association, after all debts are paid, to be $96,719.59, which is an increase over last year's report of $2,567.10. Before the ballot for officers was cast, Elder White stated that he had just received a telegram from W. C. White encouraging his return to the Pacific Coast, and that he had decided to go; therefore he wished to be excused from all offices and responsibilities in the Battle Creek Association. The ballot was then cast, which resulted in the unanimous election of the following officers: President, Elder James White; Vice-President, S. N. Haskell; Secretary, Mrs. M. J. Chapman; Treasurer, James Sawyer; Auditor, C. W. Stone; Committee on Publishing, James White, U. Smith, J. H. Kellogg.
BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE.
The second annual meeting of the S. D. A. Educational Society was called to order by the President, Eld. James White. Prayer by C. W. Whitford, President of the Milton (Wis.) S. D. Baptist College. An able address was then made by Prof. Brownsberger, after which the meeting was organized by calling for the stockholders present.
The following persons were elected as trustees of the Society for the ensuing year: James White, U. Smith, S. N. Haskell, J. H. Kellogg, S. Brownsberger, C. W. Stone, W. J. Fairfield. The receipts for tuition were less during the year than the salaries of the teachers.
THE HEALTH REFORM INSTITUTE.
At the meeting of the stockholders of the Health Reform Institute there was not enough stock represented to insure a legal meeting. But after several shares were taken a majority of the stock was represented by shares and proxies to the amount of seven hundred and twenty shares. The financial report shows the assets of Institute over all liabilities to be $37,690.18, making an increase of $6,318.19 during the past year. This, considering the hard times during the last year, must be considered a very flattering report.
Search the Scriptures.
THERE is a great difference between reading, and searching the Scriptures. There have been, and still are, many that read much; but our knowledge of divine truth depends more upon the manner we read, than upon the quantity. Dr. Gouge, it is said, read fifteen chapters a day; Jeremiah Whittaker read all the Epistles of the New Testament in Greek, every week; and Roger Cotton read the whole Bible through twelve times every year.
This rapid reading of the Bible is not the most profitable. I have been impressed of late, more than ever, with the necessity of “meditating in the law of the Lord,” of pausing and reflecting upon the portions we read, of looking at it from different standpoints, till we are sure we have before our minds the precise idea the Holy Spirit meant to convey. We should consider when the passage under consideration was written, by whom, to whom addressed, and for what purpose.
By searching the Scriptures carefully, by comparing parallel texts, and similar facts, a person can hardly fail of becoming deeply interested in the contents of the sacred volume. We shall sympathize with David, who said, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”
By studying the Bible, rather than reading it, the mind is stored with ideas, the conscience is enlightened, and each single thought is kept before the mind long enough to produce an impression. Pastors and Sabbath-school teachers should take pains to instruct those under their charge, how to read the Bible so as to derive the most benefit from it.
If the Bible was studied, instead of being rapidly read, I have no doubt it would be, much oftener than it is, like the fire and the hammer which breaketh the rock in pieces.—Puritan Recorder.
Missionary Districts of California.
By John Norton Loughborough
The Missionary Districts of California now stand as follows:—
DISTRICT No. 1 consists of Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Klamath, and Del Norte Counties, including the churches of Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Green Valley, and Bloomfield. Director, Wm. Harmon, of Healdsburg.
DISTRICT No. 2 consists of Fresno and Tulare Counties, including the churches of Fairview and Visalia. Director, M. J. Church, of Fresno City.
DISTRICT No. 3 consists of Solano, Napa, and Lake Counties, including the churches of Napa, St. Helena, Vallejo, Middletown, and Lower Lake. Director, John Mavity, of St. Helena.
DISTRICT No. 4 consists of San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties, including the church at Bear Valley, San Diego County. Director, John Judson, of San Pasqual.
DISTRICT No. 5 consists of Yolo, Colusa, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, and Amador Counties, including the Woodland church. Director, Aug. Geary, of Woodland.
DISTRICT No. 6 consists of Tehama, Shasta, Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Siskiyou Counties, including the church of Red Bluff. Director, J. H. Disher, of Red Bluff.
DISTRICT No. 7 consists of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono, and Mariposa Counties, including the Oakland church. Director, J. N. Loughborough, of Oakland.
DISTRICT No. 8 consists of Santa Clara, San Benito, Merced, and Inyo Counties, including the churches of San Jose, Gilroy, and Hollister. Director, F. J. Otis, of Madrone Station.
DISTRICT No. 9 consists of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Kern Counties, including San Francisco church. Director, Charles R. Chittenden, 910 Laguna st., San Francisco.
CAL. T. AND M. OFFICERS.
President, J. N. Loughborough, Oakland.
Vice President, T. M. Chapman, Petaluma.
Secretary, Mrs. A. M. Loughborough, Oakland.
Treasurer, Geo. Manuel, Oakland.
J. N. L.
The Conquest of Ourselves
REAL glory consists in the conquest of ourselves.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
Appointments.
OAKLAND—Services at the new church, on the corner of Clay and Thirteenth streets, every Sabbath (Saturday) at 11 A. M. Prayer-meetings Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Sabbath-School at 10 o'clock Sabbath morning.
SAN FRANCISCO—Services at the house of worship, on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister, every Sabbath (Saturday), at 11 A. M. and First-day evening at 7:30. Prayer-meetings Wednesday evenings at 7:30. The Hayes valley cars of Market street and the Lone Mountain cars of the Central R. R. cross Laguna street near the church.
SAN FRANCISCO.—Sabbath, Oct. 14, and First-day evening, Oct. 15.
OAKLAND.—A missionary meeting evenings after the Sabbath, Oct. 14.