A MINISTER went into the store of a leading merchant tailor, and looking at some cloths, asked the cost of a suit that pleased him. When the price was stated, he replied that it seemed much too high.
"It is somewhat high," said the tailor. "These fine English cloths cost us high prices; but then they wear so much better and longer to make up for it, that we think them, in the end, cheaper than American goods."
"How much less," asked the minister, "is the cost of a suit from your best American cloth?"
"We do not keep American goods. Most of our customers are particular, and like the best kinds of goods, and so we keep only English cloths," and, as illustrating and impressing his remarks, he pointed the minister to the labels and wrappers bearing the names of the English manufacturers and dealers, who were some of the first in Great Britain.
After some further talk, the minister ordered a suit, which in due time was sent home. Soon afterward, having it on, he called at the counting-house of Mr. B., a manufacturer, with whom he was well acquainted; and while sitting in conversation with him, Mr. B., looking at the suit the minister had on, remarked pleasantly,
"I'm glad to see that you are patronizing our factory."
"To what do you refer?" asked the minister.
"The suit of clothes you have on; I see they are from the cloth we make at our mills."
"Why, no," said the minister; "I got them from Mr. C., and he deals only in English goods, and therefore charged me an extra price for his work."
"English goods! Why, Mr. C. buys all his cloths from us. He has none other in his store. I should know them anywhere."
The minister, greatly surprised, said, "You must, I'm sure, be mistaken; for Mr. C. not only told me that he kept only English goods, but I saw the wrappers and labels, with the English marks and the manufacturer's name on them, on every piece as I looked at them."
"Yes," said Mr. B., "we prepare all those wrappers and labels; we have them printed by the ream. There," pointing with his finger, "you see a pile of them; and, as I said before, Mr. C. buys all his cloths of us, and he has not a yard of English goods in his store."
Here, then, was a leading merchant tailor in a leading city of our land deliberately and habitually working with a leading manufacturer to pass off American goods as English, the tailor deliberately lying to his customer and saying the cloths were English, the manufacturer preparing the labels to help on the lie, the tailor exhibiting these labels to make his lie pass for the truth, and both doing this as an everyday business; and yet both men would feel outraged if any one had called them to their faces what they really were—cheats and liars. Thus men, in the way of business, are debauching their own consciences, and teaching their clerks and dependents to be deceivers and cheats, undermining the morals of trade, and laying up for themselves a fearful account against the day of Judgment.
In view of such facts, we would ask one or two questions, which we would commend to the thoughtful consideration of business men:—
1. Are there two standards of truth, of integrity, of honesty—one for the ways of business, and another for other spheres of life?
2. Are your example and teaching in the way of business likely to do good to young men, or to corrupt their principles—to keep them out of the kingdom of Heaven, or to lead them to it?
3. Is not commercial lying as bad as any other kind of lying? At the day of Judgment, will not the business liar go down to death under as deep a condemnation as any other?
News and Notes.
By Editor
RELIGIOUS.
—It is announced that hereafter diplomatic relations will be sustained between the Vatican and the Chinese court.
—A bill to incorporate a new college, to be called the American College of the Roman Catholic Church of the United States, is before the Maryland Legislature.
—New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Nebraska have each passed a law prohibiting the selling or giving away of tobacco to minors. The Massachusetts Woman’s Christian Temperance Union is petitioning the Legislature for a similar law in that State.
—Joseph E. Keller, who for two years has served as assistant to the General of the Jesuit order for all the English-speaking countries, died at Rome, February 5. He was born in Bavaria, but removed to this country when a child, and was educated in St. Louis.
—A painting of the “holy family” in which the artist has represented the brothers and sisters of our Lord, has been exhibited in Vienna. The Catholic Church has “made a great scandal” out of this picture, and masses have been celebrated at Vienna in reparation of the blasphemy.
—The Sunday movement is still onward. In Connecticut there is a bill before the Legislature forbidding the running of any but mail trains on Sunday, except such as the Commissioners shall authorize as necessary, and the handling, loading, or unloading of freight, except in cases of necessity or mercy.
—The Sunday Schools at Work, the organ of the New York Sunday-school Association, says that there are in that State more than 740,000 children and youth who are not under any religious instruction, either Protestant or Catholic. If those children were in Africa, they would be called heathen. Possibly their parents would be also.
—David Whitmer, the last of the three witnesses who saw the original plates of the Book of Mormon, died recently in Missouri. Mr. Whitmer had in his possession a manuscript copy of the book, written by himself as it was “translated” from the plates by Joseph Smith. The Mormons at Salt Lake City have long been anxious to get possession of this manuscript.
—In 1822, the Methodists opened a mission in the Friendly Islands, which, with the usual amount of hard work, has accomplished the usual transformation in the people. Polygamy and idolatry were abandoned, and the king and the majority of his subjects accepted Christianity. Heathen chiefs, aided by Roman Catholic missionaries, instigated a rebellion against the king; and in 1852, in order to secure his throne, he was obliged to protect the French residents and tolerate the Roman Catholic Church. Now the report comes that the Methodists are the victims of persecution; and a leading religious journal thinks that when the particulars are known, it will be quite likely to appear that the persecution is the “result of the intrigues of Roman Catholic missionaries, and is another illustration of their peculiar views of freedom of worship.”
—President Eliot, of Harvard, recently read an essay before the Unitarian Club of Boston, entitled, “The Secularization of Education not a Rational End.” Mr. Eliot says: “The public schools cannot do for Eastern Massachusetts what they ought to do if the Roman Catholic children are withdrawn from them. They will not be the consolidating, fusing, Americanized force that they should be.” This is good so far; but Mr. Eliot proposes a unique method of supplying religious instruction. He would have the children taught by Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish teachers, according to the faith of the parents; and he would have those teachers paid from the public funds. The Illustrated Christian Weekly denounces Mr. Eliot’s “method,” and asserts that “we are entirely justified in maintaining the Bible in the schools; for it is not a sectarian book, but the religious standard for all mankind.” It believes that the real reason that the Roman Catholics object to the public schools is because they are a “consolidating, fusing, Americanized force.” The hierarchy aim to segregate Roman Catholic children from “other children, that they may be more easily managed in the imperium in imperio which the latest encyclical virtually calls for.”
Obituary.
MORRELL.—Died at the Old Ladies' Home in San Francisco, Cal., February 2, 1886, of a severe cold. Sister Jane Morrell, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 4 days. Sister Morrell embraced present truth about nine years ago, when Elders J. H. Waggoner and J. N. Loughborough were holding tent-meetings in San Francisco, and has since been a firm believer in the soon-coming of Christ. She manifested great cheerfulness in the lot assigned her by Providence, and was always faithful in her humble sphere. We believe she will have a part in the first resurrection. The funeral services were conducted by the President of the Home, February 4, 1886.
ANDREW BRORSEN.
CAINE.—Died, in Oakland, Cal., Feb. 9, 1886, George L. Caine, aged 22 years, 5 months, and 19 days. Brother Caine was born in Butte County, Cal. For several years he had been afflicted with nervous dyspepsia, by which he had become very much reduced. The physicians who were consulted a short time before his death gave encouragement that he might recover; but he had suffered so much, and was so prostrated, that he could not be induced to indulge any hope. He expressed no desire to recover, but rather that he might soon die, without lingering in weakness. On the evening of February 8, he was feeling quite well, and said he thought he should have a good rest. In the night when he was visited, he was found dead, not having changed his position at all, nor apparently struggled. His mother has been a member of the Oakland church for a number of years. He united with the church by baptism in November last. His faith was strong, and his hope bright and clear. It was this that reconciled him to sleeping in the grave till the Life-giver comes. May the Lord inspire all the mourning ones with the same "blessed hope."
EDITOR.
Appointments.
Spring Meetings in California.
BROTHER BUTLER now expects to be with us in our spring meetings in California, which we appoint as follows:—
A camp-meeting in Fresno, from March 26 to April 6.
General meeting at Healdsburg, in connection with the meeting of the stockholders of the College, April 8 to 20.
General meeting in Oakland during the time of the meeting of the Publishing Association, April 21 to 29.
St. Helena, in connection with the meeting of the stockholders of the Rural Health Retreat, April 30 to May 2.
Oakland and San Francisco, May 3 to 10. More particulars will be given hereafter by circulars.
CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.
OUR COUNTRY,
By Uriah Smith
THE MARVEL OF NATIONS:
ITS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, AND WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY OF IT.
By U. SMITH.
Author of "Smith's Parliamentary Rules," and Other Popular Works.
This is a new and popular work on a subject of the deepest interest to all American citizens. It takes a brief but comprehensive view of our Government from a
HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AND RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT.
It also shows that the United States is a subject of prophecy; that an outline of its history was written nearly two thousand years ago. It calls the attention of the reader to a
CHAIN OF PROPHECY,
of which our Government is an important link, and shows that the location, the time of its rise, the nature of its Constitution, and its wonderful growth and subsequent influence, as well as its future attitude, were all clearly foreseen and pointed out by the Prophet of God, hundreds of years ago. Other great nations of the world are subjects of prophecy, and why not our own? The SUNDAY QUESTION, MODERN SPIRITUALISM, AND NATIONAL REFORM are prominent among the topics ably discussed in this work.
The "Marvel of Nations" is a work of 282 pages. It contains a steel plate of the author, and over forty illustrations. It is printed in clear type and elegantly bound. Price $1.00.
The publishers of THE AMERICAN SENTINEL being desirous of securing a large subscription list at once, have made arrangements with the publishers of "The Marvel of Nations" whereby they are enabled to furnish this interesting and popular book, together with their paper, one year, for only $1.25.
Address,
AMERICAN SENTINEL,
1059 Castro Street, Oakland, Cal.
THE SABBATH QUESTION.
Assorted Package No. 1. Price, 10c.
Which Day Do You Keep, and Why—Who Changed the Sabbath—The Sabbath in the New Testament—Elihu on the Sabbath—God's Memorial—Sunday Not the Sabbath—Why Not Found Out Before—One Hundred Bible Facts about the Sabbath.
Assorted Package No. 2. Price, 25c.
This package contains all the tracts in package No. 1, and the following in addition:—
Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined—The Ten Commandments Not Abolished—The Seventh Part of Time—The Definite Seventh Day—Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Address to the Baptists—The Sunday Law.
OTHER WORKS ON THE SABBATH.
The Truth Found.—A comprehensive exposition of the nature and obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. 64 pp.......................10c
Sunday Seventh-day Examined.—A critical examination of the claim that Sunday is the true seventh day of the fourth commandment. 88 pp................10c
Brown's Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath Question. 64 pp........................................................10c
Appeal to the Baptists.—An address from the Seventh-day Baptists to their first-day Baptist brethren, urging a restoration of the Bible Sabbath from the stand-point of Baptist principles of argument and interpretation. 48 pp........................................................10c
Vindication of the True Sabbath.—By a former missionary of the Presbyterian Church............................................10c
Morality of the Sabbath.—Showing that the Sabbath commandment, being found in the midst of the nine acknowledged moral precepts, is, like the others, moral in its nature. 96 pp.........................................15c
Testimony of the Fathers of the first three centuries concerning the Sabbath and First-day. A candid examination of both sides of the question. 112 pp............................................................15c
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE SECOND ADVENT
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 3. Price, 10c.
The Coming of the Lord—Is the End Near—Can We Know—The Signs of the Times—The Judgment—The Second Advent.
Assorted Package No. 4. Price, 25c.
Containing package No. 3, and the following in addition:—
The Millennium—The Present Truth—The Third Angel's Message—Exposition of Matthew Twenty-four.
OTHER WORKS ON THE SECOND ADVENT.
Our Faith and Hope.—A series of ten sermons on the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 138 pp..........................................25c
Second Coming of Christ.—An exposition of Matthew 24th chapter. 64 pp..........................................10c
Three Messages of Rev. 14.—Showing the nature and character of the warning messages designed to prepare the world for the last great Judgment. 93 pp..........................................10c
The Saints' Inheritance, or the Earth Made New. 82 pp..........................................10c
The Seven Trumpets. An exposition of the symbols of Rev. 8 and 9. 96 pp..........................................10c
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
MAN'S NATURE AND DESTINY
Assorted Package No. 5. Price, 10c.
Is Man Immortal—Thoughts for the Candid—End of the Wicked—The Rich Man and Lazarus—Departing and Being with Christ—Milton on the State of the Dead.
OTHER WORKS ON MAN'S NATURE.
The Hope of the Gospel.—What is it, and when will it be consummated? 80 pp....................10c
Matter and Spirit.—An argument on the relation of matter and spirit, and the dependence of thought upon organization. 66 pp....................10c
History of the Doctrine of the Soul.—The belief in its immortality traced among all races and peoples to the present time. 186 pp., cloth............75c
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
MISCELLANEOUS TRACTS.
By Editor
Assorted Package No. 6. Price, 25c.
The Plan of Redemption—The Sufferings of Christ—The Sanctuary of the Bible—Scripture References—The Spirit of Prophecy—Spiritualism a Satanic Delusion—Samuel and the Witch of Endor—The End of the Wicked—The Two Thrones.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Missionaries yet Needed.
By Editor
By this we mean that the world is not yet converted; and indeed it is not approaching that time so faithfully preached by imaginative ministers. There is neither promise nor prophecy in the Bible to justify their expectation; yet to deny the conversion of the world is, by some, considered akin to infidelity. The truth is, that while some are being converted in heathen lands, the multitudes in those countries where the gospel has been preached the most, are drifting into open infidelity. An Auckland, New Zealand, paper comments on this state of things in introducing a notice of an infidel publication. Of the book it says:—
"These general remarks are suggested by the perusal of a small book, entitled, 'Religion without Superstition,' written by Judge Williams, of Victoria. It was published in February last; but within eight weeks, two editions were sold out, and a third, in a cheapened and enlarged form, has made its appearance. This extensive sale is a significant fact, and is not accounted for by any particular brilliancy in the book itself; for though things are put well, the ground it covers has been traversed many times over. The arguments have been urged frequently, and in numerous cases quite as forcibly. What, then, is the cause of this unwonted sale? The status of the writer may have had some slight influence; but the spectacle of an unorthodox judge is surely nothing very wonderful. It is to be witnessed nearer home than Victoria. The true cause seems to be discoverable in the character of the present generation. A lucid setting forth of doubts and difficulties will naturally attract notice among an age of doubters. A few decades ago it is more than likely the judge's little volume would have fallen still-born from the press. He might have piped, but the public would not have danced. They had other things to absorb their attention, and would have let the skepticism of even an occupant of the judicial bench severely alone. Another state of things prevails now, and an 'infidel book' is in its third edition within a couple of months of publication."
And so it is in every so-called Christian land. Worldliness, or conformity to the world, has absorbed the interest of professed Christians, and the salt is fast losing its savor. Having lowered the standard of Christianity until it trails in the dust, they look around bewildered, like men half wakened from sleep, and ask the world to vote itself Christian, and thus save the church from the overflowing tide of skepticism and irreligion!
The "True Educator."
By Editor
THE January number of the True Educator, published by the South Lancaster (Mass.) Academy, comes with a new dress, and looks fresh and neat throughout. It is also filled with an excellent variety of live matter which is well worth reading. During the past year there has been a marked and steady improvement in this journal, and we can conscientiously recommend it to all who are interested in educational matters. We have no doubt that the improvement in the matter and style of the journal is an indication of corresponding improvement in the Academy; and we congratulate the trustees of that institution on their good fortune in securing the services of so energetic and painstaking a worker as Prof. Ramsey. The fact that in the "Students' Home" alone there are now sixty-eight students, shows that the efforts to raise the standard, that have been put forth by the trustees and faculty, are being appreciated. It is to be hoped that the people of the New England and Central States will give the South Lancaster Academy the patronage and support which it deserves.
"Something for Nothing."
By Editor
THIS was what we recently saw printed in flaming capitals at the head of a circular that was being most generously distributed throughout the city. Below it was an advertisement of some culinary article of extraordinary quality, which was offered very cheap, with the assurance that each package contained money or jewelry of greater value than the amount asked for the merchandise. Every buyer was assured of receiving something for nothing.
The very fact that such things are continually advertised, shows that many people are anxiously seeking to get something for nothing. People who patronize such schemes exhibit a wonderful amount of obtuseness. They seem to imagine that there are people who are eager to give away property to any one who will ask for it. Their own eager desire to get something for nothing is evidence that they themselves have no such generous disposition, and therefore they tacitly admit that other people are much better than they are. Such confidence in human nature is unwarranted.
But besides obtuseness, the patronizers of these lottery schemes manifest a thievish disposition. To patronize any such thing is downright dishonesty. Any attempt to get something of value from another without rendering an equivalent, is a form of stealing. And those newspapers which publish glowing accounts of successful lottery drawings, thus inducing people to invest, are accomplices in robbery. It may be set down as a fact, also, that any offer to give something for nothing is a swindle.
We are not sure, however, but that the phrase "something for nothing," which is so conspicuously displayed, tells the exact truth; for those who are led to thus dishonestly try to better their fortunes, always give something, and in return receive nothing.
Not in Our Line.
By Editor
WE feel well assured that we were right in our judgment that there are many places where good Christian families can exert a good influence, and do a good work, without any detriment to their worldly interests. But now comes a letter from a distant State making inquiry as to where we think the writer could go to fill such a place. We said they must seek counsel of those who have authority to advise in the matter,—which we have not. As others may do as this writer has done, we will supplement our previous remarks by these suggestions:—
1. Consult the officers of your own Conference, or some minister in your Conference, on the subject.
2. If they are clear that you have a duty, and feel assured that you (and your family, if you have one) would exert a good influence in some new field, they may be able to mark out some place of usefulness to you; or—
3. If you or they think you might better go to some other field, perhaps to some other State, then let them give a statement of the case to the officers of the General Conference, or to the officers of the International Missionary Society.
4. In any case, do not seek counsel of those who have no knowledge of missionary fields, or of those who are entire strangers to you. They cannot afford you any help or information.
Modern Magic.
By Editor
SPIRITUALISTS and "free thinkers" are unsparing in their ridicule of the foolishness and credulity of professors of religion who accept the miracles recorded in the Bible as actual facts. The world is too much enlightened, they say, to believe such things. Those records would do very well for the childhood of the race, but in this nineteenth century we are too far advanced to have faith in them. It has long been known that the most blindly credulous people in the world are those who scoff at the faith of the Christian; and in proof of this, we quote the following flattering notice which appeared in one of the leading Spiritualist journals. The journal is ably conducted, and intellectually and mechanically is a good specimen of modern journalism, and that makes more marked the contrast with the notice, which reads like a relic from "the Dark Ages:"—
"Mrs. ———, of San Francisco, has recently come into possession of a highly polished stone, or, as some term it, a 'magic mirror,' in which she reads the past, present, and future of persons sitting with her. She reads messages from friends passed away, sees spirit forms and faces, and events that have transpired, with startling distinctness. This lady has seen much sorrow. Her husband, children, and property have all been taken from her, and she is alone in the world,—reduced to poverty. Now the spiritual forces have brought her the means of gaining her own living and assisting others, by this magic mirror which came to her in a very strange manner. Mrs. ——— is a quiet, retiring little woman, who desires to give only the truth, and who feels that mediumship is a holy gift. She comes into the field as a laborer for the good of the spirits, but with a very limited knowledge of the harmonial philosophy, willing to learn of the humblest, but with a power of clairvoyance very few possess in so great a degree. That she is honest and truthful no one who comes into her atmosphere can for a moment doubt, and we wish her the success she deserves."
Quarantine in San Francisco.
By Editor
THE recent arrival of the Belgic with small-pox on board reminds us of what we have long thought,—that the United States greatly fails of its duty in not establishing a quarantine station in this harbor. No better place for such a station exists than Angel Island, where one could be established at very small expense. To shut up a lot of passengers for weeks, in a ship, after a long voyage, with disease on board, as has been done within our recollection, is cruel; and at the port of San Francisco, with such excellent facilities for an isolated land station, where the climate is always mild, the cruelty is altogether unnecessary.
Can Honeycomb Be Manufactured?
By Editor
SOME time since we published a short selection on "adulterations," which said that not only was honey made artificially, by man, but honey-comb was also manufactured and filled with artificial honey. A friend in Michigan sends us a piece of the "American Bee Journal," which says it is not true, and that it cannot be done. But again, bee raisers in California tell us that it can be done. And whether it can or not, we do not know. We have no opinion to give in the matter. We gave our authority for the selection, and must leave it there.
Payment in Advance
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.
Pacific Coast Appointments
By Editor
LET all our readers on the Pacific Coast carefully note the appointments in this paper, and do not forget them. Appointments for the Northern Camp-meetings will soon be given.