This is a candid examination of the question as to what the Lord expects from his children as an acceptable manifestation of gratitude for his gifts and care. It treats the important subject of tithes and offerings in a new and interesting way. Its arguments are clear and concise. It is a plain and faithful presentation of the truth of God's word on the important subject. An idea of the scope of the work may be obtained from the following brief synopsis:—
CHAPTER I.
Man's Duty to Love God Supremely.—God's Pleasure Man's Profit.—Love is Active, not Passive.—Two Ways of Honoring God.—with Our Time and Our Substance.—Tithing Rests on Same Foundation as Sabbath.—The Right of Property; Everything is the Lord's.—Tithing Not Peculiar to Jewish Dispensation.
CHAPTER II.
First Instance of Payment of Tithes.—What the Tithe Is.—Jacob's Vow.
CHAPTER III.
From What is the Tithe to be Paid?—When Shall It Be Laid Aside? Redeeming the Tithe.—Object of the Tithe.—Nehemiah's Example.—Offerings; Various Kinds in Old Dispensation.—David's Example.—Christian Obligation.
CHAPTER IV.
Difference Between Tithes and Offerings.—Offerings to be Given Willingly.—Modern Methods of Raising Money for Church Support Contrasted with Ancient.—Tithe Must Be Paid Continuously.—Church Expenses; How Raised in Ancient Times.—Support of the Poor; Bible Plan.—A Second Tithe.
CHAPTER V.
Who Should Pay Tithes.—Who should Make Offerings.—The Promise of God.
CHAPTER VI.
Parable of Rich Man; Luke 12:15-21. "Rich Toward God."—Parable of the Unjust Steward.—Children of this World Wiser than Children of Light.—Why God Requires Men to Give of Their Means.
CHAPTER VII.
Systematic Giving.—Impossible to Discharge Our Obligations Without a Plan in Giving.—Purposing in the Heart.—How to Make Duty a Pleasure.—Giving One of the Christian Graces.
CHAPTER VIII.
An Objection; Tithing Not Mentioned by the Apostles.—The Reason Why.—Not One-tenth Merely, but All Belongs to God.—"Sell That Ye Have, and Give Alms."—When Does this Command Apply?
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Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Protestantism and India
By Editor
"G. H. ROUSE, of the English Baptist Mission in Calcutta, says, that if the same rate of progress is made by Protestantism in India as during the past century, it will be Christianized in the sense that England is, in 108 years."—Christian Cynosure.
Well, and what if it should be? what would then be gained? That expression, "in the sense that England is," takes all the life out of their glorying. When we consider England's fastening of the accursed opium habit upon the Chinese, by force of arms, to say nothing of other acts of tyranny, and then glance at the manner in which church "livings" are bought and sold by unscrupulous politicians, to say nothing of the millions of human beings in the large cities of "Christian England" who never heard the name of the Creator except in blasphemy, and who are living in worse than heathen degradation, we may well ask if India will be any better off than she is now when she is "Christianized in the sense that England is." If that is the highest ambition of the English Baptist Mission in Calcutta, we would advise them to give up the job.
Sabbath-Day Travel.
By Editor
"F. K." asks: "Is it right for a Seventh-day Adventist to hitch up his team and drive, or to take his boat and row, seven or eight miles to meeting on the Sabbath?"
It certainly is right for a Seventh-day Adventist if it is right for anybody, and there are principles by which our friend can decide that matter as well as we. Is it right to go to meeting on the Sabbath? It is, for the day was set apart for the worship of God. But if one goes to meeting he must either walk or ride, and either one involves labor. This labor is allowable; for the commandment forbids doing only our work on the Sabbath, and attending religious worship is a part of our service to God. But though it is in the Lord's service, the work should be reduced to a minimum, and therefore we must go in the way that will involve the least labor. If the meeting is very near, walking would be the easier method of going; but if it is at quite a distance, it would involve far less labor to drive. With many, walking a long distance would be an impossibility. If the meeting is on the opposite side of a body of water from one's residence, common sense would say that the family must go by boat if they have such a conveyance. If the meeting is at a distance on the same side of the water as one's residence, he may go by boat if that is the only conveyance he has, or if it involves less labor than driving a team. The whole question rests on whether or not it is right to go to meeting on Sabbath. That it is right, is taught by the Scriptures. We would be glad if those who think that it is wrong to ride to meeting would tell us just how far it is allowable to walk to meeting, and if it is wrong for the very young, the very old, and the feeble to attend meeting.
Notice About Unpaid Papers
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.
WE hope to be able next week to give definite information in regard to reduced rates to the Woodland camp-meeting.
Oakland Cigarette Ordinance
The City Council of Oakland has passed an ordinance making it a misdemeanor for boys under sixteen years of age to smoke cigarettes in any public place. This ordinance, if enforced, will go quite a ways toward abating a terrible nuisance.
Sabbath-Keeping in Centralia and Odin
By Editor
WE learn that the meetings held by Elders Starr and Tait in Centralia, Ill., have closed, with the result that seventeen have covenanted together to keep the Sabbath, and that several whose names are not on the covenant are keeping the Sabbath. The tent has been moved eight miles north to Odin, where there is a good interest, several having already begun to keep the Sabbath.
Anarchists and Disregard of Law
By Editor
EIGHT of the Anarchists who participated in the Chicago riot, and who killed several policemen with their dynamite bombs, have been convicted of murder. Seven of them have been sentenced to be hanged, and one to fifteen years' imprisonment. All lovers of law and order will agree that this is a righteous verdict. We do not share in the general opinion that the execution of these murderers will put a stop to the work of Anarchists in this country. The spirit of lawlessness is rife, and men are "fierce." Sad to say, anarchy is fostered by many professed ministers of the gospel, who openly express their contempt for the law of God. When men disregard the law of God, it is not to be expected that they will respect the laws of man. But in this case sentence may not be executed; for we notice that, notwithstanding the hatred which Anarchists have for the law, they are very glad to take all possible advantage of it to save their own necks.
The Hypocrisy of Bank Embezzlers
By Editor
AND now comes the discovery that the cashier of the Bank of Sonoma, Petaluma, Cal., has been stealing from the bank for eighteen years, although all this time a prominent member and officer of a church, and supposed to be so honest that the directors of the bank had not even required of him a bond. As usual in such cases, "he is greatly prostrated." We should think that such systematic and gigantic hypocrisy ought to have prostrated him long before, if he had any conscience at all. It is particularly noticeable, however, that these fellows are never prostrated by their rascality till they are found out. Even then it is not their rascality, nor their hypocrisy that prostrates them, but their being caught in it.
State Camp-Meeting.
By Editor
THERE are less than six weeks intervening between the date of this paper and the beginning of our State camp-meeting. It is high time that active preparations were being made for it. In the first place, every one should decide to go. Let nothing but sickness keep you away. You need the meeting. It will be in many respects the most important camp-meeting ever held in California, and should therefore have the largest attendance. Do not excuse yourself on account of "hard times." If you do, you will probably never attend a camp-meeting, for there is no reason to expect any better times than we are now having. If you now decide to go, you can make circumstances bend to that decision. Make all your plans with reference to that event. And in all your preparation, do not forget the preparation of heart. Renew your consecration to God. Do not wait for the camp-meeting to warm you into spiritual life, but take the Spirit of the Lord with you, that you may not only receive richer supplies, but may be a blessing to others.
Important to Somebody.
By Editor
ON July 15 a draft was received at the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, which was accompanied by no instructions whatever, not even by the name of the person who sent it. The draft was drawn at Newton, Iowa, but further than that nothing is known at this office. Will the person who sent such a draft from Newton, Iowa, early in July, please send us his name, and let us know what disposition to make of the money?
To Conference Laborers.
By Editor
THE Conference year closes September 1, and all accounts with the Conference should be closed at that date. All who have been in the employ of the California Conference during the whole or any portion of the past year, should make out their report of labor and expenses immediately after September 1, that they may be prepared for proper presentation to the Auditing Committee. Much work will be saved to the committee, if the reports are all arranged before the camp-meeting. Send your reports to the Conference Secretary, E. A. Chapman, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
Tents for Woodland Camp-meeting.
THOSE who wish to rent tents for the General Camp-meeting at Woodland are requested to write immediately to J. N. Loughborough, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. The prices are the same as usual, 10x12, $4.00; 12x16, $6.00; 14x19, $7.00; or the same size with partition arranged for two families $8.00. These tents have a space 7x19 in each apartment. Those who have tents of their own to pitch will please notify the committee, as it will save delay when they come upon the ground. We can plan our grounds better if we know about how many tents are to be erected. CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.
The Church Turning Away from the Bible
By Editor
THE London Christian World says that literal interpretations of the book of Jonah, and of the story of Lot's wife would scarcely be heard there even from the most venerable of old-fashioned preachers. Not only the London Christian World, but the so-called "Christian world" in general are throwing the Bible overboard so fast that we cannot help wondering what it is by which they expect to convert the world. The truth is that the world is converting the church away from the Bible; and when that conversion shall have been completed, and the church and the world stand together, the church, seeing that the world is like itself, will fancy that the world and not itself has changed, and will be ready to cry, "The millennium has come." Then "sudden destruction" shall come upon them both, and they shall not escape.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
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