Earlier text: California Tract and Missionary Society—King Alfonso has the intermittent fever. —Small-pox continues in Montreal, Canada. —At Salt Lake, October 5, five more Mormons received full sentence for polygamy. —Heavy and damaging rains are reported from the interior and valleys of Mexico. —Advices from False Point, India, say that the recent cyclone destroyed 500 villages. —Cardinal McCloskey died at New York City, at half past twelve Saturday morning, Oct. 10. —Nearly $100,000 worth of wheat was recently destroyed by fire at Chico, Butte County, Cal. —A mill making paper pulp from the yucca on Mojave Desert, turns out some ten tons daily. —The ambassadors of the powers are urging the Greek Government to stop its war preparations. —Aid is being sent to the fishermen at Labrador, who are suffering from the scarcity of fish this season. —Resolutions were passed by the Teachers' Institute of Alameda Co., held recently in Oakland, denouncing the use of tobacco and alcoholic stimulants, and pledging the teachers' influence against these pernicious habits. —It is reported that Congress has licensed 389 saloons in a section of the city of Washington, measuring about 8,000 by 6,300 feet. —The New Hampshire law punishing with a fine of $20 the sale of a cigarette to a boy or girl under sixteen years of age, has gone into effect. —A fire broke out in London, October 8, destroying thirteen eight-story warehouses, which, together with their contents, are valued at £3,000,000. —The Czar of Russia has been persuaded to delay his return to St. Petersburg until October 17, in order that he may return in safety to his own capital. —Michael Davitt's land system of agitation in Ireland increases daily. The moonlighters are forcing farmers to swear that they will not pay their rent. —The Roumelian trouble is still a question. If Roumelia and Bulgaria are left to unite under Prince Alexander, then Servia demands an extension of territory. —Don Milla, a learned Guatemalan, has been examining all the documents of Columbus's time, and concludes that Christopher Columbus never set foot on North American soil. —The grand jury of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, found no indictments against the Rock Springs rioters who so barbarously shot down and burned many Chinamen on September 2. —A Government ukase has been issued from St. Petersburg, ordering all the governors and other officers throughout the provinces to use the Russian language exclusively in their official duties. —Important documents relating to the Caroline Islands have been discovered among the archives of the Vatican. It is thought that they will facilitate the settlement between Spain and Germany. —The Abyssinians, commanded by Ras Afula, defeated a large force of dervishes under Osman Digna, killing 3,000 of them. He is now on the march for the relief of Kassala in Upper Nubia. —Sixty convicts working on the road at Rush, Texas, made a break for liberty, on the evening of October 4, and the guards opened their repeating rifles upon them with deadly effect, killing twenty-five. Thirty-five escaped. —A bee-raiser in the East claims to have found toads making great inroads into the population of his hives. One morning he discovered some toads at the entrance to the hives and soon discovered that they were catching and eating bees. —The New Zealand Government has renewed the mail service between New Zealand and San Francisco. The Governments of New South Wales and America will contribute their shares of the subsidy necessary for the keeping of the service in operation. —Affairs have been amicably settled between England and Turkey. Each power is to appoint six commissioners: two on war, two on finance, and two on general administration. When Egyptian affairs have been placed on a satisfactory basis, the British will withdraw from Egypt. —A Baltimore Grand Jury testifies to the good effects of a law providing a whipping-post for wife-beaters. It reports that since the introduction of this kind of punishment there have been scarcely any cases of wife-beating brought before it, whereas before it was one of the most common offenses. —The Cuban revolutionists are still on the war path. Although from time to time they seem to be almost exterminated, again and again they make their appearance in their almost hopeless warfare. Now comes the report that a movement has been inaugurated, backed by three Spanish bankers in N. Y. City, looking to the annexation of Cuba to the United States. —In 1836 the State of Massachusetts made, in round numbers, 16,000,000 pairs of boots and shoes; in 1844, 20,000,000; in 1854, 45,000,000; in 1864, 51,000,000; in 1874, 59,000,000; in 1880, 78,000,000; and in 1884 (estimated), over 100,000,000. The value of this product is estimated at from $120,000,000 to $150,000,000. Lynn stands first, with an annual business of $90,000,000. —In a late number of the New York World, appeared a letter from a Maine correspondent, on the Maine liquor law. He is a bitter opponent of prohibition, yet he says, "Prohibition has been on the statute books thirty years now, and the longer it stays on, the more liquor appears to be sold." This is a fair sample of much of the opposition to prohibition, but we cannot understand it. If prohibition increases the sale of liquor, then why do lovers of liquor oppose prohibition? We wish some of these folks would explain.623 —The S. F. Chronicle of October 6, says: "At about midnight on July 29, a remarkable phenomenon was seen at Jonkoping, Sweden, over Lake Wettern. A strong luminosity was suddenly shown in the north, where some very peculiar clouds, looking like icebergs, were seen almost to touch the water. From the clouds electrical discharges continually proceeded. . . . Except the electricity-laden clouds, all was clear, and the full moon shone bright." —The five-story printing and lithographing building of Charles Crocker & Co., San Francisco, was burned to the ground, except some of the walls of brick, still standing. The value of property destroyed is variously estimated at from $500,000 to $1,000,000. In trying to subdue the flames, two firemen, Martin Hannan and Peter J. Healy, were carried down with a falling floor, and burned or crushed to death; several others were badly injured. —Flood Rock at Hell Gate, New York, was blown into fragments by the use of 280,000 pounds of dynamite, September 10. Flood Rock covered nine acres. Into this rock a shaft was sunk fifty-six feet deep; from the base of this shaft twenty-four tunnels were made, extending, in different directions, a total distance of four miles; in chambers along the sides of these tunnels, the dynamite was placed in cartridges four or five feet apart; a copper wire connected these explosives with Hallett's Point, where a battery was placed at 1,000 feet from the rock. This explosion was witnessed by a large part of New York City, the water being thrown 200 feet into the air. Charlotte Elliot's Hymn.
By Youth's Companion
SOME fifty years ago, that eminent minister, the Rev. Caesar Malan, of Geneva, was a guest of the Elliots, a well-to-do family in the West End of London. One evening, in conversation with the daughter, Charlotte, he wished to know if she was a Christian. The young lady resented his question, and told him that religion was a matter which she did not wish to discuss. Mr. Malan replied, with his usual sweetness of manner, that he would not pursue the subject then if it displeased her, but he would pray that she might "give her heart to Christ, and become a useful worker for him." Several days afterwards, the young lady apologized for her abrupt treatment of the minister, and confessed that his question and his parting remark had troubled her. "But I do not know how to find Christ," she said; "I want you to help me." "Come to him just as you are," said Mr. Malan. He little thought that one day that simple reply would be repeated in song by the whole Christian world. Further advice resulted in opening the young lady's mind to spiritual light, and her life of devout activity and faith began. She possessed literary gifts, and, having assumed the charge of the Yearly Remembrancer, on the death of its editor, she inserted several original poems (without her name) in making up her first number. One of the poems was— "Just as I am—without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bid'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!" The words of Pastor Malan, realized in her own experience, were of course the writer's inspiration. Beginning thus its public history in the columns of an unpretending religious magazine, the little anonymous hymn, with its sweet counsel to troubled minds, found its way into devout persons' scrap-books, then into religious circles and chapel assemblies, and finally into the hymnals of the "church universal." Some time after its publication, a philanthropic lady, struck by its beauty and spiritual value, had it printed on a leaflet, and sent for circulation through the cities and towns of the kingdom, and in connection with this an incident at an English watering-place seems to have first revealed its authorship to the world. Miss Elliot, being in feeble health, was staying at Torquay, in Devonshire, under the care of an eminent physician. One day the doctor, who was an earnest Christian man, placed one of these floating leaflets in his patient's hands, saying he felt sure she would like it. The surprise and pleasure were mutual when she recognized her own hymn, and he discovered that she was its author.—Youth's Companion. —There are now over eight hundred missionaries in China. —A Baptist church in Florida has expelled all its members whose names have appeared on petitions for liquor licenses. —It is understood that of the 581 liberal candidates for seats in the British Parliament, 462 favor church disestablishment. —Berlin has over one million adherents to the evangelical faith, and yet has but thirty-eight churches and thirteen chapels, with a combined seating capacity of less than 50,000. —The dedication exercises of the first Hebrew Christian Church founded in America, began on Sunday, the 11th inst., and will continue one week. The church is located in St. Mark's Place, between Second and Third Avenues, New York City. —The Presbyterian Board of Missions entered Mexico thirteen years ago. It now reports six thousand church members, fourteen ordained native ministers, and thirteen licentiates. It has one Presbytery organized, and has commenced the work of building a theological school. —A report has reached the United States minister at Lisbon that fifty Methodist missionaries from this country, men, women, and children, under the care of a bishop, recently landed on the west coast of Africa in an utterly destitute condition, and became at once a charge on the local government. —On the third anniversary of the organization of the Salvation Army in Canada, over 4,000 members assembled in Toronto. While there, certain notables performed the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the new barracks which is to be the headquarters for the army in the Dominion. The building is to cost about $32,000. —The Independent says that the Mormons "may be very pious; but they certainly do not show themselves at all chivalrous. It was shameful enough when they fled and hid by the hundred, leaving 'wives' and children to shift for themselves; but how much more base when polygamists keep their own mouths shut before the jury, and suffer women to go to jail for contempt for refusing to give evidence against them. But not less than half a dozen have thus sacrificed the mothers of their children to save themselves." —The "Most Reverend Cornelius O'Brien, D. D., Archbishop of Halifax," has written and published a novel, entitled "After Many Years," which is doubtless intended to promote the interests of the Roman Catholic Church. What those interests are is indicated by the following frank statement which the Independent quotes from the 26th page of the book: "We can never admit that ignorance of reading and writing is dangerous to society. We rather believe that one of the natural causes which will be at work in bringing about the final doom of nations will be that which is now called public education." It ought to be evident to discerning persons that what is for the interest of the Catholic Church is not for the good of the people. The last word is the most dangerous of infernal machines. Eyesight of Civilized and Savage Peoples
Eyesight among civilized people is by no means so strong as among savages. An American in Zululand, by the assistance of a powerful glass, made out two distinct objects on the horizon, which he guessed to be a mounted man with a walking companion. The Zulus with him were able at once to inform him who the man was, and that he was accompanied by his wife on foot. Beer Manufacturers and Their Beer
It is said that none of our beer manufacturers are ever seen drinking their own beer. They are like the Jerseyman who was seen gathering wild mushrooms in the woods. "Look here, my friend," exclaimed a passer-by, "you'd better let them things alone; they are rank poison." "O, don't be afraid," was the quiet response, "I ain't picking 'em to eat; I am picking 'em to sell."—Home Gazette. 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 7:30. Seats free. SAN FRANCISCO.—House of worship, 914 Laguna Street, between McAllister and Tyler. Sabbath-school every Sabbath at 9:45 A. M. Classes in the English, German, and Scandinavian languages. Prayer and missionary meeting every Wednesday evening at 7:45. Mission Reading-rooms at the church. EAST PORTLAND (Or.)—House of worship on G Street between Tenth and Eleventh. Sabbath-school every Sabbath (Saturday), followed by services. Preaching or Bible-reading Sunday evening. Prayer-meeting Wednesday evening. The public is cordially invited. Free public reading-room, corner of L and Fifth Streets. THE ADVENT REVIEW
By Editor
A RELIGIOUS FAMILY JOURNAL,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT BATTLE CREEK, MICH., BY THE
S. D. A. PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION. Sixteen large, closely printed pages of choice reading matter, treating upon all the Prophetic themes of the Bible, the Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ at Hand, Closing Reforms in the Church, the Gospel of Christ, Conversion, Practical Godliness, etc. etc. This is the organ of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, the oldest journal of this people. It is now in its sixty-second volume. Contains full reports from the ministers and the doings of the different organizations of this denomination. No one should fail to take the REVIEW AND HERALD. Price, in advance, $2.00 per year. Address,
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. THE ATONEMENT:
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner
AN EXAMINATION OF A REMEDIAL SYSTEM, IN THE LIGHT OF NATURE AND OF REVELATION.
THIRD EDITION, REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED. This work is a critical and exhaustive treatise on the plan of salvation as revealed in the Scriptures, showing its harmony with the principles of justice and mercy, its consistency with reason, and its final results as affecting the destiny of the human race. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. THE SEVENTH PART OF TIME.
By William H. Littlejohn
This is a refutation of the theory that God sanctified simply a seventh part of time as the Sabbath, without fixing that time to any definite day. The necessity or a is admitted by nearly all, and is advocated in this book. The author also shows that the Creator understood and anticipated this necessity, and proves by five different processes of reasoning that the seventh or last day of the week, and no other, was in the beginning, and is now, the Sabbath of the Lord. 32 pp. Price, 4 cents; liberal discount by the hundred. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Publishers' Department.
By Editor
We send no papers from this office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the Signs are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read. California.—Anna L. Ingels, Oakland, Cal.
Canada—Mary L. Cushing, South Stukely, P. Q.
Colorado—Effie M. Rankin, Room 8 Euclid Hall, 247 Fourteenth Street, Denver, Col.
Dakota—Alice H. Beaumont, Vilas, Miner Co., Dak.
Florida—Eld. N. Orcutt, Moultrie, St. Johns Co., Fla.
Idaho.—Carrie E. Mills, Walla Walla, W. T.
Illinois—Lizzie S. Campbell, No. 95 Thirty-fifth Street, Chicago, Ill.
Indiana—W. A. Young, Noblesville, Ind.
Iowa—Mrs. Lizzie H. Farnsworth, State Center, Iowa.
Kansas—Clara Wood Gibbs, Box 160, Ottawa, Kan.
Kentucky—Bettie C. Saxby, Nolin, Hardin Co., Ky.
Maine—Rose N. Redmond, 113 Pearl St., Portland, Me.
Michigan—Miss Hattie House, Battle Creek, Mich.
Minnesota—H. P. Holser, box 1076, Minneapolis, Minn.
Missouri—Miss Clara E. Low, 321 Lamine Street, Sedalia, Mo.
Nebraska—Miss S. E. Whiteis, Sec. Nebraska Tract Society, Fremont, Neb.
New England—Mrs. Eliza T. Palmer, N. E. Tract Depository, South Lancaster, Mass.
New York—Miss M. May Taylor, Rome, N. Y.
North Pacific—Mrs. C. L. Boyd, East Portland, Oregon.
Ohio—Mrs. Ida S. Gates, rear of the Citizens' Savings Bank, second floor, Columbus, Ohio.
Pennsylvania—L. C. Chadwick, Wellsville, N. Y.
Tennessee—J. H. Dortch, Springville, Henry Co., Tenn.
Texas—Miss Lee Gorrell, Denton, Denton Co., Tex.
Upper Columbia—Carrie E. Mills, Walla Walla, W. T.
Vermont—Lizzie A. Stone, South Lancaster, Mass.
Virginia—Lillie D. Woods, Quicksburgh, Shenandoah Co., Va.
Wisconsin—Mary V. Thurston, 901 East Gorham St., Madison, Wis.
Wyoming—J. T. Trees, Tie Siding, Albany Co., Wyo. STOCK IN PACIFIC S D A PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.—A S Hickox $30. STOCK IN HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.—Mrs A Misselt $10, Mrs M Goodall $10, Wm Ings $50, Mrs N Brothers $10, A S Hickox $50, A Dye $10. STOCK IN HEALTH RETREAT.—Mrs A Misselt $10, T H E $2500, A Wright $10. CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FUND.—Wm Ings $47.90, Petaluma church $5, Wm Wymark $3, H Bunyard $3, E M Perkins $2.50, E A Briggs $90, L A Scott $8, Ferndale $9, Wm Hutchinson $2.75, St Helena $56.25, Mary Scott $4.20, Grass Valley $49.50, W R Young $5, St Clair $29.20, A Brorsen $14, Mrs R B Wright $3, L D Holcomb $1.35, Los Angeles $41.51. AUSTRALIAN MISSION.—Mrs Whisby $5, T H E $300, Petaluma S S $2.85, Soledad S S $2.75, E McKibben $100. RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT.—Ind T and M Society $23.10. CHURCH DEBT FUND.—Lena Frisbie $5, A S Hickox $60. CALIFORNIA T AND M SOCIETY.—Dist No 1 per Miss Alice Morrison $119.40, per Miss Mary Ayers $14.50, per Mrs E J Church $10, per P M Partridge $27.85, Dist No 2 per E Banta $5.45, per T R Angrove $3, per Mrs Maria Mayer $12.70, Dist No 3 per Marian Kleabir $63.90, Dist No 5 per Zach Thorp $7, per Mrs H P Gray $9.15, per L A Scott $2.50, Dist No 6 per Mrs J Ford $3, per W R Young $5, Dist No 7 per Geo H Derrick $34.10, City Mission $58.50, F J McCutcheon $15.80, T H Eicholz $6, M J Wilkinson $7, P Scazighini $27.10, J L Martin $6, M A Lee $6, Jos Eggleston $6, A S Hickox $6, S McElhany $6, Hetty Hurd $6, F Haub $10, Friend $5. CITY MISSION.—E High $5, J W Ross $2, Jas A Driver $10, D M Prosser $35, J M Hartman $10, S D Fresh $5, W H Ingels $10, Wm Butcher and wife $60, P Scazighini $10, John Ohring $10, R S Owen $5, Friend $5, Mrs Peoples $3.50, On pledges made at camp-meeting $169, S C Bice $25, A S Hickox $59, Mrs C Osterwaldt $3. BOOKS SENT BY FREIGHT.—J J Ireland, Wm Potter, Eld S N Haskell, W A Young, M M Taylor, Neb Tract Society, Rural Health Retreat, Eld N C McClure, G W McDonald. BOOKS SENT BY EXPRESS.—Mary G Frazer, Eld E A Briggs, L A Baxter, Frank T Lamb, C W Gibbs, Mrs A E Mathews, G K Owen, J J Ireland, Eld J J Smith, A T Brown, Rev R M Smith, Peter Sonna, F R Dunlap, Rosalie Blower, John N Bunch, L H West Jr, Mrs E T Palmer, Alice H Beaumont. DE FOREST.—Died in Oakland, Cal., September 25, 1885, of inflammation of the bowels, Lawrence, infant son of George and Emma De Forest, aged two months and ten days. Words of comfort to the family were spoken from Jer. 31:16. COURTER.—Died, from a complication of diseases, at Palmetto, Fla., Mary, wife of Nehemiah L. Courter, in her thirty-seventh year. She joined the church about two years ago, at Shelby, Mich. A little over one year ago she moved to Florida. She was very patient during her last illness. She was mother of nine children, two of whom are dead, one married, and the others ranging from twelve years to eighteen months. She died under the benediction, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” Considering the universality of the use of the potato, it is greatly abused. God and the farmer send to us well-made potatoes, and our cooks spoil them. Potatoes from the same hill will be, under different managements, yellow, soggy, waxy lumps, or snowy, powdery balls, pleasant to look upon and delicious to eat. A good baked potato is a great delicacy, but the ordinary thing served up under that name is either burnt to a crisp, or shriveled and withered. A baked potato is utterly ruined by a few moments of overdoing, or standing after it is done. “That which at the right moment was plump with mealy richness, a quarter of an hour later shrivels and becomes watery;” and it is in this state baked potatoes are most frequently served. Next to bread, the potato is the greatest dependence we have in the larder, and a reform in cooking it would greatly improve our meals.—Christian Union. “POWER works easily, but fretting is a perpetual confession of weakness,” is a quotation that I shall never forget, as it was repeated to me years ago, when in a moment of childish discouragement I began to fret and fume over a trivial matter. The idea of being considered a weak-minded woman was very repulsive to me, and by a desperate determination I conquered the tendency to fret, and thus prevented what might have become a life-long annoyance to myself and my friends. “Fretters are generally workers,” I heard some one remark the other day. Yes; but they are not the most effective workers; they make a great fuss over the work they do, while a person who goes calmly and sensibly to work will accomplish better results, to say nothing of the comfort he gives to those around him. I have frequently noticed that fretting and over-neatness are quite likely to accompany each other. I have a case in mind in which the mother of a family was so excessively neat that her children were not allowed to sit anywhere except in the kitchen, lest they might disturb the precise order of arrangements, or soil the immaculate curtains and tidies in the parlor; indeed, she scarcely allowed herself to enter its sacred precincts except to make them still more immaculate. But she was a champion fretter; indeed, it would not be unjust to call her a virago. Beginning with nothing especial to fret about, she soon had something, as her husband and sons went to ruin about as quickly as ruin is generally accomplished. Testimonies for the Church.
By Editor
ORDERS for the bound volumes of the Testimonies Nos. 1 to 30 are coming in quite rapidly, and we hear only words of commendation and praise. We are glad to know that the books give such general satisfaction; but now comes the query, from a distant State, if they cannot be obtained in a more durable style of binding than cloth. That all may understand this matter, we would state that we now offer three styles of binding, as follows:— No. 1. Full cloth (muslin).....per vol., $1.50; per set., $6.00
" 2. Full sheep (library) ... " " 2.00; " " 8.00
" 3. Half Morocco ......... " " 2.25; " " 9.00 All these styles of binding are good and substantial, but of course the sheep and Morocco are much more durable than cloth. We trust every family of Sabbath-keepers will purchase the full set of four volumes, and not only purchase them but read them. Church officers will do well to take an interest in seeing that all are supplied. The books will be sent, post-paid, by mail to any address at the above prices. Address, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.; Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.; or, any State T. and M. Society. In Sister White's "Notes of Travel," in the Review of Oct. 6, is the following paragraph:— "Salvation was brought to us at great self-denial and infinite cost by the Son of God. Some have followed his example, and have not let farms, or pleasant homes, or even loved ones, stand in their way. They have left all for Christ. But I am grieved and astonished that there are so few that have the real missionary spirit at this time. The end so near, the warning of a soon-coming Judgment yet to be given to all nations, tongues, and people, yet where are the men who are willing to make any and every sacrifice to get the truth before the world? Some who do go forth as missionaries are so grieved to leave the things they love that they keep in a state of sorrow and depression, and one-half of their usefulness is destroyed. They are not called to go among heathen or savages, to suffer for food or clothing, nor are they deprived of even the conveniences of life; and yet they look upon themselves as martyrs. They are not bold soldiers of the cross of Christ. They do not give him willing service." "The end so near, the warning of a soon-coming Judgment yet to be given to all nations, tongues, and people," and so many professed workers literally "at ease in Zion." Many who profess to be called of God to proclaim this awful message seem to carry no burden of souls. They are in no haste; they act as if the millennium will come before the advent. If we have the truth, such souls are making a serious mistake. "Lord, wake thy slumbering people." Letter from Bro. W. C. White.
By Editor
A VERY interesting letter has been received from Brother White, from Basle, giving an account of labors and other matters in England and Switzerland. We shall take pleasure in giving it a place in the SIGNS, and only regret that it arrived too late to appear in this paper. The report it brings of the work in Europe is cheering; the hand of the Lord is over his servants for good, as it has been in years past. When the letter was closed, they were in the midst of their general meeting in Basle, of which the following was the order:— Forenoon: 5:30, prayer and social meeting; 9:00, Bible class in three languages, teacher Elder Matteson; 10:30, session of the council. Afternoon: 2:30, meeting of the Executive Committees; 4:30, English class; 6:30, Bible-reading, with instruction how to conduct them; 7:30, preaching. Letter of Mrs. E. G. White.
By Editor
THE regular article of Mrs. E. G. White, prepared for the first page, is omitted to give place to a letter written by her to the camp-meeting in Syracuse, N. Y. It is copied from the Syracuse Standard, the editor of which speaks as follows of the letter:— "The following letter of the absent prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventists, whose epistle was read at the Danforth camp yesterday, will bear reading. There is nothing in it that Jew or Gentile, Protestant or Catholic, pagan or Christian, will care to dissent from. Mrs. White has evidently read the papers with more or less assiduity; for from the slippery morality of the clergy and Sunday-school superintendents, she draws a text for a timely sermon as applicable to one sect as to another. The camp-meeting may hold out some perils to her which not all of her co-workers are able to discover. At all events she lays down the law with considerable force, and whether she be gifted with divine inspiration on these things or not, there is a deal of solid truth in what she says." They who are accustomed to read Mrs. White's articles will not be deterred by the length of this letter from reading it. It will repay a careful reading and re-reading. New Orleans Exposition.
By Editor
WE have received the official announcement of the re-opening of the Exposition at New Orleans, under the name of the North, Central, and South American Exposition. It will be opened Tuesday, Nov. 10, on what is termed "American Peace Day." We hope and expect to visit the Exposition during its season, and regret that a press of labor and duties in other directions will prevent our being present on the opening day, and that our visit must necessarily be brief. The special "Days" are thirty-seven in number. American Press Day, Nov. 18, New England Day, Dec. 22, College Day, Dec. 26, Emancipation Day, Jan. 1, American Native Races Day, Jan. 5, and Battle of New Orleans Day, Jan. 8, are among the "Days" on which we would particularly wish to be present. It will continue open about five months. And we hope if we are permitted to visit the exposition again, that we shall see the grounds and buildings in the sunshine, which we were not able to do last winter. We have no doubt that the special features of making it a "Central and South American Exposition" will add greatly to its interest to every inhabitant of this continent. A New Sunday Champion.
By Alonzo T. Jones
THE Sunday institution has found a new champion. Of course he hails from Ohio. And of all men, who should it be? Why, John W. Rockefeller, of Standard Oil notoriety. A few Sundays ago, the noted bully, John L. Sullivan, was hired to pitch in a game of base-ball at Cleveland. When the sport had gone on all day without any disturbance, and 4,000 spectators had fully enjoyed themselves, and the game had closed, then the valiant Rockefeller bestirred himself. The doughty Sullivan was arrested and was fined $10 and costs, and the wounded honor of Sunday, and of John W. Rockefeller, was vindicated. The following from the Chronicle (S. F.) hits the thing exactly:— "It seems like a paradox to learn that the head of the great Standard Oil monopoly, who has done more than any other man to corrupt the politics of Ohio and neighboring States, is posing as the apostle of Sabbatarianism in Cleveland. At least it was at his instance that slogger Sullivan was arrested for pitching ball on Sunday, although a nice sense of the commercial value of the game was shown by not disturbing it until the 4,000 spectators had enjoyed the day's sport. This crusade may be prompted by a genuine desire to keep the Sabbath from desecration, but the people who are engaged in the work ought to select another leader than the corrupter of legislatures." But what do the Sunday crusaders care who are their leaders, so long as they will show their zeal for Sunday? That is the one all-essential qualification, and it covers every other shortcoming. And this instance is simply an indication of the characters who will champion the Sunday cause as it grows in popularity. We commend to the National Reform Party this newly-fledged champion of reform(?). Upper Columbia T. and M. Society.
By H. W. Decker
WE now have a permanent State Secretary of the Tract and Missionary Society in the Upper Columbia Conference. All business pertaining to the Society should be addressed to Miss Carrie E. Mills, Walla Walla, W. T. Walla Walla, Oct. 6, 1885. Masses for the Dead in Law
THE New York Court of Appeals has decided that the dedication of a sum of money to be expended in masses for the dead is recognizable in law as a legal disposition of it. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE International Tract and Missionary Society.
A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, the Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school. Price Per Year, post-paid, . . . . . . . . . . . $2.00 In Clubs of five or more copies to one name and address, to be used in Missionary Work, each, . . . . . 1.50 To foreign countries, single subscriptions, post-paid, . . . . . 10s Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Twelfth and Castro Streets, OAKLAND, CAL., U. S. A. London Press and Social Purity
The Methodist Times (London) says that the silence maintained by the majority of London newspapers in regard to the social-purity movement, and their denunciations of the Pall Mall Gazette for its revelations of vice, are due to the fact that an appalling state of the vice exposed by that paper exists in the press circle of London. Meetings are being organized to make the public acquainted with the new developments of scandal in high places, and to organize a general system of boycotting tradesmen, and commercial houses managed by men of reputed immorality. Many shops wherein crowds of young girls are hired for meager wages, have been denounced by name in these meetings as places of ruin. Irreverence, the Great Sin
By Editor
IN the article in this paper entitled "How to Get Help from Church Services," are these weighty words: "Our age is not reverent. Many persons enter God's house with as little seriousness as if it were a concert or literary entertainment they had come to hear. Such persons are not prepared either to render acceptable worship or to receive needed help." The whole article is worthy of careful consideration. Irreverence is the great sin of the age, and it is increasing. We all need to guard against it with all carefulness.