Earlier text: THE JUDGMENT:Frankness
By D. M. Canright
Frankness.
Be frank with the world. Frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted that you mean to do what is right. If a friend asks you a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if it is not, tell him plainly why you cannot; you will wrong him and yourself by equivocation of any kind. Never do a wrong thing to make friends or to keep one. The man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased and at a sacrifice. Deal kindly and firmly with all men, and you will find it the policy which wears the best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not. If you have fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain. There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to do one thing to a man's face and another behind his back. We should live and speak out of doors, as the phrase is, and do what we are willing should be known and read by all men. It is not best as a matter of policy, but as a matter of principle. The Ministration of Angels.
PART FIRST—OF GOOD ANGELS.
THE enemy of God and of the human family has left no means untried by which he could pervert the truth and draw away men from a knowledge of the true God and his law. It seems to be his invariable plan to lead men first to forget, or disbelieve, what God has taught them concerning any truth, and then, as a substitute, instill into their minds some error which in its main features, closely resembles the truth, but which is, nevertheless, directly opposed to it. Thus when men had forgotten God, Satan turned their minds to worship the sun and the host of heaven. When they had forgotten the word of God and his prophets, he introduced the Pagan Oracles and priests in their stead. So it is with regard to the ministration of angels. They are the divinely-commissioned messengers sent to minister to the children of men. But this glorious Bible truth has been so far lost sight of, that almost all classes of religionists, and even those who call themselves Christians, have no clear ideas concerning it, and no practical faith in it; yet all feel the need of some ministering spirit, some heavenly visitant from the world of light, to instruct them in the things of God. Satan sees that this necessity must be met. A substitute must be invented. What shall it be? To answer this we have only to look at the history of those nations who have forgotten God. Ps. 9:17. From the Egyptian priests to the modern spirit mediums, we find them teaching that departed spirits of dead men return to minister to their friends in this world. These are facts well known to all. But while the Bible often speaks of the visits of holy angels to our world, to minister to the children of God, it is entirely silent concerning the return of the departed spirits of the dead for that purpose. Go to the heathens who know nothing about the angels of God, and you will find them extolling the souls of their dead friends as gods, demi-gods, and protecting spirits. Come down to this last generation, in this so-called Christian land, and we find an extensive unbelief in the existence of either good or evil angels; and a majority of those who do acknowledge that there are such beings, have no definite ideas of their character or office. Thus far Satan has succeeded. A vacuum has been formed which, as reason and revelation teach, must be filled. As a substitute, when the plan is fully ripe, he now introduces the supposed souls of the dead, as ministering spirits from the other world. All the arguments, both from the Scriptures and from nature, which prove that there are, or ought to be, messengers to communicate between this and the other world, he cunningly uses to sustain his counterfeit work. If he can demonstrate that it is a spirit which communicates, he has gained his point, as the people generally have no faith in the existence of either good or evil angels, except as they learn it from this source. THEY ARE NOT THE SPIRITS OF DEAD MEN.
We deny that the spirits of dead men come back from the dead to communicate with the living. And we affirm upon the authority of the holy Bible, that they know nothing concerning their friends here, or what is done in this world. Thus Job says: "Thou destroyest the hope of man. Thou prevailest forever against him, and he passeth, (i. e. dies); thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honor, and, he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Chap. 14: 19–21. This testimony shows that after a man dies he has no knowledge of what befalls his friends here. It plainly contradicts the idea that, after death, our dead friends become our guardian angels, watching over us, sympathizing with us in our sorrows, and rejoicing with us in our prosperity! Here is another testimony still more decisive: "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything. * Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing done under the sun." Eccl. 9: 5, 6. The dead know nothing concerning things in this life. They have no part in anything that transpires under the sun. So says the Lord, and so we believe. Indeed, it would be a source of keenest anguish to a mother after death,35to see her children left destitute, abused, and finally led into crime and degradation, as is frequently the case. How much of a Heaven would that be to her? What good could result from consciousness in Heaven under such circumstances? There is neither reason nor revelation to support such a theory. Spirit manifestation is one of the grandest schemes which Satan ever devised for the deception and destruction of the human family. It is based upon the supposition that all the spirits who do communicate are the souls of the dead. We propose, therefore, to enter into a Bible investigation of this subject. THE HEAVENLY FAMILY.
"For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named." Eph. 3: 14, 15. By this we learn that there is a family in Heaven. What composes this family? Not the spirits of our dead friends; but the holy angels who were created in Heaven before man was made upon the earth. We read in many places of the angels in Heaven. Thus in Rev. 5: 11: "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders. And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." Spiritualists claim that these angels are the departed souls of men who once lived on this earth. A communication from the spirit land is signed thus: "Given by the holy Angels and Messengers of God, who seek your peace and love to God and to each other. Moses, King, Adam, David, are the givers of this Message." Book for Skeptics p. 43. "And whose [Job's] spirit, or angel is now present to say that my residence was in East Asia." p. 85. As a man cannot die till he is created, so, of course, if angels are only the souls of dead men, then there could have been no angels till after the sixth day of creation; no, not even then till one or more men had died. But angels did exist before man was created, or ever the foundations of the world were laid. If we prove this, the above named theory that angels are departed spirits of dead men must fall to the ground. In Gen. 3: 24, we read that God placed cherubim to guard the tree of life when he drove Adam and Eve out of the garden. Cherubim are a high order of angels. Now this was before any man had died, therefore they were not the souls of dead men. The word of the Lord to Job says: "Gird up now thy loins like a man, for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job. 38: 3–7. By this we see that, when God laid the foundation of the earth, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. This proves that the heavenly family did exist before man was created; therefore they are not disembodied spirits. Furthermore, men and angels are not of the same nature. Thus, the Psalmist says: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels." Ps. 8: 4, 5. Speaking of Christ, Paul says: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." Heb. 2: 16. Then, in their very nature, angels are different from men, and of course are not men. But does not the Bible say that at the resurrection we shall become angels? No, indeed. Jesus says that the saints will be equal to the angels, in that they can die no more. See Luke 20: 36. But this does not intimate that angels and men are of the same nature. NUMBER OF THE ANGELS.
While the definite number of the holy angels is not given in the Scriptures, there are declarations from which we form an idea of the vastness of this host of God. At one time John "heard the voice of many angels round about the throne." Rev. 5: 11. And Jesus said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Matt. 26: 53. A legion is 3,000 or 4,000. Twelve legions would be about 40,000. But this is evidently an indefinite number. John, as he had a view of Heaven, the throne of the Lord, the glory and majesty of God, and the vast host of angels worshiping there, attempted to number them thus: "And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." Rev. 5: 11. Ten thousand times ten thousand would be one hundred millions (100,000,000). Let the reader stop and consider what a vast multitude one hundred millions would be! It is two and a half times the entire population of the United States. But even this does not express their great number. Hence the prophet adds, "and thousands of thousands." And all these were only those who were worshiping around the throne at one time. No language can express the number of the heavenly family. And when we reflect that they are messengers dispatched by God to all the innumerable worlds to carry out his commands, we see that there must of necessity be vast multitudes of them. On a clear night, count the stars, number the millions in the milky way, and remember that each one is a sun, with a whole system of worlds revolving round it, and that angels are doubtless sent to these worlds, the same as to ours,—then I think you will agree with Paul, that there is an "innumerable company of angels." Heb. 12: 22. ANGELS ARE REAL, CORPOREAL BEINGS.
The angels of God are not mere ghosts, or phantoms, as is generally taught; but are real, personal, material beings. This may be learned by almost every instance where they are mentioned in the Scriptures. Isaiah describes them as possessing a face, feet, wings, &c.: "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly." Chap. 6: 2. Ezekiel also describes them in a similar manner. Of the cherubim he says, "And their whole body, (margin, flesh), and their backs, and their hands, and their wings." &c. Chap. 10: 12. Then they have bodies of flesh, with hands, feet, wings, backs, &c. Again we read in Gen. 18: 1–8: "And the Lord appeared unto him [Abraham] in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that shall ye pass on; for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man, and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." Here it is said that they did eat the food which Abraham prepared for them. That they were angels, we learn from what follows. Verse 16 says, "And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way." One stayed with Abraham, and the others went on to Sodom. "And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat at the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold, now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat." Chap. 19: 1–3. Here those who met Abraham are called angels. They are represented as having hands and feet, and it is again stated that they did eat material food, which shows that they were material beings. It seems also that angels have food expressly adapted to their use. Says David, "Though he [God] had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of Heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of Heaven. Man did eat angels' food." Ps. 78: 23–25. By this we learn that manna is the corn, or wheat, of Heaven, and also that it is the food of angels. Therefore angels do eat food, and are, consequently, material beings. Immaterial beings could not eat material food, such as the manna which God sent from Heaven. This idea is further sustained by the fact that Jesus, after his resurrection, had flesh and did eat. Luke 24: 36–43. After appearing to his disciples, he said, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." So also when the saints enter the kingdom, they will have flesh. Says Job, in speaking of the resurrection, "And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Job 19: 26. Mark, that it is after he dies that Job will see God in his flesh. How long after? The previous verse will tell: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and [then] though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." This proves that the saints, after their resurrection, will have flesh the same as Jesus had. Speaking of the new earth where the saints will dwell, the Lord says, "All flesh [shall] come to worship before me" every Sabbath. Isa. 66: 23. Hence the saints will have flesh in the kingdom of God. So also we conclude that the angels are real, material beings, like Christ and the immortal saints. In the history of Balaam, we have an interesting incident bearing upon this point. Thus we read: "And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way." "Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand." Num. 22: 22–31. The angel appeared to Balaam with a sword drawn in his hand. Our spiritualist friends would tell us, that the angels created his body and his sword for the present emergency, out of the materials which surrounded him. Then the angel really deceived Balaam by leading him to think that he had a body and a sword when he had none. But it will be observed that the record says, "The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam and he saw the angel," and not that the angel made him a body that he might be seen. As soon as Balaam's eyes were "opened," he saw the angel. The idea is clearly conveyed that the angel was just the same before Balaam saw him, as he was afterward. This is further evident from the fact that the beast could see the angel while Balaam could not see him. With regard to this occurrence, one of two things is true: Either, first, the angel had a material form before the eyes of Balaam were opened, so that he could see him, or, second, the dumb brute saw an immaterial spirit!! The last proposition is too absurd to need any comments. Besides this, even the advocates of the immaterial spirit theory deny that it could be true. Therefore there is no way for them but to acknowledge that angels are material beings. But it may be objected, as a minister once said to me, "If angels are material beings, show me one; for I can see anything that is material?" I replied, "Is not the air material?" Of course he had to confess that it was. "Very well," said I, "please show me a handful of air?" This he could not do. So his objection fell upon his own head: How can the existence of an immaterial thing be proved? Man knows nothing about it; for he has never seen, heard, smelled, touched, nor tasted, it. Philosophy knows nothing about it; science is silent concerning it; reason cannot comprehend it; and the Bible has not mentioned it. Air is material; light is material; and even thought itself is only the result of the action of matter upon matter. A person is in a sound sleep—a pin touches a nerve of his body—the nerve acts upon the brain, thought is the result, and he awakes. Imagine a being who could neither see, hear, taste, smell, nor feel! Could he have any thoughts? Certainly not, for there would be nothing to produce them. When a man dies, his five senses, by which matter acted upon his brain to produce thought, cease to act, and the consequence is, just as David states it, "In that very day his thoughts perish." Ps. 146: 4. Those who so vehemently oppose the materiality of all things, certainly cannot consider what matter really is. Wells defines it thus: "Matter is the general name which has been given to that substance which, under an infinite variety of forms, affects our senses." Nat. Phil. p. 11. Did angels ever affect men's senses? Yes. Then, according to the above definition, they are material beings. Without material bodies it would be absolutely impossible for them to affect our senses in any way. Much of the prejudice upon this subject arises from not duly considering the almost infinite diversity of forms under which matter may appear. Here is a ball of mud, and there is a fine gold watch. Both are material; but how different! Here is a piece of ice, and there is a jet of the hottest steam. Each seems to be exactly the opposite of the other; yet they are only different conditions of the same matter. One is water frozen, and the other is water highly heated. So some matter we see in its grossest form, and some most exquisitely organized. Still it is all only matter. So Heaven itself, and the holy angels are material; but in organization are inconceivably higher and purer than earth and its inhabitants. It is objected, that angels are called spirits. Heb 1: 13, 14. Very well, spiritual beings have bodies, and flesh. We have proved that the saints will have flesh after their resurrection. In 1 Cor. 15: 44, Paul says that these bodies will be spiritual. "It [the body] is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." Mark this: Its being spiritual does not prevent its being a body still. Webster defines body thus: "Body. 1. The form of an animal; the material organized substance of an animal, whether living or dead." In conclusion, immateriality is only another name for nonentity. Angels have all the attributes of matter; hence we conclude that they are material beings. They have hands, feet, faces, bodies, flesh, wings, &c. They can eat, talk, look, walk, lie down, rise up, &c. Many times they have been seen and talked with by men. Jacob wrestled all night with one. Gen. 32: 24–30; Hosea 12: 4. All of which clearly demonstrates that they are real beings.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
San Jose, Cal., 6, 1874. AT BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.
The Battle Creek Daily Journal reports a temperance meeting recently held in that city, as follows: The meeting at the Methodist church last evening, was quite fully attended, notwithstanding the intense heat and prospect of a heavy storm. The great feature of the meeting was 'the intense earnestness of purpose and determination to continue the great work of saving our fellow men from the "pestilence that walketh in darkness, and, the destruction that wasteth at noon day." S. H. Morley called the assemblage to order, and the meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. W. W. Holloway. Mr. C. C. Peavey said he saw no occasion to relax our efforts; that the foe was ever on the alert. So long as we see drunken men reeling around our streets and going home to the suffering wife and family, to destroy their happiness, just so long was there need of work. Mrs. Ellen G. White being present, was called upon, and made some interesting remarks upon the progress of the temperance cause in California. The temperance reform was a part of their life work, and they had aided it in every way and on all occasions. Intemperance was at the bottom of all sin. She gave an interesting account of the immense audience which daily and nightly filled the mammoth Advent tent at Oakland, and the great success that crowned the temperance movement in that city, which was the Athens of California. At Oakland the temperance ticket was carried by 250 majority, at Brooklyn by 50 majority, and the good work was going on in other parts. She said we should all strive to do our utmost in this great work. She had seen the great evil everywhere in her travels from Maine to the Golden Horn, and she felt that we must use every power and influence possible to stop the tide of sin and misery. She advised all to help in the good cause, especially the people in their part of the town. Human aid was feeble, and Christ himself came down from Heaven to unite himself with poor feeble man to help him overcome this great appetite. Her remarks were thrilling and powerful in the extreme. Mrs. S. H. Morley said the news from California was indeed cheering. She read some statistics showing the enormous dimensions of this giant evil. Remarks were made by Messrs. Roberts, Cooley, Morley and Chadwick, and Mrs. Ellsworth and Mrs. Betterly, the general idea being that we must begin to work in earnest; that talk is good in its place but work is better; and that every man and woman must individually constitute themselves a committee to prosecute the violators of the law. Good Money and Good Temper
If we lose a piece of good money, we may find it again; but if we lose a piece of good temper, it is lost forever. Facts for Patrons.
By Editor
Our paper has thus far met with very general approval. We have issued the SIGNS only once in two weeks for want of suitable help to make up our rapidly increasing lists of subscribers, keep the accounts, and do the mailing. And we do not wish to advance far in the volume before our circulation shall reach ten thousand at least. Our terms are plainly stated as follows: "Two dollars a year to those who choose to pay a subscription price, and free to all others as far as the paper is sustained by the donations of the liberal friends of the cause." If we can have 5,000 paying subscribers at $2.00 a year, we can furnish additional copies to any amount for $1.00 a year. The sum of $10,000 will pay the expenses of the first 5,000 copies of the SIGNS weekly for one year, including editing, type setting, press work, paper, mailing, office rent, etc. The expenses of additional thousands would include only paper, press work, and mailing. Hence the second 5,000 could be furnished for one half the first 5,000. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES cannot be published any cheaper than the Review and Herald. The money must come from some quarter. Let the friends bear this in mind while making long lists of subscribers. We want all the $2.00 subscribers that can be obtained. We want all to send in their donations to the SIGNS who would esteem it a pleasure so to do. And then we want hosts of names, "money or no money," under the following restrictions. 1. The agent that obtains them should have some evidence at least that the persons would candidly examine Bible subjects. 2. The agent must obtain the request, or at least the consent, (either by word of mouth or by letter) from persons to become subscribers, and must so report to the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, in order for them to become bona fide subscribers, according to postal law regulating the mailing of papers. In order then, for names to be entered on the lists of subscribers to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, they must be accompanied with the statement that the persons have requested, or at least have consented, to take the paper and pay the postage. 3. The agent should preserve a list of all the names sent to this office, and should feel in duty bound to visit the persons or write to them as often as circumstances will admit, and learn whether they read the SIGNS with any degree of interest, and if they would like to have it continued, and if they wish to pay the subscription price, or donate to its publication. Here is a cross to take up, an excellent field of missionary labor. Here is a chance for some of our people who are inclined to exclusiveness, to move out and become broader in their feelings, and in their labors. The Tract and Missionary Societies are invited to consider the foregoing points, and co-operate with us in our efforts to reach the people, in a systematic effort. Bro. J. N. Ayers of Farlinville, Linn Co., Kansas, sends us forty-two names for the SIGNS, accompanied by the following sensible statement: "Seeing a notice in the Review and Herald inviting the T. and M. Societies to forward the names of those who would read the SIGNS and pay the postage, and that you would send it without money to them, the following named persons have all been visited, their promise obtained to receive it, and have agreed to pay the postage, and have promised to read it. No one of them have ever taken any of our periodicals. Many more can be obtained. How many should I send from this district. We are but partly organized, but will have the district fully organized by the 19th of July." In answer to the above inquiry, "How many should I send from this district," we would say, Send along all you please, if you will strictly comply with the above rules, not excepting the third which requires that Tract and Missionary workers shall unite personal effort with the influence of our paper. This matter in Kansas is taking the right shape. While we seize that mighty lever, the press, we invite all live Christians to lift with us. We have no idea of spending time and money in publishing a paper to be sent out recklessly everywhere that the fancy of novices may dictate. Later Bro. Ayers sends us fifty-two names with the cheerful note below. This brother naturally takes in the idea, as every man will who has a sufficient amount of good sense to qualify him to do any good in this world, that it takes cash to publish in California as well as in other parts of the world. Through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES we wish to erect thousands of pulpits more especially in the Pacific Coast States and Territories, where we can appeal to the people weekly, when we shall be well established and in full force, upon the exhaustless themes of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," necessary to a fitness to receive the dear Saviour at his second advent. Bro. Ayers in a second letter says:—"Below you will find some names for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES obtained by the members of the T. and M. Society of the Missouri and Kansas Conference, District No. 3. We are just getting organized. I think we will be able to send you some money donations before long for the support of the paper. I believe it will accomplish more than tracts. Hoping that the paper may be liberally supported, I remain as ever your brother in hope of eternal life." Bro. A. Gleason of Toledo, Ohio, in the following note does not seem to forget that it costs labor and money to print a paper. He says:— "Herewith find a few names for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. These persons I have seen. All agree to comply with your request, namely to pay postage and read it. I will get some more names that I have written to. Also will try to canvass a portion of this city if desired. You may put me down for $10.00 for the support of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES." Bro. J. G. Walker of Tres Pinos, Cal., has also entered upon a good work which he expresses in these words: "God speed the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. I have fifteen names which I have obtained as subscribers for the SIGNS, on the following terms. I told them to give me their names and try the paper, and when they had read a few copies, if they did not think it worth two dollars per year that they might let me know and have the paper stopped, and we would not charge them anything for what they had taken." That all our friends who wish to co-operate with us in the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, may know what the law regulating the mailing of papers is, we here give Sec. 162 of Postal Law. It provides "That the Postmaster General may prescribe, by regulations, an affidavit, in form to be taken by the publisher or clerk, agent, or servant of the publisher, of any newspaper or other periodical which may by law be sent to regular subscribers, without payment of postage at the mailing office, to the effect that neither he nor any other proprietor, clerk, agent, or employe within his knowledge will send, cause or permit to be sent through the mail, without prepayment of postage of stamps, any copies of such newspaper or other periodical (naming it) except to bona fide and regular subscribers thereto; and if any such newspaper or any other periodical shall be thus unlawfully sent, with knowledge or consent of such proprietor, or his agent, clerk, or servant in charge of such business, or if such affidavit shall, when required by the Postmaster General, or any special agent of the Post Office Department, be refused, the person guilty of the offense, or refusing to make the affidavit, shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars in each case." We give the decision of Judge Sherman at Cleveland, Ohio, of what is necessary to constitute a person a "bona fide and regular subscriber" of a paper according to the intent and design of the law. He says:— "I would not wish to be understood as holding that the terms employed by the act, to-wit: 'bona fide and regular subscribers,' were to be construed so strictly as only to embrace persons who, by their own hand, have made subscriptions; but it is quite plain that no one can be a subscriber unless he has subscribed himself, or by some authorized agent, or has subsequently, in some sufficient way, ratified the subscription which may have been volunteered for him. It follows, that the sending of newspapers without the prepayment of postage to persons who have not subscribed themselves, or by any authorized agent, or not subsequently ratified it, is not a sending to subscribers, and is a violation of this section. In such a case, where a party not yet authorized desires to subscribe and have the newspaper sent to some other party, the only way of keeping within the law would be to prepay the postage until the party to whom the newspaper was sent had explicitly signified, in some unequivocal manner, that he ratified the subscription which had been made for his benefit, and was willing to occupy the position of, and be considered as, a regular and bona fide subscriber."