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Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 12.

General Articles
Earlier text: Temperance

God Works by Minorities.

THIS, says Professor Phelps of Andover, is one of the great principles of God's working in the affairs of his kingdom. He works with minorities who are working for him. "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." Go out against them. The Lord will be with you.
The history of the church is full of illustrations of this law of divine procedure. Dip into it anywhere, and you come upon this divine strategy. Napoleon thought that he knew the world well. He had studied the history of great empires, but he said it was an inexplicable mystery to him that Christianity, beginning as it did with a few fishermen of the feeblest nation then on the globe, should in his time have risen to be so much more mighty than his own conquests, which had almost all the armies of Europe to back them.
It was God's way of working with minorities who are working for him. When the church became corrupt, and needed reform, the same thing was repeated. A few earnest men who were hunted like wild beasts, in a few years shook the world. The battle was not theirs, but God's.
An old saying of the German Reformers, which a modern reformer has untruthfully claimed as his own, was, "One, with God on his side, is a majority." On a certain occasion the Lord encouraged his people with these words: "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chron. 20:15. This was the favorite text of Sir Fowell Buxton. He once wrote to his daughter that she would find his Bible opening of itself to the place where this passage occurs. This text it was which gave him courage to move in the British Parliament for the emancipation of slaves throughout the British Empire. When he entered on that conflict he stood almost alone; when this bill was first read in Parliament it was received with shouts of derisive laughter. But he bethought him of this text, and he began his speech, saying:—
"Mr. Speaker, the reading of this bill is the beginning of a movement which will surely end in the abolition of slavery throughout the British dominions." The old Hebrew prophet never said a truer word. Sir Fowell knew it, for the battle was not his, but God's.
The same phenomenon was witnessed in the first attempt to establish American missions among the heathen. When one of the early meetings of the American Board was held at Bradford, Mass., less than twenty persons were in attendance, and they were hooted at by boys on the plaza of the hotel where they were in session. Barely sixty-five years have passed, and at a recent meeting of that Board in Providence, five thousand strangers from abroad were present, and two churches were filled with eager friends.
When the first American missionaries reached India, the English Government refused them a landing. "Go back," was the imperious order; "Go back, in the ship in which you came." In the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, when it was first proposed to send the gospel to the heathen, reverend clergymen declared against the fanatical scheme. They said that "the heathen were a contented and happy people, and that it was no business of Scottish Christians to disturb them." And this, in the face of our Lord's express command, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Not a century has passed since that time, yet now all Christendom rings with congratulation over the achievement of Christian missions; and no other class of men is so reverently canonized in the affections of the church as her missionaries to the heathen world. This is the fruit of God's working with minorities who were working for him.—The Presbyterian.

"What Thy Hand Findeth to Do."

"WHAT is that in thine hands, Abel?" "Nothing but a wee lamb, O God, taken from the flock; I purpose offering it to thee, a willing sacrifice." And so he did, and the sweet smell of that burning has been filling the air ever since, and constantly going up to God as a perpetual sacrifice of praise.
"What is it that thou hast in thine hand, Moses?" "Nothing but a staff, O God, with which I tend my flocks." "Take it and use it for me," said God. And so he did, and with it wrought more wondrous things than Egypt and her proud king had ever seen before.
"Mary, what is it that thou hast in thine hand?" "Nothing but a pot of sweet-smelling ointment, O God, wherewith I would anoint this holy one who is called Jesus." And so she did, and not only did the perfume fill all the house in which they were, but the whole Bible-reading world has been fragrant with the memory of the blessed act of love, which has ever since been spoken of "as a memorial of her."
"Poor widow, what is that thou hast in thine hand?" said God. "Only two mites, Lord. It is very little, but then it is all I have, and I would put it into thy treasury." And so she did, and the story of her generous giving has ever since wrought like a charm in prompting others to give to the Lord.
"What is that thou hast in thine hand, Dorcas?" "Only a needle, Lord." "Take it and use it for me," said God. And so she did, and not only were the suffering poor of Joppa warmly clad, but inspired by this loving life, "Dorcas societies" even now continue to ply their benign mission to the poor throughout the earth.—S. S. Times.

Tears vs. the Pocket.

By C. L. White

THE last step in sanctification, we are inclined to think, is the conversion of the pocket. You may convert men from profanity, from intemperance, from the theater, from fashion and frivolity in their varied forms, to attending meetings, distributing tracts, exhorting, singing, and praying, but the hand is still unclasped from its gains.
It is not sometimes very difficult to move audiences to tears while an earnest man pleads the cause of the poor and needy. But, not infrequently, the speaker is surprised to see the large amount of tears people will shed over the poor, and the small amount of money they will contribute to relieve them.
One of the most effective speakers in behalf of this Association, furnishes this striking illustration of the point:—
"On a Sabbath afternoon in the autumn of 1867, I presented our cause to a crowded house in the town of ——. In the course of my address I noticed, in front of me, a fine-looking, well-dressed man, bearing all the marks of wealth and high social position. His eyes, riveted on the speaker, were brimming with tears, rendering necessary the frequent use of his handkerchief. Indeed, he seemed so moved and interested that I almost forgot the great auditory around me, and talked and pleaded with him alone. When I reached the home of the good deacon with whom I stopped, I described my auditor, and found that he was what I expected, a leading citizen, wealthy, and of high social standing.
"The deacon, too, noticed his emotion, and said, 'I know how much he gave; how much do you think?'"
"I replied, 'I should not suppose that a man in his circumstances could afford to be moved as he was for less than ten dollars.'"
"'Ten dollars!' was the reply; 'he gave three cents.'"
"Tears, I have since learned, ofttimes flow from very shallow springs. But I still wonder how a man could weep so much for 'three cents.'" —C. L. W.

Missionary Work in the Fiji Islands.

THE following compilation of interesting statistics is from the "Australian Hand-book" for 1883:—
It has been said that the late history of Fiji may be almost considered identical with the record of missionary enterprise. In no place has missionary effort been more successful, or its fruits been more apparent. It is only forty-seven years ago (1835) that the first missionaries, the Rev. William Cross and David Cargill, M. A., landed at Lakemba. They found the Fijians at nearly the lowest depths of degradation—blood-thirsty, and addicted to cannibalism and all manner of vice. To-day finds the whole of them professing Christians; cannibalism has ceased since 1878, polygamy is abolished, and the idol worship of past ages has given place to the worship of the true God, and generally there is peace. Many of the converts are said to maintain a consistent walk, and in all a great revolution, in outward morals at least, has taken place, even if there has not been a real change of heart. These remarks scarcely apply, however, to the tribes of the interior of the Viti Levu, who are estimated at from 7,000 to 20,000, and who for some time held out against any advance of civilization into their territory. They have, however, been punished on more than one occasion, and there is every reason to expect that, with the establishment of British rule in Fiji, they will find it to their interest to keep on good terms with those surrounding them.
The following are the returns of the Wesleyan Church in the Fiji District, which includes the island of Rotumah (now annexed to the colony), for the year 1881: Churches, 776; other preaching places, 432; missionaries, 8; native ministers, 47; catechists, 21; teachers, 1,029; Sabbath-school teachers, 2,351; local preachers, 1,527; class leaders, 2,681; English church members, 36; native church members, 24,109; on trial for membership, 5,250; communicants, 19; Sabbath-schools, 1,391; Sabbath scholars, 40,728; day schools, 1,760; day scholars, 40,323; attendants on public worship, 102,639; deaths, 755. These results are due to Wesleyan enterprise alone, no other Protestant denomination having been present until within the last few years, when the Rev. W. Floyd, D. D., a Church of England clergyman, was located at Levuka; Mr. Pool was appointed Assistant Reader in 1879. It is proposed to establish a Bishopric in Fiji in connection with the Church of England. The Roman Catholics have for some time had a mission in the islands. It is under the name of Prefecture Apostolique, and is governed by an Apostolic Prefect, under the French dependence of Rome. Their influence, and the body itself, is small, compared to that of the Wesleyans. The number of church members (Catholic) is stated at 8,000.
Sir Arthur Gordon, the late Governor of the colony, speaking at Exeter Hall, in May 1878, said, "Out of a population of something like 120,000 more than 102,000 are regular attendants at Wesleyan churches, and the remaining 18,000 are not heathen, but for the most part members of other Christian churches. The people of Fiji are now a Christian people. Not to mention smaller and inferior places of worship, about 800 churches have been built. Out of sixty-two ordained ministers now employed in those islands, over fifty are natives, and nearly all the lesser teachers, such, for instance, as school-teachers, numbering over 3,000, are natives also."

Quarterly Society Report

By Mrs. G. W. Colcord

Report of Upper Columbia Tract and Missionary Society,

FOR QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1883.

1 2 3 Agents. Total.
Cash Received.
Total. $13 $50 $34 $80 $122 69
T. & M. Reserve Fund. $2 00 $2 00
Periodicals. $12 10 $19 50 $6 65 $6 00 $44 25
Sales. $10 40 $2 40 $43 85 $56 65
Membership and Donation $1 40 $4 90 $12 99 50 $19 79
Distrib't'n of Reading Matter.
Periodicals Distributed. 1014 1412 371 342 1969
Pages Tracts and Pamphlets Distributed. 1026 17145 8615 27428 54600
New Subscribers Obtained.
Other Periodicals. 10 6 3 1 17 39
Instructor.
Good Health.
Signs. 1 6 2 30 10 17 3 63
Review.
No. Signs taken in Clubs. 40 25 19 10 94
No. of Letters Written. 49 32 43 261 385
Missionary Visits. 63 30 2 50 203 2 346
No. Members Dismissed. 2 2
No. of Members Added
No. of Reports Returned 43 23 51 30 46 34 4 4 144 91
No. of Members.
Districts 1 2 3 Agents. Total.

STIRRED TO THE BOTTOM

We copy from the Congregationalist a similar story:—

“STIRRED TO THE BOTTOM.”

A pastor of a church in one of the pleasant country towns of New York has lived on a pinching salary for four years. Not many Sabbaths ago, when the chronic pinch had made the sore places too hard to bear any longer, he stated the case fully from the pulpit, compared his means of livelihood with that of his average parishioners, and showed that he was working on little more than half pay, and was hampered in his work among them by poverty.
This fair statement indorsed by the known economy, and faithful, loving ministry of the pastor, had its effect, and bore fruits as follows:
A leading man in the church and the community, a well-to-do farmer, remarked to some friends, “What an eloquent sermon! There is no getting away from it. We have not done our duty. That sermon stirred me as I never was stirred before—stirred me to the bottom.”
It was suggested that a subscription be started, and the impressed brother be invited to head it. He took the paper, took time to weigh well what he was doing, and put down opposite his name—twenty cents! Starting out with this beginning, in the course of a few days, the deacons brought to the pastor, as compensation for the unpaid half service of four years, a purse of fifteen dollars!—Am. Missionary.

A Teacher’s Influence for Sabbath Truth

We believe it was through the faithfulness of a Seventh-day Baptist lady school-teacher that our Advent brethren first became acquainted with the doctrine of the Bible Sabbath, from which sprang that vigorous and earnest body of Sabbath-keepers. Not every teacher among first-day people may hope for such results from her example and work, but every one thus situated may do much for the cause of truth. The following words from Miss O. M. Bee, in West Virginia, shows an appreciation of her opportunities which it may be encouraging and helpful to others to read:
"There is a revival of religion in progress at this place (Hocker's Valley). I am teaching the public school at this place and am trying to do what I can for the Lord. I have only been here a short time, and do not know all the parents yet, but I know and love the children and can use my influence with them. Pray for us that the blessing of God may rest on our efforts, that much good may be done; and that the people may know the Sabbath truth."—Sabbath Recorder.

The Nature of True Love

THE noble passion, true love, contains all the elements of self-sacrifice. Love that pines, and whines, and envies, and feels spiteful at every attention not lavished on itself and its own gratification, is not love at all, although it goes so often by the name and is mistaken for it.

Work in the Lord’s Vineyard

"Go work in my vineyard," saith the Lord.

Deceiving Children.

WHILE passing along the streets one day, I heard two little boys, apparently about seven years of age, conversing very earnestly. "My mother says," one was saying, and I lost the rest of the sentence; but the other replied, "Your mother is different from my mother." I could but wonder if those mothers mistrusted the notes their children were daily taking of their ways and words.
Parents are often ignorant or thoughtless of the keen observation of children. A little girl was once visiting me, and at night, before I put her in bed, I heard her say her prayers, and prayed with her. One day she told me an untruth. I called her to me and told her that it was wicked to tell what was not true, and that in that beautiful home the Lord is preparing for his children, whoever "loveth and maketh a lie" can never enter.
She listened intelligently, and with intense interest, and asked many questions while I told her about the celestial city as it is described in the word of God. After awhile she asked very earnestly:—
"Won't folks that lie go there?"
"Not unless they repent and ask God to forgive them," I answered.
"Then my mother won't go there!" she exclaimed, "for she tells lies."
I was astonished and shocked, for I knew her mother did say things "in fun" that were not strictly true, but I had no idea that the child noticed it.
It recalled to my mind the first lesson in deception I ever learned. When I was a little more than two years old I went with friends to sit for my daguerreotype, and as it was next to impossible to keep me still long enough to have it taken, they told me that if I sat perfectly still and looked steadily at the camera for two minutes, a little bird would come out, which I might have.
I sat still and looked until I ached all over.
At last I was told that I might move, and I jumped from the chair and called for the bird. After awhile they showed me the picture and told me that was the bird; and I distinctly remember to-day how angry I was when I realized that I had been deceived. They led me home between them; I screamed at the top of my voice, not so much at the disappointment of not receiving the bird, as in anger at the deception practiced upon me. I remember, too, that for a long time afterward when those who had deceived me would tell me anything, I did not believe it.
It is a sad thing when the simple trust of childhood is destroyed, and upon the impressible little heart is stamped doubt, suspicion, and deceit.
Parents stand to the child in the place of God. The child looks up to them as the embodiment of wisdom and truth, and will in all things have implicit confidence in them until it is betrayed. Perhaps some Christian parents who tearfully and with deep groanings wonder why their sons and daughters have forsaken their mother's God and rejected their father's Bible, if they could trace effect to cause, would see that the first seeds of skepticism, and guile, and willfulness were sown by their own thoughtless hands in the days of the trusting childhood of their children.
"I never yet deceived my child," said the mother of a bright, inquisitive little girl, who wanted to know the whys and wherefores of everything she saw or thought of.
"How do you get along when she asks questions that you cannot with propriety answer?" I inquired.
"I tell her all I can conscientiously," replied the mother, "and tell her to wait till she is older, and then, perhaps, she will understand all about it."
"Do you never tell her that it is improper to ask so many questions?" I asked.
"Seldom," replied the good woman, "for I'd rather she would come to me for information than to go to any one else, as I fear she might be tempted to do."
How happy will that mother be in years to come, if, as the fruit of her own truthfulness, she can say, My child never deceived me.—Sel.

A Faithful Shepherd Boy.

By Young Pilgrim

GERHARDT was a German shepherd boy, and a noble fellow he was, too, although he was very, very poor.
One day while he was watching his flock, which was feeding in a valley on the borders of a forest, a hunter came out of the woods and asked:—
"How far is it to the nearest village?"
"Six miles, sir," replied the boy, "but the road is only a sheep track, and is very easily missed."
The hunter glanced at the crooked track and said:—
"My lad, I am hungry, tired, and thirsty. I have lost my companions and missed my way. Leave your sheep, and show me the road. I will pay you well."
"I cannot leave my sheep, sir," rejoined Gerhardt. "They would stray into the forest, and be eaten by the wolves, or stolen by robbers."
"Well, what of that?" queried the hunter. "They are not your sheep. The loss of one or more wouldn't be much to your master, and I'll give you more money than you have earned in a whole year."
"I cannot go, sir," rejoined Gerhardt, very firmly. "My master pays me for my time, and he trusts me with his sheep. If I were to sell my time, which does not belong to me, and the sheep should get lost, it would be the same as if I stole them."
"Well," said the hunter, "will you trust your sheep with me, while you go to the village and get some food and drink, and a guide? I will take good care of them for you."
The boy shook his head. "The sheep do not know your voice," said he, "and—and—" Gerhardt stopped speaking.
"And what? Can't you trust me? Do I look like a dishonest man?" asked the hunter angrily.
"Sir," said the boy, "you tried to make me false to my trust, and wanted me to break my word to my master. How do I know you would keep your word with me?"
The hunter laughed, for he felt that the boy fairly cornered him. He said: "I see, my lad, that you are a good, faithful boy. I will not forget you. Show me the road, and I will try to make it out myself."
Gerhardt now offered the humble contents of his scrip to the hungry man, who, coarse as it was, ate it gladly. Presently his attendants came up, and then, Gerhardt, to his surprise, found that the hunter was the grand duke, who owned all the country around. The duke was so pleased with the boy's honesty that he sent for him shortly after, and had him educated. In after years Gerhardt became a very rich and powerful man, but he remained honest and true to his dying day.
Honesty and truth and fidelity are precious jewels in the character of a child. When they spring from piety they are pure diamonds, and make the possessor very beautiful, very happy, very honorable, and very useful. May you, my readers, wear them as Gerhardt did. Then a greater than a duke will befriend you, for the Great King will adopt you as his children, and you will become princes and princesses royal in the kingdom of God.—Young Pilgrim.

The Home Circle.

By Rev. I. N. Stratton, A. M.

THE CLEFT IN THE ROCK.

Two children at home 'mid the mountains, Accustomed to cataracts' roar, Had witnessed the rocks over-hanging, Thunder down to the dark chasm floor.
They had heard the wild storm 'mid the head-lands, And knew, by the bald eagle's scream, That the forces of nature were waking; From cloud-land to dark mountain stream.
One day all was sunny and fragrant, A gem set in Autumn from June; The children gave mother a "good-bye," For the play of the long afternoon.
Along the sharp curves of the railroad, They gathered the chestnuts that fell From the trees on the crags far above them, And measured the ones they would sell.
Tommy prattled, and chatted, and frolicked, And Mary, self-conscious of care, Felt that her caution was needed, Lest accident come to them there.
All at once they were thrown to a flurry, By the roar of the down-coming train, Cranching the miles in a hurry, Lost time by next station to gain.
It howled 'round the tall mountain head-lands, And hung over chasms of foam, Dashing on towards the crags, and the children, Who screamed now for mother and home.
Then Mary seized Tommy, and nestled In the cleft of the tall mountain rock, And shouted, "Hold tight, brother Tommy, Cling close to the cleft of the rock."
So oft in the dread hour of danger, When hope our wild cry seems to mock, We can fly to the Friend of the stranger, And cling to the cleft of the Rock. —Rev. I. N. Stratton, A. M.

Just Think of It.

By David Nelson

GREENLAND is without a forest. Do you ask, How are their habitations warmed in winter? Sailors tell us that train-oil is their fuel. Train-oil is obtained by boiling the fat, or blubber, of whales. But wood is wanting. Their houses must be covered; their spears and javelins must have handles. Without domestic or hunting utensils, boats or fishing-tackle, their homes cannot be tenanted; without wood these things cannot be made. Travelers tell us that a certain current of the ocean, or certain winds, or both united, bear along in a proper direction the once stately tree, and another and another with abundant constancy, and lodge the needed forest between the islands. There it remains until needed by those whom the Lord forgets not. The soil does not nourish the needed oak for their convenience, but the billow obeys his voice and bears it to them.
No trees are thus borne along the shores of France, or Spain, or England, or perhaps any other nation. They are not needed, but in the frozen climes. Where these trees are torn from, or how they are swept away, we are not commonly told, and it matters not, so that the Greenlander fails not to receive his mercies. When other shores become naked, and forests wave not there, they are not supplied as is this land of snow, for ocean's current is not freighted thus with trees, or it does not bear in the right direction, or the islands do not stand so as to form a storehouse for the timber. Reader, while looking at these facts, such as are scattered all over the earth, it is evident enough that our Parent designed it all in kindness. To believe otherwise requires an appetite for untruth that no man need covet.—Rev. David Nelson.

Young Women and Christian Character

DEAR young girls, your lives are full of noble possibilities. There is but one thing earthly so truly admirable as a Christian lady, and that is a Christian "gentleman." If an "honest man be the noblest work of God," surely an "honest," true woman is his loveliest. Therefore, young maidens of America, give yourselves to Christ; let him so mould you that you may be kings' daughters indeed, all glorious within, all fair without.

Novel-Reading.

It is generally conceded that some of the finest fruits of the finest minds are found in this field of literature, encumbered, it is true, with ponderous heaps of the most vile trash. One in a thousand of these volumes may, perhaps, be read with some profit, and no serious injury, while four hundred and ninety-nine of the residue are so frivolous as to render their perusal a criminal waste of time. The other five hundred will be found positively injurious in various ways.
Habitual novel-reading is detrimental to health and vigor of the body. Nature will not be robbed with impunity of a requisite amount of food, air, rest, and sleep. Reprisals are always made where the hours of night are devoted to the exercise.
The nervous system, moreover, being intimately connected with the brain, becomes the predominating system during the period of youth, because this predominance is necessary to the proper development and increase of the body. Now strong excitement of the feelings, occasioned by works of fiction, has a tendency to produce such a predominance of the nervous system as permanently to generate the most afflictive nervous diseases.
Novel-reading prevents a strong symmetrical development of the mental powers. In young ladies especially, do the sensibilities and imagination need to be repressed rather than stimulated, while the understanding and judgment require the most assiduous cultivation. Hannah More says truly that youth need more ballast. The education, however, which is afforded by works of fiction, consists in crowding more sail than the craft can carry.
An eager perusal of light literature destroys all taste for solid reading. Control over the thoughts is lost, while the bewitching scenes of romance are floating through the mind. Historical, scientific, and especially religious works, become insipid and dull. The habit of receiving pleasure, without any exertion of thought, by mere excitement of curiosity and sensibility, may be justly ranked among the worst effects of habitual novel-reading. It cannot but be injurious to the moral mind never to be called into action. Under circumstances of perpetual inaction, it wilts and withers like the muscles of an arm which is always unused.
Novel-reading tends to inflame the passions, pollute the imagination, and corrupt the heart. Moral sense is weakened by the false sentiments they inculcate. Even the better class are wanting in true religious principle. They may not oppose, or directly denounce, religion; but they make it appear unnecessary, by exhibiting a virtue sufficiently perfect without it. They delineate the most pious characters, and represent them under the most affecting circumstances, passing through the most trying scenes, till they enter joyfully the eternal state without the sustaining power of vital godliness. The sentimentalism of romance presents no motive to action so pure and exalted as the teachings of Christ. On the contrary, the viler class of novels actually teach and commend the most glaring vices. A recent author has truly said, "They paint for our imitation, humane murderers, licentious saints, holy infidels, and honest robbers. Over loathsome women and unutterably vile men, is thrown the checkered light of a hot imagination, until they glow with infernal luster."
Novel-reading is objectionable, because it creates an unnatural and morbid taste. It frequently becomes an inveterate habit, strong and fatal as that of the drunkard. In this state of mental intoxication, great waywardness of conduct is most sure to follow. Even where the habit is renounced, and genuine reformation takes place, the individual often suffers the cravings of former excitement.
Novel-reading lays the foundation for sad ruptures in the domestic relations of life. The lady who revels in fiction, may possess the power, through fancy and feeling, to attract, to interest, to please, to charm, to win; but her reign over the affections will generally be short, because her character affords no solid basis of trust and confidence.
In conclusion, the practice of which we speak is to be deprecated because it raises extravagantly high expectations in the youthful mind, and then dooms them to utter disappointment. The novelist paints beauty in colors more charming than nature, and describes bliss more ecstatic than man ever tastes. Thus the young are taught to despise the good which God has mingled in their cup of blessings, while they sigh in vain for a beauty and a happiness which never existed in a world that is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. The world of romance differs so essentially from the real rough and stormy world of life, that few can dwell for years in the enchanting fairy elevations of the one and then cheerfully descend to the dull, dusky, and discordant scenes of the other.—Sel.

Japan's Model Postal System.

WE clip the following from a Kobe (Japan) letter to the Philadelphia Press:—
The postal system of Japan is often pointed to as a model in its way—one of the foremost departments of the Europeanized Government. And, indeed, it must in all fairness be acknowledged that much credit belongs to Japan for swiftness in the dispatch of mails, while fettered with a lack of railroads. In the first place every train carries mail, and in Japan, be it known, the imperial railroads run through passenger trains every two hours, and on the Yokohama railroad nearly every hour. Thus, while in America three mails each way daily would be esteemed the climax of facilities, the minimum between the various cities here is about ten mails each way daily. This applies merely to the railroads, of course.
The delivery of mails is also very prompt, and takes place a good many times a day. A person may mail a letter in Yokohama for Tukiyo, one hour's ride to the north, as late as dusk, and yet receive an answer the same night, providing his friend is prompt. While in Yokohama I took occasion to mail a letter in a post-box as late as six o'clock one evening, at a point fully a mile from the post-office. It was soon collected, delivered to the one to whom it was addressed over on the bluffs, and the same evening I received a call from the recipient.
Every effort is made in the case of foreigners to deliver their mail to them promptly. So anxious are the authorities to deliver mail that one of the missionary ladies in Kobe says when last summer she went up among the mountains, six miles distant, a special man was despatched from the office here, really against her wishes, who came all the way on foot, and was not content until he hunted her up and delivered her the mail. The city carriers have mail carts painted red, with which they deliver mail upon the arrival of the large mail steamers. They go about the city at a dog-trot. This applies, of course, to the large port cities. In the interior mail is carried from town to town by messengers, who also travel at a dog-trot, in cases where stage lines do not exist. With all their ceremonious haste it is amusingly incongruous to notice that little effort is made to protect mail—doubtless because, in this poor country, valuables are not much transmitted through the mails. In summer the overland mail-carrier transports the mail from place to place by means of two nets attached to the end of a pole balanced over the shoulder. In case of rain these nets are wraped in oiled paper. To one who has been accustomed to the iron mail wagons of America, it is a peculiar sight.

LIFE SKETCHES.

THE EARLY LIFE, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, AND EXTENSIVE LABORS OF ELDER JAMES WHITE, AND HIS WIFE, MRS. ELLEN G. WHITE.

THE production of this book was the last literary labor performed by Elder White. As nearly the whole of his active labor was performed in connection with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, which he was largely instrumental in founding, the work is necessarily quite a complete history of that people.
The book abounds in interesting incidents, personal sketches, and religious experiences, some of which are quite remarkable, and altogether it forms a volume at once instructive and interesting. 416 pp. Price, $1.25. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

LIFE OF WILLIAM MILLER, WITH PORTRAIT.

THIS book contains sketches of the Christian experience and public labors of this remarkable man. No other man in this century has been more widely spoken of, and more generally misunderstood. These sketches were prepared by those who were his co-laborers, and are a true presentation of the leading events of his life and labors. In addition to the life and character of the man, the character of the Great Advent Movement, in which he acted so prominent a part, is clearly set forth. It is shown that Mr. Miller was no mere enthusiast, but a man of calm judgment, and his interpretation of the prophecies was mainly correct, his only mistake being in regard to the nature of the event to take place at the close of the 2300 days, in 1844. No one can consider himself well versed in the history of the advent movement in this country who has not read this book. 408 pp. Price, $1.00. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

SABBATH READINGS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE.

COMPILED BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
THESE are some of the few really good books. For twenty years Mrs. White has been selecting choice, interesting, and instructive stories, the best of which are presented in these four volumes of 400 pages each. It would be difficult to find a better collection. The selections have been carefully made, and none need fear to place them in the hands of the young. They are not, however, designed exclusively for the young, but are adapted for general home reading. All the members of the family circle will find something in them to entertain and instruct. They are just the thing for holiday or birthday gifts. Price per set, neatly put up in box, $2.25. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR.

AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY PAPER FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN, DEVOTED TO MORAL, MENTAL, AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE.
THIS paper is not devoted to insipid stories and religious fiction, but is filled with a great variety of that kind of reading which tends to the healthful development of the youthful mind. Its pages are made bright by the choicest illustrative pictures, and its columns are always full of useful information.
As a Sabbath-school and Lesson paper, it is suited to the wants of scholars and teachers, and is calculated to increase the interest of all who read it, in thorough Bible study.
The Sabbath-school Department contains two series of lessons, one for children and one for youth.
TERMS, ALWAYS IN ADVANCE.—Single copy, 75 cents a year; Five copies to one address, 60 cents each; Ten or more copies to one address, 50 cents each.
SPECIAL PREMIUM OFFER—THE SUNSHINE SERIES.
For every new subscription, accompanied with 85 cents, we will give "The Sunshine Series," consisting of a package of ten beautiful pamphlets of 32 pages each. These comprise a choice collection of sketches, stories, poems, etc., adapted to the wants of children, and contain more reading matter than can be found in many dollar books. Remember, the whole series, 320 pages, and the INSTRUCTOR for a year, for 85 cents. Address, YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, Battle Creek, Mich. Or, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.

MATTER AND SPIRIT; OR, THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN THOUGHT.

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.
A PHILOSOPHICAL argument on an important theme, indicated by its title. 66 pp. Price, 10 cents. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
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