TOO MUCH can not be said of the value of the hours which most men waste. One of the prime qualities of a man of force and ability is his clear understanding of what can be done with the time and tools at his command. Such a man wastes no time in idle dreaming of the things he would do if he could go to college, or travel, or have command of long periods of uninterrupted time. He is not guilty of a feeble evasion of “no possibility” for his career by getting behind adverse conditions. If the conditions are adverse, he gets in front of them and so gets away from them. Conditions look very solid and formidable, but a plucky man often discovers that their portentous show of strength is a sham, and that the great guns which frown upon him are merely wooden imitations. Everything yields to a strong hand.
The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence, and educational opportunities; the question is what he will do with the things he has. The moment a young man ceases to dream or to bemoan his lack of opportunities, and resolutely looks his conditions in the face, and resolves to change them, he lays the corner-stone of a solid and honorable success.
A young man who ceases to dream about the things he would do if he had plenty of time, and plans the things he will do with the time he has, may go slow, but he will go far.
Such a young man, thirty years ago, suddenly discovered that, by using in a continuous way the time he spent on ferry-boats and railway trains, he might have a good deal of leisure. This leisure was made up of half and quarter hours at the beginning and end of the day,—the odds and ends of time which most people regard as of no account. Taking them separately, they are of little account; putting them together, by treating them as a whole, they furnished a fine opportunity for the liberal education of a young man of business. This young man saw the uses of these odds and ends of time if he could treat them as a whole. That was really a very simple matter, tho multitudes of people have never found it out. To utilize these hours and make them as valuable as if they formed a continuous period of time, it was only necessary to make a little plan of work, and to have the material in hand so as to turn every quarter of an hour to account.
This young man wanted to know German. He bought an elementary grammar and phrase book and some simple German stories. He kept a book in his pocket, and, when a spare quarter or half hour came, he studied the book. It was not difficult, and in a little while it became very interesting. He was soon reading simple German, and from that point his progress was rapid, and the pleasure of the occupation steadily increased. In less than a year he had German so well in hand that he began to study Spanish. He became engrossed in the study of languages as an occupation for his leisure hours; he found it very enjoyable, and every language learned was an open door to more enjoyment. In a few years he was reading German, Spanish, French, and Italian easily and with keen enjoyment. In the meantime his business advancement had been rapid, and he had secured a very important and lucrative position in a great organization. His studies had not only given him an education, but they had also conduced to his success in practical affairs by the quickening and training of his mind. This is but one among thousands of similar achievements.
LITERARY NOTICES.
By Editor
“By Land and Sea through Five Continents.” By G. C. Tenney. Illustrated, 392 pp. Price, $1.50. Review & Herald Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich.
Starting from the interior of this country the author journeys westward through the Golden Gate, carrying us with him to the islands of the Pacific, including Hawaii and lonely little Pitcairn, “Brighter Britain,” and the “Southern Continent” of Australia, to far-off India, to Egypt, to the Holy Land, to Southern Europe, and back to America. The conductor of our journey observes keenly, passes lightly over the longer traveled paths, and treats more fully the unfamiliar. It is profusely illustrated, is full of information which can be depended upon, is good in moral tone, and entertaining.
“The Best American Orations of To-day.” Compiled by Harriet Blackstone. 292 pp. Cloth, gilt title and side stamp, $1.25. Hinds & Noble, 31-35 15th Street, New York.
This book contains seventy-five different selections from the best prominent public men in America. It aims to present their best thoughts, in which the compiler has had the co-operation of the authors. It is a useful and helpful compendium.
“Cogitations of a Crank.” By Septimus Winner, author of “Listen to the Mocking Bird.” Published by Drexel Biddle, Philadelphia, Pa. Cloth, 112 pp. Price not given.
The contents of this little book of poems is very different from what the title would indicate. While not polished in style, the compositions are elevating in character. The poetry in some instances comes very close to crudity; but under the roughness of the expression there generally stands a frank, manly truth. The poems are religious in character, and well worth reading.
“The Being with the Upturned Face.” By Clarence Lathbury. Cloth, 179 pp. $1.00 net. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York City.
This book is noticed here not because of its intrinsic worth—the well written and tastefully printed and bound—but because it is symptomatic of a condition widely prevalent just now. There is a movement from beneath whose tendency is to deify the human and bring the divine down to our level; and such is the teaching of this book. The author calls this movement “the transmutation of matter into divinity.” It is in reality an attempt to make a new Bible with man for its god, with power in himself to bring about any necessary renewing of his physical, moral, or spiritual faculties. That the author hardly believes in the necessity of any such renewing is shown by such expressions as these: “It is fitting for us to unloose our shoes and bare our heads before the majesty of ourselves;” “We must be approached with awe, measured by love, reverence, faith;” “Every person is a new incarnation of Deity;” “We are coadjutors of the First Cause;” “We are not so very far behind Him.” These are the bold assertions of man to prove that man is even a greater and more perfect being than God really created him—an attempt to make the race believe our experience in sin has done for us what Satan declared it would do, and in this to make the plain declaration of God untrue. To further this absurdity, the author of necessity links with it the falsehood of the tempter uttered in Eden, the immortality of man. Satan declared, “Ye shall be as gods.” The author of this book declares, “Fundamentally all are divine.” “The mingling of God and man is not strange, because His nature and ours are identical.” Satan’s contradiction of God in Eden was not more pronounced than is this; for this is but a repetition of that, a perpetuation of the self-worship, which has brought into the earth. This book with the movement for which it stands, is but another of those influences which are to be expected in these last days. Christ asked: “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Such works as the book above referred to are doing all they can to make a negative answer necessary.
“Tittlebat Titmouse.” A revised edition of Samuel Warren’s novel, “Ten Thousand a Year.” Edited by Cyrus Townsend Brady, and published by Funk and Wagnalls, New York City. Cloth, illustrated, 464 pp. Price, $1.50.
This book is a novel—probably good as novels go—a class of literature which we have neither time to read nor inclination to recommend.
“Twelve Letters to My Son.” By G. J. F., D.D. Published by the Nunc Licet Press, Philadelphia and London. Cloth, large type. 193 pp. Price, 75 cents, net.
This book purports to be a series of twelve letters, which a father writes to his son concerning the Bible. It is in fact simply a setting forth of Swedenborg’s attitude toward the Scriptures, his views of scripture inspiration and his method of scripture interpretation. It is too bad to see these delusive errors perpetuated under so deceptive a title.
“Tolstoy and His Message.” By Ernest H. Crosby. Cloth, 93 pp. Price, 50 cents net. Funk & Wagnalls Company, 30 Lafayette Place, New York City.
This little book is a condensed interpretation of the doctrines of Count Leo Tolstoy, by one of his American admirers, prefaced by a short sketch of Tolstoy’s life and works.
“Builders of the Beautiful.” By H. L. Piner. Cloth, 5x8 1/4 in. 303 pp. Price, $1.50 net. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London.
The effort of the author is to show that man makes of himself in ugliness or beauty what he is. As he expresses it, “Properly analyzed, all men are what they seem to be.” This may in a sense be true, but not absolutely, else why all the deceptions in this world. The entire book is a mixture of half-truths and grand truths in false settings. Its general trend is away from the only faith which can save, belief in and union with Jesus Christ.
“Half-a-Dozen Housekeepers.” By Kate Douglas Wiggin. Illustrations in colors. Decorated cloth, 162 pp. Price 75 cents. Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
This book is a story for girls in which half a dozen girls spend a two weeks’ vacation from seminary life taking care of themselves at the home of one of the girls while the parents of the young lady were themselves on a vacation. The amusing experiences of the young women in keeping house by themselves are told in an entertaining manner, as also the various amusements which they instituted for their own and their visitors’ entertainment. The book is remarkably free from the sentimental gush so dominant in the light literature of the day. Its aim is simply to entertain, and it is done in a clean way.
THE MAN WHO FEELS.
By Alfred J. Waterhouse
[Alfred J. Waterhouse, in the October Success.]
THE man who feels is a happier wight
Than the man who is callous and cold,
For if he weeps in the gloom of night,
He laughs in the sunbeams’ gold;
And if the tide of his life runs low,
It reaches the summits of cheer;
He knows the heights, as the depths below,
And he smiles through a pitying tear.
And after all, when all is done,
The world has most of the gladdening sun,
For the twilight lingers when day is done,
And the sun’s benediction is dear.
The man who feels is happier far,—
I say it again and again,—
Than ever can be, or ever are,
The pitiless sons of men;
For if he sighs for his own great woes,
He sighs for another’s too;
If the plant of pain in his bosom grows,
It is covered by sympathy’s dew.
And after it all, when all is said,
Still pity and love forever are wed;
That the heart unfeeling is chill and dead
Is true, and forever is true.
The man who feels is a dear God’s gift
To a sorrowful, travailing world;
By the hands that the burdens of life uplift
Is the flag of our peace unfurled.
We need not the souls that are callous as fate,
And selfish, and wedded to greed,
But the pitying tear for our fallen estate
We need—and we ever shall need.
And after all, when all is past,
’Tis the deed of love that alone may last,
And the rest is chaff in the winnowing blast;
In the garden of life, a weed.
WHAT NATURE HAS DONE FOR THE AMERICAN IRONMONGER.
WE must recognize the lavish hand with which nature prepared the way for our industrial triumphs, by accumulating, along the southern and western shores of Lake Superior, those vast beds of iron ore, which are not only the most extensive in the world, but are so placed that the labor of excavating and loading for shipment is practically nothing. The ore, which is extremely rich, sixty per cent of it being iron, lies practically at the surface of the ground; and it is so loose and friable that all that is necessary for its recovery is to run in a train of cars, set a steam shovel at work, and load the material directly on to the cars. This work has actually been done at the rate of 5,800 tons in ten hours, and this with the labor of but eight men at a cost of five cents only per ton for labor. The supply is enormous, a single corporation having recently estimated its holdings at 500,000,000 tons, valued at as many million dollars. These vast and easily-recovered supplies, however, would have a limited value, were there not available a proportionate supply of coking coal; and this has been provided with an equally lavish hand in the famous Connellsville district, where a single coke company on entering into one of the great industrial combinations of the past few years, stated that it owned 40,000 acres of coal lands in this region, and 11,000 coke ovens. Within easy reach of the coal district there are also large quarries of limestone, the third of the three constituents in the charge of a blast furnace.—The Iron and Steel Number of the Scientific American.
BITS OF JAMAICAN NATURAL HISTORY.
By F. I. Richardson
In this article we will speak of some of the curious things found in the vegetable and animal kingdoms of Jamaica. More than sixty varieties of fruits and vegetables flourish here. Of these, only the pimento (allspice) and a few other species of comparatively little value, are natives; the rest have been brought here purposely or by accident. Every season of the year brings some kinds of vegetables or plants to maturity. Not infrequently a tree will contain blossoms and fruit in every stage of development at the same time. Indeed, fresh fruits and vegetables may be had every day.
The nutritive value of many of these tropical productions is remarkable; it has been proven by the natives that certain species, if eaten alone, will sustain life. It is said that one year, when all other crops failed, the people lived for months on boiled green bananas, laboring daily in the field. Many of these fruits require no cooking, while others are prepared in a variety of ways. The breadfruit, if nicely baked, sliced, and spread with avocado pear, makes a very good substitute for bread and butter.
To the European visitor the almost infinite variety of trees are peculiarly novel in appearance; he is hardly able to identify even one with the trees found in his own land. Some are so compact in grain that they will not float in water, and when cut they take a high polish. On many of these trees grow thousands of parasitic plants, with flowers of the most delicate and gorgeous hues. Certain of the creepers entwine themselves around the trunks of these kings of the vegetable world, and throw out their tendrils from the branches on all sides, sometimes running down fifty feet before reaching the ground, thus forming immense cables, as if designed to protect these forest giants from the fury of the elements.
A seed, carried by the wind or dropped by a passing bird on the limb of a tree, or on an apparently barren rock, takes root and grows, altho there is no visible way in which it can be supplied with nourishment.
A short distance from Port Antonio is a wild fig tree, growing from the top of a sugar-house chimney, seventy-five feet from the ground. At another place twelve such trees are flourishing on the stone walls of a deserted dwelling; but the roots of these have reached the ground.
What a wonderful architect is the great Creator! No two trees, no two blades of grass are exactly alike. No two persons look, act, or think alike. The human mind can scarcely conceive the possibility of so endless a diversity; and yet the Master Artist goes on year after year adding to the list, without any diminution of His resources. "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward; they can not be reckoned up in order unto Thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."
Aromatic shrubs and flowers of every variety and size are abundant. After the autumnal rains the whole interior of the island has the appearance of an immense garden, and the air is perfumed with the most fragrant odors. Among the less attractive, but not less useful, plants are the wild pine and the traveler's palm, which have the curious property of containing water. From these sources the Maroons were supplied with refreshment during the extremities to which they were frequently reduced in their conflicts with the white inhabitants of Jamaica.
A Mango Tree, Jamaica.
Lest some may be led to think, from our descriptions, that this land approaches a second Paradise, we assure them that the effects of Adam's sin are seen here as well as in other parts of the world we have visited. One may not roam in our forests, as in northern lands, for trailing creepers and thorns and brambles, according to the Word in Gen. 3:18, block the way. Animals and insects, destructive to crops and annoying to mankind, abound. Several years ago rats became so numerous that the people began to fear the island would be depopulated. Nothing in the house or field escaped their ravages. At length the mongoos was imported, and began its work of destroying these pests. The rats were greatly reduced in numbers, and the snakes were totally annihilated; the mongoos also preyed upon the birds until very few songsters are left.
But some birds of beautiful plumage still remain;
among them are several species of humming-birds, whose beauty in form and plumage defies description, exhibiting alternately, as they flutter and shift their position in the sun, all the colors of the rainbow. The most beautiful is the long-tailed species. It has plumes about six inches in length, which cross each other and expand into a fan-shaped tuft. This beautiful bird might be more appropriately styled the "bird of paradise" than the one now having the honor of that name.
With the destruction of the birds arose a new pest—the grass lice. At certain seasons it breeds in countless numbers in the grass lands. This is a tick about half the size of a pinhead. Once on man or beast, it buries itself in the skin, thereby giving rise to a very annoying inflammation, which frequently causes horses and donkeys to lose their ears.
The chigo (commonly known as the jigger, because it makes a short backward jump before taking a forward one), is about the size of a flea. It penetrates the skin of the toes and feet. It makes a nest, deposits its eggs in a little bag, and hatches a num-
erous progeny. The bag can be extracted with a needle. When full grown it is of the size and has the appearance of a blue pea. If suffered to remain in the flesh any length of time, its progeny would so multiply, (as each young one produces a separate bag) that violent inflammation, and, perhaps, amputation of the affected part, would result.
Scorpions are common. Their sting is very painful, but seldom fatal. Centipedes, tarantulas, and black spiders are found here, but their poison does not often cause death. Fleas, mosquitos, and sandflies are plentiful.
Ants cover the whole face of the ground. They so completely infest the places where food is kept that the ingenuity of housewives is thoroughly taxed to keep eatables from destruction. One species is particularly destructive to houses. The duck-ants build their nests in trees and on the roofs of houses. They construct covered roadways from the ground to their nests.
"There are two or three species of land-crab. That distinguished by the name of mountain-crab has been considered a great delicacy by some. The habits of these animals are remarkable. In their retreats in the mountain districts, which are generally13
about one or two miles from the beach, they inhabit the earth and the stumps of trees. They go down to the sea once a year to deposit their spawn, and perform their march in a straight line with exact order, allowing no obstacle that can be surmounted to obstruct their course, even climbing over houses and precipitous rocks. Here they remain until the young ones have attained sufficient size and strength for the journey, when they return to their habitations followed by the young fry."
Lizards are plentiful. They are welcomed in the houses, as they are harmless to man, but destructive to various noisome and poisonous insects, even destroying scorpions. Thus it would seem that God, in His infinite wisdom, has so arranged the animal kingdom since the fall, that, if left to themselves, they are a check to each other. This will be the case until the dreadful time spoken of in the first chapter of Joel, when His restraining power will be withdrawn, and an army of destructive insects will be let loose to accompany the plagues recorded in Revelation 16, which will visit those who are found out of the ark of safety.
F. I. RICHARDSON.
PARADISE.
By Thoro Harris
O HAPPY land of Paradise,
The soul's eternal rest!
We long to gain our heav'nly home
And be forever blest,
To walk the streets of gold,
Before His face to fall,
To lay our trophies at His feet
And hail Him King of all.
The saints shall sing in Paradise
And loud hosannas raise;
Through endless years new joys shall wake
New strains of loftier praise;
Of Moses and the Lamb
Before the throne they sing;
They triumph in the peerless name
Of heaven's victorious King.
O blessed home in Paradise
Beyond death's wintry tide!
O blissful sight, to view the form
Of Christ the crucified,
And with His ransomed host
In adoration fall,
And in His own loved Paradise
To crown Him King of all!
O happy, happy Paradise!
O sweet, unfading bliss!
This is my solace, this my hope,
This all my comfort is:—
That I one day shall stand
Upon the crystal sea,
Receive the crown from Jesus' hand,
Who died to ransom me!
THORO HARRIS.
(Copyright, 1903 by Meyer & Bros., Chicago.)
Smiles and Sorrows in Japan
WHEN a Japanese remarks, with smiles on his face, that his father has just died, it is not fair to conclude that the Japanese have no love for parents. When a woman goes about her daily work with a smile on her face, it does not indicate to those who understand that her husband is kind to her. In her heart she may have a most bitter sorrow, but she hides it all, not knowing that she may cast it on the shoulders of the Sin-bearer of the world. Repression of all serious, sad feeling is considered a duty by the women of Japan. To live among these people for years is the only way possible to get an insight into their troubles and sorrows.
For them, as for the Occidentals, are the majestic words, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," but human lips must convey this message of consolation.—Selected.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
By Editor
AT Sheyenne, N. D., where Brother Henry Johnson has been holding meetings, four persons have taken their stand for the truth.
AT the session of the West Virginia Conference, held at Parkersburg, Brother S. G. Huntington, recently transferred from Ontario, was elected president.
BROTHER D. T. FERO reports that he recently spent a short time with the church at Arroyo Grande, Cal., and on the 5th ult. baptized ten persons. Eleven were added to the membership.
NOTWITHSTANDING the great strike, our work at Cripple Creek, Col., is said to be moving forward nicely. Some members were obliged to move away, but others have taken hold of the truth.
DURING a season of labor at Rolla, Mo., fourteen persons have decided to step out on "the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." So Brother D. E. Scoles reports in the Workers' Record.
DURING November, seven members were added to the church at Flagstaff, A. T., by baptism. After canvassing the city with the special SIGNS, the brethren followed it with tracts prepared for the purpose.
THE Bulletin, of Des Moines, Iowa, notes the recent graduation of nine nurses at our Sanitarium in that city. They are now prepared to go about doing good in the name of the Master. The field for such workers in the Lord's vineyard is world-wide.
THE Central Advance says "there was quite a religious awakening among the students at Union College during the week of prayer, and many of them have given their hearts to God. Union College has not witnessed so great a revival season for many years.
ON Sabbath, the 2d inst., in this city, Brother J. N. Loughborough had the pleasure of baptizing his granddaughter, Miss Nellie Ireland, and Miss Edna Shull, a compositor on the SIGNS. The rite was administered just after Sabbath-school, before the administration of the other ordinances of the Lord's house.
ACCORDING to Echoes from the Field, encouraging reports come in concerning the missionary conventions in Colorado, from which there has arisen a revival of the missionary spirit in the churches. Up to December 23, over twenty thousand copies of the special SIGNS had been ordered by that conference, and the work was still progressing.
ON the first Sabbath in February there is to be a general collection for the benefit of the International Publishing Association, which publishes periodicals in several foreign languages. The new building of the association, at College View, Neb., is "progressing rapidly," says the Advance, and money is needed for the purchase of facilities for the work. A large press has been purchased, at a cost of $2,750.
THE midwinter number of the Tidens Tecken, published in Stockholm, Sweden, is not only a handsome specimen of the typographic art, but it is filled with good matter pertaining to the last message to this perishing world. Our Swedish brethren, and others who have Swedish friends would do well to procure some copies for circulation. Address your tract society.
THE brethren everywhere will be glad to read this item from the West Michigan Herald: "Upon request of the church board, Elder M. B. Miller took charge of the week of prayer services in the Battle Creek church. This season has proved to be one of the most profitable of its nature held for some time. Evidence is given of a more thorough consecration to the work, and conversions have been made, while others have renewed their vows and been reclaimed." To this we add the report that the church's annual offering for missions amounted to $887.
FROM Brother G. W. Reaser, now at Salem, Oregon, comes this card: "I write to give you an item of encouragement in connection with the circulation of the SIGNS. Three years ago Brother Phillips gave out the papers at the Walla Walla penitentiary. One of the guards there received them reluctantly, but a short time ago took a firm stand for the truth as a result of reading them. He recently learned the address of Brother Phillips at the Portland Sanitarium, and took pains to send him word in regard to his acceptance of the message. How many will be saved by the SIGNS, of whom we will never hear until we meet them in the kingdom."
WRITING to the Review from Jamaica Island, Brother J. B. Beckner says: "The interest in the message is on the increase, notwithstanding the terrible financial condition. We have about thirty now in preparation for baptism during the week of prayer. A prominent family, of considerable landed property, have accepted the entire message since the storm. Many now realize that there will be a much greater storm just a little ahead of us." He also states that many on the island are now begging for work and food, yet he mentions two different points, Moon Park and Port Antonio, where the brethren are erecting new houses of worship, notwithstanding the hard times.
WE note the following appeal to the brethren in Iowa in a late number of the Workers' Bulletin: "Again we call attention to the importance of continuing to scatter far and near the special SIGNS. Many are inquiring, as they take note of the struggle between capital and labor, 'What do these things mean?' Let us not cease our activity until we double the number already ordered. We must not stop short of forty thousand copies. We can use this number easily if all will keep up energy and courage. We are hearing of good results of the effort thus far, and we may see greater results if we will humbly trust the Captain of our salvation and go work in His vineyard just now, warning the people of the last-day struggles."
ON THE GOLD COAST.
WRITING from the Cape Coast Castle, West Africa, Brother J. M. Hyatt says:—
“Our work is moving on very well, and many are taking a good interest. The SIGNS has been a great help to some, especially those who were getting wound up in Hypnotism. Many have seen things in a different light since studying the subject from the SIGNS. We shall be glad when we can get more papers to circulate among the people.
“We have moved our mission to a larger house. Our hall is crowded every time we hold meetings, some, I suppose, just to go somewhere, while others come to hear the truth. On the Sabbath we have a great attendance at the Sabbath-school. Some seem to be firm in the truth. We greatly need a good bell for our mission.
“At present we have to use a hand-bell, and there are two auction houses here which use bells of the same kind. A good bell would be an advantage to our work. Perhaps some of the readers of the SIGNS could help us to get one.
“We are in good health now, tho we have had several hard attacks of fever.”
WANTED FOR MISSIONARY WORK.
(Always prepay postage.)
SIGNS, Review, and tracts, for ship work. Address, Mrs. Fannie Kattman, 2059 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, La.
ANY of our denominational papers. Address, Mrs. M. E. Coffin; Doyle & Overton building, Santa Rosa, Cal.
LATE copies of our denominational papers and tracts, English only. Address, Burt L. Thompson, Plain, Texas.
LATE, clean copies of any of our publications. Address, Emma L. Runck, College View, Neb.
PACIFIC HEALTH JOURNAL AND LIFE BOAT FOR 65 CENTS.
By Editor
THE subscription price of the Pacific Health Journal is 50 cents per year, while the Life Boat is 35 cents per year. For a limited time both of these excellent journals will be mailed to one address for 65 cents. Address Pacific Health Journal, Oakland, Cal., or Life Boat, 28 33rd Place, Chicago, Ill.
A BEAUTIFUL AND VALUABLE BOOK.
By Editor
THAT interesting book of travel, "By Land and Sea," by Elder G. C. Tenny, has sold its entire edition and has been thoroughly revised and brought up to date. It is less bulky than the former, but contains the same amount of matter, and on better paper. There are 392 pages and about 150 illustrations of a superior character. It is interesting, instructive, wholesome, and beautiful, and will make an appropriate gift. It is especially good reading for the young.
It is now issued by the Review and Herald as a trade book with the price reduced to $1.50, and the usual discount to branches, tract societies, and agents. Order of California Tract Society, 206 San Pablo Ave., Oakland, Cal.
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY.
By Editor
An active worker among young people said not long ago: "Young people do not know what they believe nor why." This referred to the great principles of Bible truth.
If this is true, and it undoubtedly is, then it is high time that some vigorous effort was made to encourage these young people to study these important truths. Most helpful to this end are the articles by Elder G. B. Thompson, now appearing in the Youth's Instructor.
The subjects of the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, The Home of the Saved, The Kingdom, The Judgment, The Prophecies, The Sabbath, The End of the Wicked—in fact, all the distinctive points of Bible truth will be taken up.
Parents who wish their children to grow up in the truth instead of out of it, should see that they are thoroughly instructed in the Bible, and this series, together with the many other articles of great interest to the young people, now being printed in the Instructor, will help to solve the question of how the winter evenings can be profitably and pleasantly occupied. These studies, too, may result in establishing your children in the truth.
Seventy-five cents sent now to the Youth's Instructor, 222 North Capitol Street, Washington, D. C., will secure to new subscribers the paper for 1904, and in addition, the publishers will send free the last seven issues of 1903, which contain articles of a series for boys, entitled, "Around the Work-Table."
RIPE OLIVES.
By A. E. Crist
I HAVE about four hundred gallons of nice pickled olives nearly all ripe. They are nicely cured and would sell ordinarily for 75 cents per gallon wholesale.
I hope to sell out and go to Mexico, and am offering these olives while they last at the extremely low price of 40 cents per gallon in 50-gallon barrels; 50 cents per gallon less than barrel lots down to two gallons. Order at once.
A. E. Crist, Marysville, Cal.
THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT AND BUDDHISM.
MR. J. MCGUIRE, of Rangoon, says that the British Government is guilty of openly-aiding and encouraging a heathen religion. The Lieutenant-Governor of Burma, as the representative of his excellency, the Viceroy of India, on the 13th of November, officially recognized a Thathanabaing for the Buddhists of the upper province. A Thathanabaing is, literally, one who has jurisdiction in religion, hence a sort of pope or archbishop. There has not been a Thathanabaing since the annexation of Upper Burma in 1885, and the consequent dethronement of the Burman king. This so-called recognition by the Viceroy is a virtual appointment, as the Buddhists have not themselves chosen a Thathanabaing. It took place at Mandalay, and was a most imposing State function. The object, of course on the part of the Government is to gain favor with the Burmans, who are Buddhists.
A Baptist conference and convention which recently met at Bassein, Burma, boldly condemned this action on the part of the government. It was a great gathering of missionaries and native Christians from all parts of Burma. The enrolment committee reported an attendance of 4,063.
