SEE new notice of Nebraska camp-meeting in this paper.
Do NOT overlook the appointments and camp-meeting notices at this time of year.
THE “Sir Knights” have nearly monopolized the railroads of late. We did not get our usual mail containing the Review before going to press.
A PAPER was sent to us containing the synopsis of a sermon preached in Stockton, Cal., by Mr. Fleenor, of the Baptist Church, with a request to review it. The first part of the review is in type, but is crowded over by a press of matter which we could not delay.
SAID a brother last Sabbath: “Camp-meeting is right upon us before we thought of it.” Well, it is time you were thinking of it. Let all the churches have their delegates to the Conference elected in season. All reports and all business to come up in any of the meetings should be fully prepared beforehand. Let there be no neglect or delay.
Railroad Fares to San Jose!
By Editor
SOUTH PACIFIC COAST R. R.—NARROW-GAUGE.
WE have received the following rates on this road to our camp-meeting:--
Round-trip tickets from Oakland or San Francisco, $1.65. Good to San Jose, Sept. 5, 6, 7, and 14; return at any time until Sept. 20.
Baggage, ordinary, 100 pounds, and 100 pounds camp equipage, free of charge.
Trains leave San Francisco 8.30 A. M., 2.30 and 4.30 P. M. Leave Oakland fifteen minutes later, 12th and Webster Streets.
Leaving point in San Francisco, Market Street wharf.
SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTH PACIFIC.
Round-trip tickets from Healdsburg to San Francisco, $4.00, Santa Rosa to S. F., $3.00; Petaluma to S. F., $1.75. Good from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30.
CENTRAL PACIFIC.
From Woodland, per car, $250.00; each fare, $5.00
St. Helena, “ 215.00; “ 4.30
Lemoore, “ 475.00; “ 9.50
Oakland, or
San Francisco,” 87.50; “ 1.75
Children from five to twelve years, half fare; baggage, 100 lbs. to each ticket.
Less than fifty tickets will not be sold at any one place on the Central Road at these rates.
Woodland will fill a car, five dollars for the round trip being very cheap. Cannot the friends in Napa and St. Helena unite and take a car? They may make it an object to do so.
Helps to Bible Study.
By Editor
IN gaining a knowledge of the Bible, nothing will take the place of a careful and continual reading of the Bible itself. No study of books, however good they may be, will make up for a lack of knowledge of the exact language of the sacred text. But there are very few, perhaps none, who can get a proper understanding of the Bible without some outside helps. Few persons are so well versed in history, or in the manners and customs of the ancients, as not to fail to see the force of many of the statements made in the Scriptures. And in regard to texts having reference only to doctrine, much light may be gained from a good commentary; for even though the author be wrong in his conclusions, a line of thought may be suggested to us which will enable us to arrive at the correct interpretation.
First among these helps, we would place our own denominational works, such as "History of the Sabbath," "United States in Prophecy," "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," "Constitutional Amendment," "Man's Nature and Destiny," "The Great Controversy," three volumes, "Sketches from the Life of Paul," "Spirit of God," "Thoughts on Christian Baptism," "Atonement," and "Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism." Advertisements of these books will be found in this and succeeding numbers of the SIGNS. They are true "helps," not designed to take the place of the Bible, but invariably referring to it for authority for every opinion advanced, giving chapter and verse.
Of course every one who proposes to study the Bible will procure a good concordance.
"Smith's Comprehensive Dictionary of the Bible" is a standard work, and is an absolute necessity to the Bible student. It is to him what Webster's Dictionary and the "American Cyclopedia" are to the ordinary student.
Nothing in the line of commentaries is much better for the average student than "Barnes' Notes," on the New Testament, and portions of the Old.
"Clarke's Commentaries," though old, are good for a critical study of the text. His theological opinions on many points are the very best; but he is too much inclined to spiritualize the text. These, and all commentaries, the student must use simply as helps, and not depend wholly on them.
The "Hand-book of Bible Geography" is a valuable aid in becoming familiar with the countries concerning which the Bible speaks, and in which its scenes were enacted.
And last, though by no means the least, we notice the "Revised New Testament." It is the work of some of the most eminent scholars of both hemispheres, and although not perfect, it gives on very many texts a better idea of the original than does King James' Version. We would by no means recommend that it take the place of the old version, but no one should fail to have a copy for comparison. As a commentary it is excellent.
For prices and styles of all books above mentioned, see our advertisements.
The Canvassing Work.
By William Clarence White
DURING the last three months a few young men have been busily at work selling "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." The three College students, two of whom had no experience in this work, entered what proved to be a hard field, for the people were largely Spanish and Irish Catholics; yet, by six weeks' earnest work, one hundred and fifteen books were sold, many, we trust, to persons who will read critically and to profit. Much time was spent by these young men in study, and the knowledge of the subject and experience in the work acquired fits them for successful work hereafter.
At the Oregon camp-meeting we engaged two of our brethren to enter the work in that field. Brother Harper, who has had marked success in canvassing, was to work with and instruct them. After two weeks' labor they report one hundred orders.
Since leaving them Brother Harper has canvassed a city in Oregon, where he took one hundred and fifty orders in thirteen days.
These things show that the time has come for this book to be read, and that it meets with a favorable reception when properly presented. In the work of canvassing as in any other business, experience cannot be valued too highly.
We want to see the agents going out in companies of three or four, with one experienced canvasser in each company. We are glad to know that some who have had extensive experience in past years are preparing to engage in this work.
W. C. WHITE.
$25,000 Wanted.
WE, the undersigned, hereby give the sums set to our names, to raise the sum of $25,000 to be placed under the control of trustees chosen at the annual session of the California Conference. Said sum to be loaned to some of our Institutions at 5 per cent., the proceeds of which shall be used to assist those who are seeking an education at the Healdsburg College, to fill positions in the cause of God. Said individuals must be recommended by the Conference Committee and the College Faculty.
William Butcher........................................$5,000
Joseph Leininger..........................................5,000
JUST ISSUED.
A BOOK FOR OLD AND YOUNG.
SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE OF PAUL.
By Mrs. E. G. White.
In this book the history of Paul's life, from the time when he "made havoc" of the church until he was "offered up" as its chief representative, is traced in a clear and connected manner. Paul's allusions to himself in his epistles are connected with the record in the book of Acts in such a manner as to throw great light both on the epistles and the "Acts." But that which gives the book even greater value than its historical accuracy, is the lessons that are drawn from Paul's words, and the hardships which he endured, and their practical application to our own times. This is a marked feature of this work, and the instruction given in this way cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. 234 pp., neatly bound in cloth, $.80.
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal., or REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION.
By J. H. Merle D'Aubigne
By J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE.
This book is indeed a standard in evangelical literature, and is so well and favorably known as to need no description; it is the most complete and impartial history of the Reformation extant; and certainly no one should need to be urged to seek all the information possible concerning the history of one of the greatest revolutions ever effected in human affairs.
Bound in cloth, 5 vols. in one.................................. $1.50
Larger edition, illustrated....................................... 4.00
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
By Editor
A twelve-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 Temperance, The Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, . . . . . . $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary Work, . . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Michigan.
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
MRS. C. L. BOYD, Salem, Oregon.
S. E. WHITEIS, Sec. Nebraska T. & M. Society, Fremont, Nebraska.