Brother, sister, on life's ocean,
Tempest-tossed thy bark may be;
Jesus walks the heaving waters,
As of old on Galilee.
Look not on the storm around thee,
Fix thine eyes on Christ alone;
He, the never-failing Refuge,
He, the sure Foundation Stone.
Falter not in doubt or danger;
One there was in days of old,
Fearful, found his footsteps sinking
In the surges dark and cold.
All thy trust on Jesus placing,
Though the waves are round thy feet;
He has trod the path before thee,
He is on the mercy seat.
When thy heart and flesh are failing,
Go to him in fervent prayer,
Ask of him the needed blessing,
Cast on him thy every care.
As he bends his ear to listen,
Streams of mercy, peace, and love
Freely flow in gracious answer
From the Fount of Grace above.
Drinking of the living water,
Kept by his sustaining power,
Guided by the Holy Spirit
In his service hour by hour—
He the Vine and we the branches,
Living in him, fruit we bear,
For the harvest, rich, eternal,
In our mansion "over there."
—P. M. Wadsworth.
REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION.
By W. A. Carney
By W. A. CARNEY.
A Compendium of Forms, Instructions and Legal Information for Secretaries of Corporations, with Extracts from, and References to, the Judicial Decisions of the Courts of Last Resort of the Various States and of the United States, as to the Rights, Duties and Liabilities of Stockholders, Directors, Officers, Agents, etc.; by Whom and in What Manner Corporate Contracts can be Legally Made and Executed, How Ratification is Effected and Consent of Stockholders Secured. Nature of Liability of Stockholders, etc.
There are many points of law which are neccessary to be known in order to avoid uncertain results, but the Law of private corporations is ordinarily widely diffused through, and only accessible in, expensive law books. To concisely present so much of corporation law as every stockholder, director and officer should be familiar with, has been the aim of the author in issuing the second edition of The Secretary's Manual. Wherever neccessary to amplify or illustrate the text, apt and authoritative quotations have been made from the judicial decisions from the Courts of last resort.
How many persons, for instance, connected with corporations, can define the precise meaning of the term, "Organization," as applied to corporations, know what constitutes the charter of the corporation, are aware under what circumstances a director is entitled to compensation for ordinary services, and whether or not he can vote on the question of giving himself a salary?
There is need for such a book; hundreds of corporations are formed every week in the United States, and a work of this kind is now needed to qualify directors and officers as to their duties, and enable them to discharge such duties with celerity and certainty. The numerous forms given will save the time of the experienced.
The secretary who is desirous of recording the proceedings of the stockholders and board of directors in "good form" will find the purchase of this book an investment which will soon be many times repaid.
THE "MANUAL" IS NEATLY BOUND IN CLOTH,
Price, . . . . . $1 50
Address PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO.,
OAKLAND, CAL.
Or 43 BOND STREET,
NEW YORK.
WORK AMONG PRISONERS.
THE following interesting letter, received by one of our missionary workers, may serve as an encouragement to others who are sending out our publications:—
DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST: I received your welcome letter yesterday, and was happy to hear from you. I have received all of your papers and tracts, and I have taken them into the prison and missions, and I also send papers to those whom I cannot get a chance to talk with in prison. I send them out to Canada, and when the men in the prison have read the papers, one of my sons gets them and sends them to a poor Sunday school in the country. They like the Youth's Instructor very much for the children.
Nearly all of the prisoners are Roman Catholics, and they are hard to reach; yet I praise God for eight souls this year already who have taken Jesus as their Saviour. My heart goes out to them, for I know what it is to live in darkness and be blind. I was a Roman Catholic before God healed my body, and showed me the true way to the feet of Jesus. Praise his dear name! God wonderfully blesses me in my efforts to lead others out into the beautiful light of God. I can reach the Catholics in prison better than one who has never been in their faith; I know the catechism, and can repeat it and compare it with the word of God, and God helps me every time; his Holy Spirit fills my mouth. The priest has tried hard to get me stopped from visiting the prison, saying I was hurting his influence over his men, but I live up to the rules of the prison, so he cannot stop me.
I always take enough papers to go all round. When anyone is very sick, I make beef tea or chicken broth for him. The rules are never to talk to a Catholic until he desires me to. If one tells the warden that he would like me to talk to him, then I am free to say what I please, and the priest cannot help it, but if I were to talk to any man without he desired me to, and he should tell the warden, I would not be allowed in the prison any more. So I have to be careful, and watch and pray for guidance.
I take any who are sick and can get pardoned into my home. I had one young man who was an infidel. He was converted on his death bed, four days after I received him. He lived four weeks, and we had a blessed time. It brought my husband and myself nearer to God.
He was twenty-two years old; had spent nine years of that time in prison, and had five years yet to serve had he not been pardoned. His was a hard lot, yet Jesus saved him, and the Holy Spirit wonderfully taught him in his last days.
We had no money to pay the funeral expenses, but a dear sister offered us a grave by the side of her son, and my husband obtained the casket by promising to pay the undertaker one dollar per week till the debt was paid.
My neighbors were all afraid of him, a convict, and thought I should not have brought a prisoner to my house. The people in the house went away until after he was laid away. When they came back, they went to the landlord and told him if he did not put us out they would move. He came to me about it, and I told him that just as long as the Lord led me to work for him I should do what I could: Jesus gave me all I had, so my home was his or for his lost creatures. I am still in the same house, and God is with me; when I move, it will be when he is willing.
A few weeks ago I went to get a tenement with professing Christians. They said: "We know Mrs. H., you are doing a good work, and it is what God wants you to do, but we cannot let you the rooms. Your family is small, and you are good tenants, but we could not let such men into our house." I said, "I never bring any only those who have been converted before they leave the prison, excepting the one that died, and I could not teach him there, and he could not hurt anyone even if he desired; he was too sick." But my answer was of no avail.
O dear sister, I would have backslidden long ago if I had looked to professing Christians for a pattern. But why should I murmur? Why should I feel discouraged when He suffered far more than I have ever done.
Three days after we laid our boy away, a lady came in. She said: "I have heard in the prison what you did for the boy. I know it must have cost you a good deal. The Lord has sent me to help you out. Now don't say no, I must give you the amount of the undertaker's and doctor's bills. I am able to pay them." She gave me one hundred dollars, and offered me fifty dollars more for other expenses. I would not take the fifty dollars, but took the other.
When I went to pay the undertaker, he said, "I thought you said you had no money." I told him how the Lord had sent it, after we had prayed for help. He said: "Well, Mrs. H., it is strange: I had a bill to pay this morning and did not have the money to meet it; I was worried about it, and I asked God to help me to-day, so that I could meet this bill, and see, he has answered prayer." We both thanked God.
I hope this letter will not tire you. I love to try to help others to renew their strength in the Lord. Hoping to hear from you again, I will now close. May God bless you and yours. I remain your loving sister in Jesus.
P. S. I shall be glad and happy to receive any tracts, as I use a great many, and have to buy them, and I find so many ways to spend my money. But, praise God, my pocketbook never gets quite empty. It is like the widow's meal, it never gives out. My husband says the fifteen dollars a week he earns is like the loaves and fishes that Jesus blessed. I have a good deal to thank God for; my husband is saved and kept by the power of God, and just as anxious to work for Jesus. No matter what I do, he is happy and willing.
FIELD NOTES.
The church at Paramatta, Australia, fourteen miles from Sydney, has erected a new house of worship.
Ezra H. Mathewson asks for clean copies of the SIGNS for missionary work. His address is Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Brother W. D. Salisbury, who has labored in the publishing houses at Battle Creek, Oakland, and London, is now in Melbourne, Australia.
Our latest information in regard to Walla Walla College is that 153 students are in attendance. A larger enrollment next year will render necessary the erection of additional buildings.
It is reported that there are over 500 students in attendance at Union College. The outlook is for a still larger enrollment next year, which will necessitate the erection of another dormitory.
Brother J. F. Bahler, under date the 12th inst., writes as follows concerning the Chinese school conducted by himself, wife, and daughter in El Paso, Texas: "Night before last some instruction was given on the 'perpetuity of the law,' after which the boys were asked, Do you believe that the law is to be kept? If you do, please raise your hands. All that were present, about fifteen, very earnestly raised their hands. Last night I had the privilege of hearing read some Chinese rules for the school. One section was that the seventh day was the Sabbath; another, that they should give heed to the Bible instruction that they are getting. And still another was that they should learn all they could about Jesus. The rest of the rules were in regard to order. These rules were prepared by the Chinese pupils themselves, entirely unknown to us, and, when interpreted, gave us great joy."
AN ARAB SAYING.
By Constantina E. Brooks
REMEMBER three things come not back,—
The arrow sent upon its track—
It will not swerve, it will not stay
Its speed; it flies to wound or slay;
The spoken word, so soon forgot
By thee, but it has perished not;
In other hearts 'tis living still,
And doing work for good or ill;
And the lost opportunity,
That cometh back no more to thee.
In vain thou weep'st, in vain dost yearn,
These three will nevermore return.
—Constantina E. Brooks.
OVERLAND EXCURSIONS.
If you are going East, you will find it to your advantage to correspond with the undersigned and obtain full particulars of the "Weekly Overland Excursions," which leave every Wednesday. Experienced managers in charge, whose duties are to look out for the comfort of the passengers, especially ladies and children traveling without an escort. This is the most popular manner of making an overland trip, and no other line offers advantages equal to the "Great Sante Fe Route," the favorite winter route. It is the only line running Pullman palace and tourist sleeping cars through to Chicago every day on the same train. Baggage checked through to destination. Union depot connections in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. Steamship tickets sold to and from all European points. For full information address W. A. Bissel, G. P. A., 650 Market Street, Chronicle Building, San Francisco, Cal., or J. J. Warner, agent, 972 Broadway, Oakland, Cal.
OUR LITTLE FRIEND
By Editor
An Eight-page Illustrated Weekly Paper for Children.
OUR LITTLE FRIEND is designed to be practically useful. The matter all contains the best moral and religious sentiment. It contains two grades of Sabbath-school lessons on the same subject, one for children nine years old and under, and one for children from nine to fourteen.
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PACIFIC HEALTH JOURNAL
By Editor
AND TEMPERANCE ADVOCATE.
A THIRTY-TWO PAGE MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted to the dissemination of true temperance principles, and instruction in the art of preserving health. It is emphatically
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LESSON XI.—SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 1893.
ESTHER BEFORE THE KING.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]
10. Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai, saying:
11. All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king in the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
12. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13. Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house shall perish; and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15. Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai.
16. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.
17. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
5: 1. Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
2. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given to thee even to the half of the kingdom.
Golden Text.—"Judge righteously, and minister judgment to the poor and needy." Prov. 31: 9.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.—Ahasuerus, the ruler mentioned in our lesson, is supposed to be the Xerxes of history, who ruled from B.C. 486 to 465. The book of Esther opens in the third year (B.C. 483) of the king (1:3), at which time Vashti was deposed. Esther was made queen in B.C. 479 (2:16), while Haman's plot against the people of God culminated in the decree of their destruction B.C. 474-3 (3:7). Mordecai and Esther were among the Jews who remained in Persia after the return to Babylon. Our lesson of to-day bears date about thirty years before Nehemiah's first visit to Jerusalem. The place of the lesson was Shushan, or Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire, 200 miles east of Babylon. The book of Esther comes in between the sixth and seventh chapters of Ezra.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. What king ruled in Persia during the years B.C. 486-465? See introductory note.
2. What was his character? Ans. — While remarkable for physical beauty, "he was proud, self-willed, amorous, careless of contravening Persian customs, reckless of human life, yet not actually bloodthirsty, impetuous, facile, changeable." "His arrogance was unbounded."
3. What noted Jew and adopted daughter lived at the Persian capital at this time? Ans.—Mordecai and his adopted daughter, Esther.
4. What decree did the wicked Haman induce Xerxes to make? See Esther 3: 5-15. Note 1.
5. When Mordecai heard of the decree, what did he do?
"Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry." Esther 4: 1.
6. What did Mordecai charge Esther to do? Note 2.
7. What answer did Esther return Mordecai? Verses 10, 11.
8. What made it seem more presumptuous for her to approach the king? Verse 11, last part.
9. What reason did Mordecai give why Esther should do as he commanded? Verses 12, 13. Note 3.
10. What did he say would arise to the Jews if she held her peace? Verse 14.
11. What would be the fate of herself and her father's house? Ib.
12. What did he question as regards her mission? Verse 14, last part. Note 4.
13. What request did Esther make of the Jews? Verse 15 and first part of verse 16. Note 5.
14. How did she say she would join with them? Verse 16, second part.
15. What did she determine to do at the end of that period, at whatever risk? Verse 16, last two parts.
16. Was her request acceded to? Verse 17.
17. What did Esther do on the third day of this fast? 5: 1.
18. How was the king affected toward her when he saw her? Verse 2.
19. What assurance was given her that her prayer had been heard? Verse 3.
20. What was the ultimate effect of all these faithful efforts? Note 6.
21. What lessons may we learn from this brief history? Note 7.
NOTES.
1. That they be destroyed.—While Mordecai had saved the life of the king (Esther 2: 21-23), yet he was hated by Haman because he would not do the ambitious prince homage. Haman therefore sought the life of Mordecai, and that of all the people of the Jews, and through his influence over the king obtained a decree that all should be destroyed upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.
2. Go in unto the king.—Mordecai fasted and prayed before God; Esther sent to comfort him, but he would not be comforted; he knew what was at stake. The Jews united in this fasting and pleading with God. Mordecai sent word to Esther, upon her request to know the matter, and with it instruction that she should go before the king and plead for the life of her people.
3. Think not, etc.—Here Mordecai's insight and faith are shown. He knew that Haman's mad ambition would not stop short of the life of the queen herself; and his faith is shown in God that he would in some way deliver his people.
4. Who knoweth?—Esther was not in her exalted position because she was beautiful or accomplished. She was there because God had a mission for her to perform. It is so with every Christian. God does not put them in responsible positions for their own sake, but for the sake of Christ and his cause, and the salvation of precious souls. Let every Christian ask himself in every place, Why am I here? How can I advance the cause of my Master?
5. Fast ye for me.—More than fasting is implied here. The book of Esther is noted for the peculiarity that it does not once mention God, though the Septuagint version does. It is supposed by some that it is thus written that it might be more readily be read by those who were not Jews, without prejudice against the people of God. The fasting implies earnest seeking of God. Esther must have had believing maidens to wait upon her, as they joined with her in this seeking of God.
6. THE EFFECT.—That very night, as the king could not sleep, he had read before him the chronicles of the kingdom. He then heard of Mordecai's faithfulness in saving his life. Haman, supposing that the king desired to honor him, was the means of promoting Mordecai to great honor. A counter decree was issued for the Jews to destroy their enemies, and the wicked Haman was hung on the gallows he had erected upon which to hang Mordecai. Thus it was that God worked for his people, and answered the faith of the believing ones.
7. THE LESSONS.—(1) The retributive justice of God in the case of Haman. "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small." And thus it will be in all cases, if not in this world in the world to come. (2) God's warning, and the faith of Mordecai. (3) That every Christian in every place has a mission for God. (4) That God never forgets his people. His love, his care, his providence are ever the same.
LESSON XI.—SABBATH, MARCH 11, 1893.
By Editor
THE EFFECTS OF THE SPIRIT.
[For any modification in these lessons, and for the notes, the editor is responsible. For other notes and suggestions the student is referred to the lesson pamphlet, and to the S. S. Worker.]
Lesson Scriptures and Suggestive Questions.
I. Gal. 5:16-25: "But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk."
What admonition is first given?
What follows as a consequence?
How are the desires of the flesh and Spirit contrasted?
What is the result of this opposition?
What is true of those led by the Spirit?
Mention the works of the flesh.
What happens to those who do such things?
What is the fruit of the Spirit?
What has been done by those who are Christ's?
What is the closing exhortation?
II. Rom. 8:9-17: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him."
What is true if the Spirit of God dwells in one?
What if he has not the Spirit?
If Christ is in us, what is dead? Why?
What is life? Why?
On what condition will our mortal bodies be quickened?
How will this be done?
What conclusion is then drawn?
What consequence follows living after the flesh?
On what condition shall we live?
Who are sons of God?
Have we received the spirit of bondage?
What Spirit have we received?
To what does this Spirit bear witness?
What consequences follow from our adoption?
NOTES.
1. "WHILE the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact." "Our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling in us." "And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing." Love is of God (1 John 4:17, Revised Version), and comes to us by the Spirit (Rom. 5:5). "The excellence and value of pure love consists in its efficiency to do good, and to do nothing else but good" (Rom. 13:10; 1 Cor. 13:4-7, Revised Version). Christ desires us to have joy (John 15:11), and has given us peace (John 14:27), which is really giving us himself (Eph. 2:14), and both these gifts are in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). Those who are renewed after the image of God (Col. 3:10) will exhibit long-suffering (verse 12), will be gentle (2 Tim. 2:24), and yet will be great (2 Sam. 22:36).
2. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38), so he went about doing good. Our present need is the same anointing (Rev. 3:18). Where the Spirit of God is, there is unity (Eph. 4:3, 4) and liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). We are to walk worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1), which means to walk according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:1, 4). The Spirit being one of power (Rom. 15:13, 19), and life (Rom. 8:2), and Christ being a life-giving spirit (1 Cor. 15:45, Revised Version; John 5:21), we are strong in him (Eph. 6:10), and not in our own might (Zech. 4:6). The gospel is to be preached with the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:12; 1 Thess. 1:5), not in man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4); and thus the minister of God is approved (2 Cor. 6:4). "It is the absence of the Holy Spirit and of the grace of God that makes the gospel ministry so powerless to convict and convert." Such are some of the ways in which the Holy Spirit will manifest itself in those who receive it.
RELIGIOUS.
—The new general of the Jesuits has given orders to his brethren in the United States not to discuss the school question any more.
—On the 14th inst. 534 English pilgrims started on a journey to Rome to congratulate the pope on his episcopal jubilee on the 19th.
—The failure of the Romish Church as an educator is demonstrated by the following statement reported in the New York Christian Advocate: "In the city of Rome there are 30 cardinals, 35 bishops, 1,469 priests, 2,382 monks, and 2,215 nuns, and yet 190,000 of the inhabitants can neither read nor write.
—The Primitive Catholic says that Archbishop Corrigan is expected to dedicate a Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers, New York, in a few weeks. The parish priest is a Sclavonic papist and has a wife and eight children. It also states that there are two married priests in Philadelphia, one in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and one in Minnesota.
—The Russian Government seems to be getting more and more intolerant of dissenters from the State religion. The commission appointed to work out a new plan for the government of the Protestant Church and settling its relations to the State, has reported to the Superior Procurateur of the Holy Synod. Reliable information states that if the czar approves this report, it will deprive the Protestant Church in Russia of its autonomy in every respect.
—A Royalton, Minnesota, dispatch of the 16th inst. says: "Rev. J. J. Waymer, formerly pastor of M. E. Church here, but recently a preacher in charge at Milaca, and Mrs. M. M. White, a widow, for a long time in the millinery business at this place, have eloped. Mr. Waymer leaves a large family, composed of a wife and four children, most of them growing. Mrs. White was a member of the church and a leader in Sunday-school work, and a woman in whom all had implicit confidence."
—The Society of Immortals, composed of members of the First M. E. Church, of this city, who are pledged to give one-tenth of their income to the church and to charity, does not grow very fast. The pastor complains of its unpopularity, stating that its membership only numbers about fifty out of a church membership of 1,000. That church evidently deems the price too high for such a flimsy guarantee of immortality. By the way, does not that title, on such a condition, rather stultify the church's doctrine that all men are immortal?
—The folly of a governmental religion was well illustrated recently in Germany. A workman in a village near Dresden went to register the name of an infant boy. On giving the name of Robespierre Danton, the registrar refused to record the name, and the father declared that if he could not name his child Robespierre Danton he would not name it at all. He was fined twenty marks for his neglect, and appealed to a higher court in Dresden, where the judge decided against him, stating that "in a country both Christian and monarchical no man has the right to name his child after avowedly atheistic and republican scoundrels."
—Bishop Verdier, of Paris, accompanied by two French Sisters of Mercy, arrived in New York last week en route to the Hawaiian Islands. The bishop has been engaged for some time in the compilation of a dictionary to enable the natives of Hawaii to more readily assimilate French. The two sisters came specially from Paris for the purpose of teaching the natives. The Catholic mission in these islands is in charge of the French Fathers of Picpus, whose headquarters are in Paris and the field of whose operations extends over the Marquesas and Sandwich Islands, together with Tahiti.
—Rev. Chas. T. Russell, leader of the Alleghany Pennsylvania congregation of dissenters from orthodox Christianity, who refuse to adopt any denominational name and are popularly called "Russellites," has prepared to issue a pamphlet in refutation of the doctrine of eternal punishment. It will be in effect a challenge to the orthodox ministers of Pittsburgh to meet Mr. Russell in a discussion of the question, and a copy of it will be sent to every preacher in the two cities. The cardinal principle of "Russellism" is the rejection of the doctrine of torment. It teaches that during the millennium all who ever lived on earth will be resurrected and given another chance to live just lives, after which each will be judged on his individual responsibility. The perfect will be taken to heaven; those simply good will live forever on earth, while the wicked will be obliterated, that is, their souls, instead of being eternally punished, will be annihilated. Mr. Russell claims there are 25,000 believers in this doctrine in the United States, and the congregation to which he preaches numbers about 125. What next will this wonderful nineteenth century produce?
—A Rome dispatch of the 17th inst. says that 8,000 pilgrims called upon the pope in one day to congratulate him on the occasion of his jubilee.
—Rev. Dr. John Hemphill, who was for several years a prominent Presbyterian minister in San Francisco, back in the sixties and seventies, is about to return to that city from Philadelphia. The mention of his name in the press dispatches brings to mind a lecture he once delivered on the subject of evolution. He referred to one of Darwin's experiments—that of rearing some twenty odd varieties of pigeons from a single pair. Granting that the story was true, Dr. Hemphill said it was no argument in favor of Darwin's evolution theory, for "the birds were pigeons still, and nothing but pigeons."
SECULAR.
—The Legislature of Idaho has enacted a law enabling the Mormons of that State to vote.
—Twenty-seven men were suffocated by deadly gases in a mine near Cartagena, Spain, on the 17th inst.
—A Cape of Good Hope dispatch reports heavy rains and high floods in the Transvaal, and many lives lost.
—A heavy flood of the Susquehanna River at Port Deposit, Pennsylvania, has caused considerable damage to property.
—The already ruined island of Zante, in the Mediterranean Sea, was still being shaken by earthquakes up to the 14th inst.
—The strike of union street car employees at Wheeling, West Virginia, is reported to be quite exciting, the mob preventing the running of cars.
—Mr. Gladstone has introduced his Irish Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons, and the battle is on. On its success depends his retention of power.
—Governor McKinley, of Ohio, is said to have been financially ruined by the failure of an old-time friend for whom he had indorsed heavily. His loss is estimated at $60,000.
—Russia has decided to dispatch a large squadron of warships to the United States to take part in the naval display in Hampton Roads to celebrate the opening of the Columbian Exposition.
—An Athens dispatch says that the island of Samothraki, in the Ægean Sea, was shaken by an earthquake on the 14th inst. All the buildings are said to have been destroyed, with the loss of many lives.
—President Harrison has issued a proclamation creating the Sierra forest reserve in the State of California. The reservation comprises approximately 6,000 square miles in the counties of Merced, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern.
—The striking cotton spinners in Lancashire, England, have agreed to accept a two and one-half per cent. reduction in their wages. Their strike was against five per cent. reduction. Employers have not yet agreed to the proposition. In nine cases out of ten strikers come out losers.
—The World's Fair souvenir coins are not going off at a satisfactory rate. Less than $1,000,000 has as yet been realized, and it is evident that the directors made a financial mistake when they accepted them on condition of Sunday closing. Congress would have donated twice the amount without condition, rather than to have allowed the Exposition to fail.
—A St. Petersburg paper quotes the statement published in the United States to the effect that in the recent treaties France and Russia had agreed to assist the United States if attacked by any other power, and says it does not think that France and Russia went to that extent, but that they doubtless are understood not to assist any opponent of the United States.
—A carnival dance at Poreg, Hungary, on the 15th inst., was brought to a sudden and disastrous close by the explosion of a cask of petroleum in the basement of the building. A child playing with a taper caused the accident. It was killed by the explosion, which also shattered the floor above and scattered the burning oil among the dancers. Seventeen of them were burned to death, twelve others will die, and many more received painful burns and bruises.
—The latest advices from Honolulu report the peaceful reign of the new Provisional Government. The U. S. warship Mohican had arrived there from San Francisco, and is to remain there until the question of annexation by the United States is settled. The treaty signed by President Harrison and the envoys of the Hawaiian Provisional Government is now before the Senate for ratification. The representative of the deposed queen asks for a delay until President Cleveland is installed, but the Senate committee has already reported favorably upon the ratification of the treaty.
—Since the conviction of De Lesseps ("Les Grand Francais") of fraudulent operations in connection with the Panama Canal, the authorities of Paris and other French cities are renaming the streets, squares, etc., that were named in his honor. And the disgrace of M. Eiffel, who built the great Eiffel Tower, has moved the wealthy Eiffel Company to take steps toward changing the name of the corporation.
—Three bills providing for female suffrage are now before the California Legislature. It is said that the Sunday-law advocates, having no hope of being successful at this session, are pushing female suffrage in expectation of making that measure auxiliary to a Sunday-law campaign at a future time. It is now too near the close of the session for any merely fanciful measures to get much attention.
—A severe hurricane swept the island of Neifeu, Samoan group, in December, lasting over two days. Thousands of trees and many houses were prostrated. The natives on the island were left destitute of food; the breadfruit trees were all destroyed, and there was no money to buy anything. The political situation on the group is also said to be of a distressing nature. The triple protectorate is represented as being a failure.
—Some very insignificant things are deemed of sufficient importance to be displayed at the World's Fair. For instance, a resident of San Diego County, this State, wants to exhibit a gun which he once loaned to another man for the purpose of killing an Indian. The Indian was afterward made the hero of a novel by Helen Hunt Jackson; hence the would-be exhibiter hopes to make a little cheap notoriety. Such is fame.
—Kansas has two rival houses of representatives—Populist and Republican—and hostilities came to such a pitch on the 14th inst. that a street encounter was the result. Several men on each side were somewhat bruised. Then followed two or three days of intense excitement; the Republican house marched to the capital in a body, and drove the Populists out of their meeting hall. The governor called out the militia to sustain the Populists, and the sheriff of Shawnee County summoned 1,000 men to sustain the Republicans. Finally a compromise was made to the effect that both the sheriff's posse and the troops were withdrawn; the Republicans kept the hall in the capital, and the Populists hired another hall. The Senate and the governor recognized the Populist house, but the Republicans have appealed to the courts. The situation is a sarcastic parody on the claim that "this is a Christian nation."
