p. 320 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 20. (3/19/1894)

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 12.

RELIGIOUS.

-The twenty-sixth annual convention of the California State Sunday School Association will convene at Stockton, April 10.

-A New York dispatch says that five parties of Utah Mormon missionaries, sixty in all, have recently sailed from that port for Europe.

-Zion's Herald says that "Bishop Vincent abolished the color line in Oklahoma, and distributed the colored charges and people under the superintendence of the presiding elders."

-Three daughters of Joseph Schench, who reside in the village of Sanborn, N. Y., ten miles east of the Niagara bridge, are said to have become insane from attending Spiritualist seances.

-The Congressional Record makes quite frequent mention of petitions from different sections of the country in support of the joint resolution to amend the preamble to the Constitution by inserting a recognition of the Deity.

-In Modesto, Cal., on the 4th inst., five young Chinamen presented to the Methodist Church a red card bearing the following request in Chinese characters: "We, the undersigned, pray for Christian instruction, and desire to be received at Christ's holy door."

-Rev. W. Kitashima, a young Japanese student of divinity, who graduated from the Bible class of the Oakland, Cal., Unitarian Church some years ago, and then went to Harvard University, has accepted an invitation to preside over the Unitarian Church at Vineland, N. J.

-A St. Louis dispatch of the 5th inst. says: "The two great bodies of Methodists met in a joint love feast and communion service to-day. Forty or fifty ministers were present, and all united in attesting their joy at the burial of strife and dissension. The meeting was unique in St. Louis, where feelings on the Civil War ran high. The split in Methodism dates back to 1844, when a Southern bishop refused to liberate his slaves at behest of the conference."

-Rev. Father Montgomery, of this city, says of Catholicism that it is "the fountain head of the true faith." It is quite evident that Catholicism cannot be the true Christian faith, for of this Christ is the fountain head. The true Christian Church is but the channel through which runs the stream of truth from the Fountain Head to the world. Any church that is itself the fountain of its faith must necessarily be of human origin, and therefore corrupt, sending forth a corrupt stream. It is impossible for any faith coming from such a fountain to be the "true faith."

-On the Erie Railroad a new order went into effect on the 4th inst., "not to start common freight trains from division terminals from 12 o'clock Saturday night until 12 o'clock Sunday night, running only fast freight, perishable freight, and stock trains, laying off as many switching crews and men in the roundhouses as possible for the day."

-The noted African king, Behanzin, of Dahomey, is a practical Spiritualist. When, in the recent war with the French, he became so pressed that he saw surrender the only means of saving his life, it is said that he summoned his aged mother and said to her: "I am going to surrender to France. My father must know it. You shall see him and tell him." And thereupon he had her beheaded, that her spirit might go as messenger to the dead father. This act of the heathen king may be a little more cruel, but it is no more absurd, than the popular doctrine of spirit consciousness after death, upon which the act was based.

-Rev. B. Nagarkar, of India, a minister of the Brahmo-Somaj, or Reformed Hindu Church, preached in the First Unitarian Church, San Francisco, last Sunday night. His sermon, so far as reported, was very good Unitarianism, inasmuch as it ignored the necessity for any mediation between God and man. He made this true remark, however, which contains in a nutshell the cause of the marked apostasy of the professed Christian Church of to-day: "The orthodox [so called] are to-day tearing the Scriptures apart, and lengthening and widening them to fit the new dispensation." Of course in this work of Scripture manipulation Mr. Nagarkar coincides with the "orthodox," as it opens a new door for his religion.

SECULAR.

Up to the 8th inst. 3,000 Chinese had registered at Los Angeles.

The Bank of Pleasanton, Kansas, was robbed of $15,000 on the 7th inst.

The Brazilian insurgent leader, Admiral De Gama, has surrendered to a Portuguese man-of-war.

Ex-President Harrison delivered his first lecture on Constitutional Law at Stanford University, Palo Alto, Cal., on the 6th inst.

Judge McAdam, of New York City, has decided that a newspaper has no right to publish pictures of persons without their consent.

A municipal election row in Troy, N. Y., on the 6th inst., resulted in the death of one man and the serious wounding of three others.

New York Anarchists held a meeting in the Thalia Theater on the night of the 11th inst., to commemorate the assassination of Czar Alexander II. of Russia.

A treaty of peace has been agreed upon by Spain and Morocco, the latter paying a heavy indemnity for the demonstrations of the Riff tribes against Melilla.

Late dispatches from The Hague report a fight on the island of Sumatra between the Dutch and Atchinese. The Dutch loss was five killed and seventeen wounded.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians of Brooklyn, N. Y., have publicly protested against the action of the mayor in refusing to allow the Irish flag to float on the City Hall on St. Patrick's day.

The Colorado State Coal Mine Inspector reports that in Las Animas and Durango Counties he has not found a single mine where the wages of miners were not from two to five months in arrears.

Three hundred drivers in the employ of the Street Cleaning Department of New York City quit work on the 8th inst., by order of the Executive Committee of the Drivers' and Hostlers' Union.

The recent general election in Japan resulted in great gains for the Liberal party in Parliament, and will cause a marked reaction against the anti-foreign sentiment that has for some time been manifested.

The mayor of Cincinnati has been authorized to expend $100,000 from the contingent fund of the city for the benefit of the unemployed. The plan is to use it in promoting repairs and other work needed.

The Supreme Court of Colorado has decided a case against Bishop Warren, of the M. E. Church, which necessitates his relinquishing title to 160 acres of land adjoining the city of Denver, or paying for it $1,000 per acre.

Five Chinese and four Italian orange pickers were driven from a ranch near Los Nietos, Los Angeles County, Cal., by a mob on the 9th inst. Some of them were severely beaten, and were not allowed to gather up their property.

It is reported that Great Britain and Portugal are again in trouble over their African spoils, and that there has actually been a small battle about land that honestly belongs to neither of them. The European game of grab in Africa has all along been based upon the principle that people who are called "uncivilized" by those who assume to be "civilized" have no right to their possessions unless they can hold them against superior might.

The British naval officer at Rio Janeiro says that all vessels should be ordered to leave there, and the port closed, on account of yellow fever. Other reports state that there were as high as seventy-four deaths in one day last week.

A correspondent writes from Seattle, Wash., that "the battle between the A. P. A. and the Catholics is fairly on" in that city. For two days the city had been "under a nervous strain," with "20,000 people on the streets."

The landing of some British marines and guns at Bluefields, Nicaragua, some time last month, against the protest of Nicaragua officials, is likely to lead to international complications involving the United States and Great Britain.

It is said that so many people are leaving the Transvaal, South Africa, to take up claims in Mashonaland that the commandante general has issued a manifesto protesting against the emigration. He claims that it is helping to extend British sway over all South Africa.

The employes of the electric street railway in Youngstown, Ohio, inaugurated a strike last week. An attempt to run cars with non-union men was frustrated by the strikers and other idle men, who attacked the cars, smashing the windows and otherwise damaging them.

A dispatch from Bathurst, West Africa, reports further engagements between British forces and Arab slavers, in which the towns of Brikama and Bakjur were captured and burned. The Arabs made a desperate stand, and lost 150 killed and twice as many wounded.

Daniel Coughlin, who has stood two trials on a charge of complicity in the noted Dr. Cronin murder, committed in Chicago five years ago, was acquitted on the 8th inst., amid wild cheering of the spectators in court. It is said that his two trials have cost the State $75,000.

A quantity of condemned giant powder, about 5,000 pounds, was carried into the mountains back of Del Norte, Colo., on the 11th inst., to be exploded. The explosion shook the mountains for fifty miles, and gave the general impression that a great earthquake had occurred.

An exchange informs us that in Mexico a government inspection of the Catholic parochial schools has developed the fact that ninety-three per cent. of the pupils cannot read. They are taught to repeat prayers, to manipulate beads, to revere relics, and to observe the various superstitions peculiar to that church.

The mayor and police superintendent of Indianapolis have decided to prevent inflammatory speeches of chronic agitators who will not work when opportunity offers, but seek every opportunity to harangue crowds of idle men. Orderly meetings of the unemployed are not to be molested, but professional agitators are to be arrested.

A long-continued case of violation of the prohibitory liquor law was recently decided in Vermont. In 1882 a liquor dealer sent liquor to Rutland in jugs, for which he was convicted. He pleaded guilty to 307 offenses, which brought the penalty up to sixty years in the house of correction. The United States Supreme Court decided that it had no jurisdiction, and the State Supreme Court has just approved the law.

The Italian Government has decided to protect Italian farmers by a heavy duty on grain. The principal aim, however, is to increase the revenue of the government, which fell $30,000,000 short the past year. An increase in the taxes on real estate, salt, and spirits is also proposed. The radicals demand a reduction in the civil list of the royal family, but royalty's requirements are always the last to be curtailed.

At Rome, on the 8th inst., a bomb was exploded near the Chamber of Deputies, and eight persons were wounded, one fatally. The explosion was of considerable force, tearing up the sidewalk and shattering all the windows and much crockery in the immediate neighborhood. It is thought the design was to have the bomb explode about the time the house would adjourn and the members come out, as there was great indignation on the part of workingmen because of the defeat of the National Exposition Bill.

The steam yacht Natalie, which was purchased in New York, and sailed from Savannah in January with arms and ammunition, to be used by General Manigat in an attempt to overthrow President Hippolyte, of Haiti, has been captured by the Haitians. Her cargo has been landed, says a late dispatch, and the entire crew shot by order of the president. Revolution seems to be certain, as it is said there are no less than thirty aspirants for the presidency, six of whom have quite strong following. Hippolyte is himself a Voodoo priest, and this fact gives him considerable power over superstitious believers. He is said now to be preparing for a human sacrifice in order to assure his position. According to superstition, the victims must be an innocent boy and girl, and no one knows whose children may be stolen for the occasion.

Good and Evil Come from the Heart

another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand." Rom. 14:4. "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. . . . . So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more." Rom. 14:10-13.

5. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Out of the heart are the issues of life. Prov. 4:23. From this we learn that it is useless to try to do good in order to be good, but that a man does good only because he is already good. From an evil heart only evil can come. Whoever says that he means to do better than he is doing, thereby acknowledges that he is not now good. Now since only evil can come from evil, how is the man going to do the good that he resolves to do? He has nothing but evil out of which to manufacture his proposed good deeds; but good cannot come from evil. For a man therefore to attempt to make himself better, is really to do evil that good may come. He who, acknowledging himself to be evil, claims that he himself can do that which is good, if he only exerts all the power that is in him, virtually takes the position that there is really no such thing as evil, but that what is called evil is only undeveloped good. "Is it impossible, then, for an evil man to become good?"—Yes, by his own efforts; but the things that are impossible with man are possible with God. Let the man submit himself to God, to be made a new man, and then all things will be of God. See 2 Cor. 5:17, 18. He must first be made good by the Lord, and then he will do that which is good. His righteousness will then be fruit that naturally springs from the Spirit of God that dwells in him. Gal. 5:21-23.

Notes to Readers and Contributors

By Editor

WE hope to give in our next issue a report of the hearing before the Judiciary Committee on the "Christian" Amendment to the Constitution.

IN our Work and Workers' department will be found an interesting article on the Georgia Sunday-law cases, from Elder R. S. Owen. We hope it will not be passed by.

WE call the attention of our readers, and especially the attention of our workers, to the article on page 307, entitled "The Missionary's Pattern." It will bear not only reading, but study.

THE article "Caught in a Blizzard," in our Home department, is a real picture of what a real Western blizzard is, as our foreman who has experienced such storms testifies. The description will be of interest to all parties—to those that know them, because they do; to those who do not know them, for the information given. The story also shows God's providence.

A Word to Our Contributors—especially our young contributors, or those who have had little or no experience in writing. First of all, write briefly. A long article by one who is well known will be read by a large circle because the writer is known. But long articles by comparatively unknown writers, unless on a subject of more than ordinary interest, will never by the majority of readers be begun, and unless exceptionally well written will not if begun be finished. It is safe to say that an article of one or two columns will be read four times when one of three or four columns will be read once, other things being equal. Short, pointed, well-written articles are always in demand. An editor longs for them. On the other hand, long, exhaustive articles are often exhausting to the editorial patience. They cannot well be condensed, many times it diminishes their value to divide them, and, if worthy, as they not infrequently are, they must wait and wait and wait till there is room. Kindly permit, dear fellow laborers who are ambitious to use the quill, a few suggestions. Write briefly. If you wish to treat a large subject, take a point at a time. Write pointedly, concisely, clearly, and stop soon enough. Do not try your "prentice hand" on poetry. In most cases it will be neither poetry, nor rhyme, nor rhythm. Write plain, clear, simple prose, and write short. Write on one side of the page. If the paper is ruled with the lines close together, skip every other line. It will greatly assist the editor. Be willing to be patient in waiting for its appearance. Some articles will bear keeping; long articles will frequently have to; therefore write briefly.

A Word to Our Correspondents.—We have received many letters from all parts of the field which demand answer of some kind, but which have not been answered. We have about a hundred letters now on hand. We would be glad to reply to them all; we hope to reply to the most of them, personally or by proxy. But other matters of more importance to the work at large have crowded in, and replies to our correspondents have been crowded out. But we ask them to be patient, and we will answer as soon as possible.

HOW THEY CARRY OUT THEIR RESOLUTION.

By William N. Glenn

IN the California Christian Advocate of January 31 there was an editorial complaint that the managers of the Midwinter Fair had "treated with contempt" the "protests and petitions" of "the Christian people of this State" against opening the Fair on Sunday. As a result of this "brow-beating policy" it was said that—

"The Methodist Preachers' Meeting, the Golden Gate Christian Endeavor, and the State Sunday School Association have taken action, and unanimously refused to have anything to do with the Fair."

But there seems to have come a reaction from this rash resolve. In the Advocate of February 28 we find the following:—

"March 9 is selected, and is being arranged for, as University of Pacific day. It is reasonably expected that all Methodists in the State who can do so will make this the day of their visit to the Midwinter Fair. The program is such as everyone will enjoy, and such as every Methodist will be proud of. While localities, societies, and orders are standing in together in the days they have designated, let Methodist people and all friends of Christian education rally to the exercises at the Fair grounds March 9."

In the same issue is the following notice of part of the proposed proceedings:—

"The banquet for University of Pacific day, March 9, is to be held at the 'Maison Riche,' at the Fair ground, in the afternoon. The price fixed is seventy-five cents per plate, for five courses. It would be a great favor to all concerned if all who will share in this Methodist social reunion would inform Dr. A. C. Hirst at the earliest moment possible, so that the caterer may be informed of the number of 'plates' required."

In the same issue is this further item, in illustration of the manner in which the heroic resolution refusing to have anything to do with the Fair was carried out:—

"On University of Pacific day an excursion train is arranged for from San Jose and return. The committee has arranged so as to reserve seats for the concert, which is to be the great musical treat of the season, for all who desire. The price is twenty-five cents, which is all the price charged, as the general admission is free. . . . The reserve seat tickets may be had in due time at the Methodist Book Depository, 1037 Market Street, San Francisco. Remember the date is March 9."

We were satisfied when the resolution was first promulgated that it was only a bluff, but we had no idea that they would make such a loud display of their backdown. W. N. G.

SIGNS NO. 18.

By Editor

THE issue of this paper of two weeks ago has met with a hearty response. The first extra five thousand were taken almost immediately by individuals west of the Rocky Mountains. The last week has brought orders for thousands more, and an extra edition has been printed. Its circulation should be by the tens of thousands. The date of the paper is March 5, No. 18. It contains the following:—

1. An article in paragraphs on what the true gospel is and wherein lies its power.

2. An article on "The Real Question" for Protestants to decide, which they must decide, showing how they are departing from their own creeds.

3. "The Character and Aims of the Papacy," by Mrs. E. G. White. It is a solemn warning to Protestants.

4. "Protestantism True and False," by Elder A. F. Ballenger. This article shows what the Protestantism of the Reformation was, the Protestantism of to-day, testimony of Protestants past and present, and where the great professed Protestant churches now stand according to their own testimony. It is a strong document.

5. "The Province of Civil Government," by Elder W. A. Colcord, showing the object and the sphere of civil government.

6. "What Is Protestantism?" by Elder A. T. Jones. A short article, but clear, conclusive, powerful.

7. Our serial article, "Review of Religious Legislation," by Percy T. Magan, discusses the foundation principles of Rome.

8. An article in our Mission Fields department shows how Protestants are "Condoning Heathenism in Foreign Lands." Poems from Whittier and Lowell are given which seem inspired for the great struggle upon us.

The importance of the truth contained in this paper cannot be overestimated. Its price is only at the rate of $1.50 per 100. Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 12th and Castro Streets, Oakland, Cal.

"THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH"

By Editor

From a Roman Catholic Standpoint.

Bible Students' Library No. 113. A reprint of four articles published in the Catholic Mirror, the organ of Cardinal Gibbons. What Catholics have to say to Protestants on the subject. This is already the second edition of this tract. It contains a severe arraignment of Protestants who profess to be Bible Christians, and yet who observe "the Christian sabbath," which the Catholic Mirror declares to be "the genuine offspring of the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church, his spouse," and that the claims of Protestants to any part in it are "groundless, self-contradictory, and suicidal." The friends of the Bible Sabbath ought to do all they can to place this tract in every Protestant family in the world that reads the English language. Sunday-keeping Protestants will find it to be an unanswerable argument. Order by number. Please remember the price, 4 cents per copy. Address, Pacific Press Publishing Co., New York, Kansas City, Mo., or Oakland, Cal. Also, any State Tract Society.