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PUBLISHED WEEKLY, FOR THE 
S. D. A. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
[For terms, etc., see last page. ] 
Entered at the Post-Office in Oakland, Cal. 
" WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" 
BY MARY M. BUCKLAND. 
WHAT think ye of Christ, my brother ? 
What is he to you ? 
Do you love him, would you serve him 
With a purpose true ? 
Have you given yourself to Jesus ? 
Would you be his child? 
Will you choose him for your portion 
Through this desert wild ? 
We may stand and look at others, 
Watching faults to see. 
But this question each must answer, 
What is Christ to me ? 
Will we choose to follow Jesus 
In the narrow way ? 
Do we know he is our Saviour ? 
Can we trust him ? Say. 
Each must choose the path to follow. 
Will our choice be right ? 
Will it lead beyond the river 
To that land of light ? 
Albion, N. Y. 
Gentrat Artietts. 
Skepticism—Its Cause and Cure. 
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. 
THE present age is marked by an alarming 
prevalence of infidel and atheistic tendencies. To 
successfully resist the tide of evil, God's people 
should give diligent heed to the instruction and 
counsel of his word. Its precious examples of 
faith, its warnings against unbelief, will, if rightly 
heeded, arm us with divine power to repel the 
attacks of Satan. 
The healing of the impotent man at Bethesda 
has a lesson of priceless worth to every Christian, 
a lesson of solemn and fearful import to the un-
believing and the skeptical. As the paralytic lay 
beside the pool, helpless and well-nigh hopeless, 
Jesus drew near and asked, in tones of pity, " Wilt 
thou be made whole ? " Be made whole!—this 
had been the burden of his desire and prayers for 
long, weary years. With trembling eagerness he 
told the story of his efforts and disappointments. 
No friend was at band to bear him with sturdy 
arm into the healing fountain. His agonizing 
appeals for help fell unheeded; all around him 
were those who sought for their own Coved ones 
the coveted boon. When at the troubling of the 
waters he painfully sought to reach the pool, an-
other would be hurried down before him. 
Jesus looked upon the sufferer, and said, "Arise, 
take up thy bed, and walk." There was no assur-
ance of divine help, no manifestation of mirac-
ulous power. What marvel, had the man made 
answer, " It is impossible ! How can I be ex-
pected now to use my limbs, that have not obeyed 
my will for thirty-eight years ?" From a merely 
human stand-point, such reasoning would appear 
consistent. The sufferer might have given place 
to doubt, and thus have permitted that God-given 
opportunity to pass unimproved. But no; with-
out a question, he seized his only chance. As he 
attempted to do what Christ had commanded, 
strength and vigor came; he was made whole. 
Would you, doubting reader, receive the bless-
ing of the Lord ? Cease to question his word 
and distrust his promises. Obey the Saviour's 
bidding, and you will receive strength. If you 
"Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22 : 12. 
VOLUME 8. 
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH-DAY, JUNE 8, 1882. 
NUMBER 22. 
hesitate, to enter into a discussion with Satan, or 
to consider the difficulties and improbabilities, 
your opportunity will pass, perhaps never to 
return. 
The miracle at Bethesda should have convinced 
all beholders that Jesus is the Son of God. But 
the Jews desired only a pretext for unbelief, and 
it was not hard to find what they sought. At 
Christ's command, the paralytic had borne away 
the simple mat on which he had lain; and now 
Satan, ever ready with his insinuations, suggested 
that this act might be construed into a violation 
of the Sabbath. The Jews had perverted this 
sacred rest-day from its original design by their 
customs and traditions, making its observance a 
burden rather than a blessing. It was hoped that 
a controversy on this point would destroy the 
faith inspired in some hearts by our Saviour's act 
of healing. 
As the restored one went on his way with quick, 
elastic step, his pulses bounding with the vigor of 
renewed health, his countenance glowing with 
hope and joy, he was met by the Pharisees, who 
told him, with an air of great sanctity, that it 
was not lawful to carry his bed on the Sabbath 
day. There was no rejoicing at the deliverance 
of that long-imprisoned captive, no grateful praise 
that One was among them who could heal all 
manner of disease. Their traditions had been 
disregarded, and this closed their eyes to all the 
evidence of divine power. 
Bigoted and self-righteous, they would not ad-
mit that they could have misapprehended the true 
design of the Sabbath. Instead of criticising 
themselves, they chose to condemn Christ. We 
meet with men of the same spirit to-day, who are 
blinded by error, and yet flatter themselves that 
they are right, and all who differ from them are 
in the wrong. 
The man on whom the miracle bad been 
wrought, entered into no controversy with his 
accusors. He simply answered, "He that had 
power to make me whole, the same said unto me, 
Take up thy bed, and walk." The Pharisees, 
pretending ignorance, still urged, " What man is 
that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and 
walk?" It was their policy to question and cavil, 
that they might perplex and entangle him, and 
lead him to doubt, or else cast discredit upon his 
testimony. 
When the Jews were informed that it was Jesus 
of Nazareth who had performed the miracle of 
healing, they openly sought to put him to death, 
" because he had done these things on the Sabbath 
day." These pretentious formalists were so full 
of zeal for their own traditions, that to sustain 
them they were ready to violate the law of God ! 
To their charges, Jesus replied calmly, " My 
Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Through 
the operations of nature, and by the ministration 
of angels, God is constantly working to sustain 
and bless humanity. I am working in perfect 
harmony with my father." This answer furnished 
another pretext to condemn him. Murder was in 
their hearts, and they waited only for a plausible 
excuse to take his life. But Jesus steadily con-
tinues to assert his true position. "The Son can 
do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Fa-
ther do. Whatsoever things he doeth, these also 
doeth the Son likewise. The Father loveth the 
Son, and showeth him all things that he himself 
doeth." 
Ample evidence bad been presented, on which 
to base their faith in Christ, yet all who desired 
to doubt and cavil found opportunity. And what 
was the occasion of that murderous outbreak 
against Christ ? A poor sufferer had been made 
whole! No better excuse have the cavilers of 
our time. God works through whom he will, by 
ways and means of his own choosing; but there 
are ever some to act the part of the criticising 
Pharisees. They cannot deny that the power of 
God is manifested through his servants; but still, 
in some points, the work does not accord with 
their ideas. If with their finite judgment they 
can find but the semblance of an excuse, they 
are free to challenge and disbelieve. 
In the carrying forward of his work in the 
earth, and the manifestation of his power, God 
does not consult the will or imperfect judgment 
of men. His plans and methods may be, directly 
opposite to those approved by human wisdom. 
If men would criticise and condemn the Saviour's 
work, when they had such evidence of divine 
power as the miracle at Bethesda, can we won-
der that they criticise and condemn those through 
whom he works to-day? Unbelief will always 
find an excuse for its existence. God designs 
that men shall believe, not because there is no 
possibility of doubt, but because there is abun- 
dant evidence for faith. Christ bade the Phari- 
sees, " Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think 
ye have eternal life, and they are they which tes- 
tify of me." The Jewish teachers professed to 
be expounders of God's word; but had they 
prayerfully studied and rightly understood its 
teachings, they would not have substituted their 
own traditions for the law of Jehovah. 
The Saviour continued, "Ye will not come 
unto me, that ye might have life." "Had ye be- 
lieved Moses, ye would have believed me; for he 
wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, 
how shall ye believe my words ? " Those who 
begin by doubting and disbelieving the Old Tes- 
tament, will come to doubt and disbelieve the 
New. We cannot afford to slight or neglect any 
of the provisions of God's grace, any of the man- 
ifestations of his Spirit. Those who do not 
gratefully accept and improve the warnings, 
counsel, or reproofs of divine mercy, will little 
by little come to regard them with indifference. 
They feel that it is optional with themselves to 
receive or reject the light from Heaven. Like 
the Jews in Christ's day, they reject the clearest 
evidence, because they find some pretext for 
doubt, something to criticise. 
Thus are many in their pride and self-conceit 
placing themselves where no divine influence can 
reach them. By persistently cherishing doubt, 
they lose all power to believe. The Holy Spirit 
is slighted until its influence is no longer felt. 
Thus is cut off the means by which God has 
chosen to communicate with men. He has in 
reserve no more potent agency through which to 
reach them. In their own estimation, they are 
wiser than their Creator. Light has become 
darkness to them, and bow great is that dark-
ness! 
The word of God is looked upon with distrust 
for the same reason as was its Author—because 
it reproves and condemns sin. Those who are 
unwilling to obey its requirements, endeavor to 
overthrow its authority. Many read the Bible, 
or listen to its words as presented from the sa-
cred desk, merely to find fault with the Scriptures 
or with the sermon. Not a few become infidels,, 
simply through their willful neglect of duty„ 
Others are led to adopt skeptical principles from, 
pride or indolence. They do not love close ap-
plication. They will not put forth the effort nec-
essary to accomplish anything noble or really 
useful. But they desire to be thought sharp ands; 
 
critical, to secure a reputation for superior wis-
dom. Turning their attention to the Bible, they-
find much which the finite mind, unenlightened; 
by the wisdom from above, is powerless to com-
prehend, and they begin to doubt and cavil. 
The indolent man invites Satan's temptations, 
while those who are actively engaged in some 
useful calling have neither time nor inclination 
to cherish doubts or indulge repining. Adam in 
holy Eden was commanded to labor, and be found 
in this employment one of the greatest blessings 
of his sinless existence. If the would-be skep-
tics of our time would apply themselves to hon- 
254 �
THE SIGNS OF TILE TIMES. �VoL. 8, No 22. 
est, useful toil, they would enjoy improved spirit-
ual as well as physical health. 
Many consider it a virtue to doubt; and they 
delight in finding something in the Scriptures to 
puzzle the minds of others. They do not realize 
that they are thus entangling themselves in the 
snare of the fowler. There is a bewitching 
power in skepticism. Unbelief and stubbornness 
usually go hand in hand. When a man has once 
yielded to this deception of Satan, it will be 
found well-nigh impossible to break the spell. 
There are some who at first criticise and rea-
son on the wrong side, from a mere love for con-
troversy. But having openly expressed unbelief, 
they feel that they must maintain their position. 
Thus they unite with the ungodly, and close to 
themselves the gates of Paradise. 
We encounter skeptics not only in the world, 
but in the church. When the people of God as-
semble to worship him, there Satan intrudes his 
presence. Wherever there is a religious interest, 
there the poor souls that have been entangled in 
his snare may be found zealously working for 
their master. On almost every camp-ground 
may be seen little groups gathered here and there, 
eagerly listening to what some doubter or infidel 
has to say. Here the skeptic is in his element. 
He delights to talk. He has studied the Bible 
with the sole object of finding passages which he 
can use to trouble and perplex other minds. 
Some Christians feel it their duty to defend the 
word of God, and they enter into controversy 
with the skeptic—rather with Satan and his an-
gels, who speak through him. This is just what 
the Prince of darkness and his agents desire. 
The infidel has nothing to lose, however the dis-
cussion may terminate; but the Christian suffers 
an immeasurable loss when his confidence in 
God's word is lessened. 
These scoffers at sacred things may utter many, 
sharp, witty, apt sayings, but " the poison of 
asps is under their lips." The father of lies lends 
them his power and his Satanic cunning. Chris-
tians should avoid controversy with these men. 
We may feel that we are in no danger from their 
influence, but others will gather about to listen, 
and some soul may be led into the path of doubt 
and skepticism. Treat them kindly, but give 
them no opportunity to parade their infidelity. 
Give no place for Satan to insinuate his presence. 
Do not take one step on the enemy's ground. 
God would have his people shun the society 
of, infidels, atheists, and spiritualists. He has 
warned us of their character and their fate: 
" The fool hath said in his heart, There is no 
God." " He that turneth away his ear from 
hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomi-
nation." "The transgressors shall be destroyed 
together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off." 
Satan will endeavor to destroy the faith of 
every follower of Christ. He comes to some as 
a roaring lion. To others he appears in angel 
garments, his voice subdued to the gentlest whis-
per. Our only safety is to cling with unwavering 
faith to the word of God, and promptly and res-
olutely to shun whatever that word condemns, 
it matters not how pleasing its appearance, or 
how specious its pretenses. 
There are some professed Christians who are 
always weak, always desponding. They permit 
themselves to be constantly harassed by doubts, 
and seem to think they must always remain in 
this condition. These persons might be free, did 
they but realize their danger, and put forth an 
effort to escape from the snare of Satan. Let 
them cease to give utterance to their doubts. 
Every unbelieving word strengthens their own 
tendency to doubt, and plants the evil seed in the 
minds of others. Whatever we choose to sow, 
that we must reap. If the farmer sows wheat, he 
will reap wheat. If he sows thistle .seed, his 
harvest will consist only of thistles. 
Light and darkness, truth and error, are before 
us. We are free to choose. God will never re-
move all excuse for unbelief. Those who look for 
hooks to hang their doubts upon, will find them 
close at hand. It is far easier to 'suggest doubts 
than to inspire faith. Because the natural heart 
is at enmity with God, a greater effort is required 
to believe than to doubt the word of the Most 
High. And Satan himself opposes everything 
that would strengthen faith. 
There is one course which all must pursue who 
honestly desire to be freed from doubts. They 
are cherishing some indulgence forbidden by the 
word of God, or neglecting some duty enjoined 
therein. Let those who complain that they walk in 
darkness, give heed to the light which already 
shines upon them, and they will receive greater 
light. Let them do every duty which has been 
made plain to their understanding, and they will 
be enabled to understand and perform those of 
which they are now in doubt. " If any man will 
do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." 
The Saints' Inheritance. 
BY ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. 
THE EARTH PROMISED TO THE MEEK. 
" BLESSED are the meek; for they shall inherit 
the earth." Matt. 5 : 5. A meek man is one who 
is "mild of temper; not easily provoked; given 
to forbearance under injuries."' Such an one was 
Moses. "Now the man Moses was very meek, 
above all the men which were upon the face of 
the earth.' Still we read of him that he once 
spake unadvisedly with his lips." Christ was a 
perfect .pattern of meekness. He "did no sin, 
neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, 
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he 
suffered, he threatened not; but committed him-
self to him that judgeth righteously.' "He was 
led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb 
dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his 
mouth."' A meek man' is one who is like Christ. 
The blessing promised such is: "They shall in-
herit the earth." This word "shall" shows that 
the language relates to the future, and, therefore, 
we at once conclude the promise refers to a future 
inheritance. 
, The mode of speech used by our Saviour, when 
speaking of this inheritance of the earth, is not 
peculiar to the New Testament; the same is also 
fully declared in the Old. In Ps. 37, it is three 
times stated that the *Lord's people "shall inherit 
the earth," and three times that "they shall in-
herit the land." We understand that these texts 
present a future inheritance; not an inheritance 
of the blessings of this life, but of the joys of 
the earth, made new. Some suppose Matt. 5 : 5 is 
fulfilled in this present life. But where is the 
person who has received an inheritance here sim-
ply because he has lived Christ-like? Is not the 
decree still upon all men, "In the sweat of thy 
face shalt thou eat bread"? Are the righteous 
more favored with this world's goods than the 
wicked? Or does God still make the "sun to 
shine on the evil and on the good, and send rain 
on the just and on the unjust" ? 
It is true David could say,—"I have been 
young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the 
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread," 
yet when speaking of abundant prosperity in 
this world, he treats of it as*the lot of the wicked, 
instead of the saints. He says, "I was envious 
at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the 
wicked. For there are no bands in their death; 
but their strength is firm. They are not in 
trouble as other men; neither are they plagued 
like other men. Therefore pride compasseth 
them about as a chain; violence covereth them as 
a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness; 
they have more than heart could wish." Ps. 73 : 
3-7. Again, " Fret not thyself because of evil-
doers, neither be thou envious against the workers 
of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like 
the grass, and wither as the green herb." "Fret 
not thyself because of him who prospereth in his 
way, because of the man who bringeth wicked 
devices to pass. . . . For evil-doers shall be 
cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they 
shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, 
and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt dili-
gently consider his place and it shall not be. But 
the meek shall inherit the earth."1 
David considered the lot of the wicked in this 
world such that the righteous would be in danger 
of desiring it, and fretting about it. He also con-
trasts the inheritance which the righteous are to 
receive, with the final overthrow of the wicked, 
which is also proof that the inheritance of which 
he speaks is still future, and not simply in this 
life. 
The principal reason assigned why the testi-
mony in Matt. 5 : 5 must apply in this life has 
been that when Christ comes to redeem his peo-
ple, the earth will be destroyed, and man no lon-
ger possess it. Assuming such to be the case of. 
course all texts speaking of a reward or punish-
ment on this earth would necessarily have their 
1. Webster. 2. Num. 12 : 3. 3. 1 Pet. 2: 22, 23. 4. Acts 8 : 32 ; Isa. 
53 : 7. 5. Ps. 37 : 1, 2, 7, 9-11. 
application before the time of such destruction. 
By reasoning in accordance with such premises, 
the Universalist has made capital of such texts 
as Prov. 11 : 31: "The righteous' shall be recom-
pensed in the earth; much more the wicked and 
the sinner." Claiming that this text could not 
have its application after this life, they have rea-
soned that whatever recompense is received by 
the righteous or wicked here, must be for their 
good' or evil deeds performed here. And if the 
wicked have met the recompense of their evil 
deeds here, in another life they will have an equal 
chance with the righteous. But, by comparing 
with this, two other proverbs of the wise man, 
we will discover that this claim of future salva-
tion is without foundation. "For the upright 
shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall re-
main in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from 
the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted 
out of it.' In speaking of the righteous, after 
they are planted in their inheritance, he says: 
"The righteous shall never be removed; but the 
wicked shall not inhabit the earth."7 Instead, 
then, of Prov. 11 : 31 proving that all are recom-
pensed in this life, we see it points to the final cut-
ting off of the wicked. When the wicked are cut 
off the meek "inherit the earth, and dwell therein 
forever." 
If it be true that the earth is to be burnt up at 
the second advent, and no more exist, then, of 
course, all texts speaking of an inheritance on 
the earth must be fulfilled before such conflagra-
tion shall take place. 
There is one text which is sometimes quoted to 
prove that the earth will cease to exist at the 
coming of Christ. It is found in the words of 
Peter: "But the day of the Lord will come as a 
thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall 
pass away With a great noise, and the elements 
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and 
the works that are therein shall be burned up."8 
This text does not inform us that the earth is to 
be burned up; neither could such a conclusion be 
drawn from it, after properly analyzing the lan-
guage. It will be seen that to make sense, the 
word, " also" must refer to what has been previ-
ously said; and instead of reading it—" The earth 
also and the works that are therein shall be 
burned up," by placing the commas after the 
words "heat," and "also," it would read, " The ele-
ments shall melt with fervent heat, the earth 
also," showing that the earth is to be melted 
only, the same as "the elements." Hence we per-
ceive that it is the works which are in the earth, 
and not the earth itself; which are to be burned 
up in the day of the Lord. The works in the 
earth which are to be burned up we understand 
are the "works of the devil," which John says, 
"Christ has been manifested that he might de-
stroy." See 1 John 3 : 8. These works are sin 
and sinners. The conclusion that the earth is to 
be melted instead of burned up, is confirmed by 
the statement of verse 11: "Seeing then that all 
these things shall be dissolved, what manner of 
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation 
and godliness?' This is the only scripture which 
can be supposed to intimate that the earth itself 
is to be entirely burned up. This text we see, 
makes no such statement. That Peter did not 
design to teach the utter destruction of the heav-
ens and earth, is evident from the words he im-
mediately adds, "Nevertheless, we, according to 
his promise, look for new heavens and a new 
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 
Edward ,Robinson, D. D., says that the word 
rendered new, in 2 Pet. 3 : 13; Isa 65 : 17, and 66 : 
22, means renewed, or made new, hence, better, 
superior, more splendid. So the corresponding 
word of the Old Testament means, as a verb, to 
make-new, or renew, repair, restore, as in 1 Sam. 
11 : 14; Job 10 : 17; Isa. 61 : 4; Ps. 103: 5; 2 Chron. 
15 : 8; 24 : 4; whence are derived the words ren-
dered new, i. e., renewed, as in new moon, new 
heart, new creature, etc. 
Solomon tells us, " The earth abideth forever," 
and David says, " Of old hast thou laid the 
foundations of the earth; and the heavens are 
the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but 
thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old 
like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change 
them, and they shall be changed."'® 
Reason would lead us to object to the idea that 
this earth is to be blotted out from the universe 
at the close of the probationary state. It will be 
freely admitted that, since the earliest history of 
6. Prov. 2 : 21, 22. 7, Prov. 10 : 30. 8. 2 Pet. 3.: 10-12. 9. &el, 1 : 4. 
10. Ps. 102 : 25, 26. 
JUNE 8, 1882. �
SIGINTS OF TI-11-1; TIMES. �
255 
this earth, sin, rebellion,' anarchy, and confusion, 
have distressed its borders; the mass of the in-
habitants have lived in rebellion against the law 
of God. We can expect nothing better in this 
probationary state; for St. Paul informs us that 
"evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, 
deceiving and being deceived." If there is no fu-
ture"state for this earth after sin and sinners are 
rooted out of it, it appears to us that its very ex-
istence would be a blot in the creation of God. 
That we are not alone in this conviction the fol-
lowing quotations will show. 
The, Dublin Christian Herald says: "If the 
earth was to be destroyed, and man never to have 
the sovereignty of it, Satan would have a victory 
to boast of forever; neither would that promise 
be fulfilled,',that Jesus should destroy the works 
of the devil. 1 John 3 : 8. Frightful, indeed, is 
the breach which Satan has made in this fair 
field of God's creation. . . . It is essential 
for Christ's glory that the earth should be deliv-
ered out of the hand of the enemy." 
Thomas Dick, L. L. D., says:— �
• 
"To suppose, as some have done, that the whole 
fabric of creation will be shattered to pieces, that 
the stars will literally fall from their orbs, and the 
material universe be blotted out of existence, is 
a sentiment so absurd and extravagant, and so 
contrary to the general tenor of the Scripture 
and the character of God, that it is astonishing 
that it.should ever have been entertained by any 
man calling himself a divine, or a Christian 
preacher.''" 
John Cumming, D. D., of London, says:— 
" When he (Christ) comes, this earth shall be 
re-cast, restored, re-constituted, re-beautified, and 
set in more than its first and pristine glory. . . 
Only exhaust from the earth the poison, sin—let 
the footfall of Him who made it be echoed from 
its hills and valleys once more, at dewy dawn 
and at even tide, and this earth of ours will be 
instantly transformed into an orb, the like of 
which is not amid all the orbs of the universe 
besides." 
Increase of Crime. 
WHETHER the increase of crime is due to the 
great influx of foreigners into the United States, 
to the laxity of our laws, or to the low standard 
of public morals, is a question which we will leave 
others to discover. That there is a growing 
tendency to crime there can be no doubt, and that 
whisky is one of the great causes of crime is 
equally clear. Although several temperance 
waves have swept over the country during the 
past decade, and apparently worked wonderful 
reforms; although the prohibition movement has 
carried two of our States, and shown great 
strength in others, yet drunkenness does not seem 
to be less common than it was twenty years ago. 
In this city (Chicago), for instance, we have over 
4,000 saloons; dance houses are conducted openly; 
low concert soloons thrive on all sides, and gam-
bling is openly and shamefully recognized as a 
legitimate business. 
All this may be because Chicago is not a moral 
city, but it has as many churches and as many 
good citizens as any other city of its size on the 
continent. We are inclined to believe that the 
principal cause is the fact that children are not 
subjected to parental restraint as they ought to 
be. Young men are thrown upon the world at 
an age when their characters are not half formed; 
when their minds are open to false and injurious 
impressions; when excitement is sought and found 
easily, and when they are moved either toward 
the right or left by the companions which acci-
dent throws in their way. The boy of ten or 
fifteen years of age is as much of a man as his 
father in these days; he is beyond the control of 
his parents; swears like a trooper, uses tobacco 
like a sailor, and drinks like a fish. There must 
be something radically wrong in the early train-
ing of children, or this certainly would not be the 
case.—Sel. 
" IT is a help to many temperaments to talk 
over troubles and perplexities with a sympathiz-
ing friend, and if the friend be discreet as well as 
sympathetic there may be no harm done. But it 
must be also true that when a woman reaches a 
mental condition where it is possible for her to 
speak disparagingly of her husband, she is within 
easy distance of marital shipwreck."—Eleanor 
Kirk. Reverse this, and it is equally true. 
11. " Philosophy of a Future State," part II, par. 17. 
The Sword of the Spirit. 
WE find in Ephesians 6 : 17, these words: " And 
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of 
the Spirit, which is the word of God." 
If we don't know how to use a sword, what is 
the good of it? We may have the word, but if 
we haven't the Spirit of God, and are not taught 
by the Spirit of God how to handle the word, we 
don't accomplish our work. But if the word of 
God is hid in our hearts, and the Spirit of God 
teaches us how to use it, then it is that the word 
is sharper than a two-edged sword. If we can 
only just get hold of this word in our prayer-
meetings and in our churches, we shall become a 
living power. 
What are ten thousand soldiers good for if 
they don't know how to use their weapons? An 
army of five hundred, or even one hundred, could 
rout ten thousand if they didn't know how to use 
their arms. Let us have the spirit of this word, 
and if we understand it " from back to back " 
we can meet these infidels who talk so loudly 
against the gospel of Christ. People talk about 
studying books to meet them! All the book you 
want is the word of God. God will come forth 
out of his own book and confound them. 
You can't meet men with your opinion. Give 
up your opinions and just give them the word of 
God. He will take care of his word. It will cut 
down deep. They may fight and kick, and talk 
and swear, but just give them the word, and the 
Spirit will do his own work. I have seen men 
come into the inquiry room just to talk and dis-
cuss and get up an argument. Some men live on 
argument. Well, I generally take the Bible and 
give them a few verses. " But," they say, " I 
don't believe the Bible." Then I give them more 
verses, and they say the same thing, but 1 just 
keep on giving them the word of God. I am no 
match for infidels, but this word is; this word 
tells all about them. There have been infidels 
for six thousand years, and probably will be until 
the millennium. The only way to meet infidels 
is to meet them with the word of God; then they 
have got to settle all questions with the Spirit 
himself.—Moody. 
Jews and Jew-Baiters. 
PREJUDICES often survive the reason for their 
existence, like some ill weeds that grow again 
after they have been uprooted. In the Middle 
Ages, the Jews were believed to be an accursed 
race of deicides. The guilt of Herod and of the 
chief priests of Pilate's time was supposed to have 
diffused itself, by a transfer and transmission un-
derstood only by the speculative theologian, to 
the whole Jewish race. It was, therefore, con-
sidered most meritorious and well-pleasing to God 
to make their lives as wretched as possible, in 
atonement for the suffering of Christ. According 
to law, distinctive badges were worn by these 
heirs of perdition, that nobody might mistake 
them for Christians, and they were required to 
dwell in separate quarters, that they might not 
by any chance associate with so-called Christians 
—an arrangement which, no doubt, saved the 
Jews from a great deal of bad company. 
In some countries, laws were made to keep 
them from increasing; in others, they were occa-
sionally thinned out by persecution and massacre. 
When any great drought or other scourge befell 
a nation, the anger of Heaven was appeased by 
a crusade against the Jews, who were banished or 
put to death for the sins of high-priest Ananias, 
as in like manner the Puritans in Boston sought 
to turn away the wrath of God, disclosed in Phil-
ip's War, by fresh severities against the Quakers. 
There was not much encouragement to people 
situated as the Jews were to keep visible prop-
erty, and hence they came to be dealers in money 
—the financiers of Europe; and since the Jew was 
destined to perdition anyhow,—damned ex officio, 
he alone in England was permitted to receive 
usury for his money. 
To justify all this outrage, prejudice easily in-
vented charges against the Jews more injurious 
than that of taking exorbitant interest. It would 
have been wonderful, indeed, if the Jew, badgered, 
beaten, and banished from land to land, did not 
in turn lay up a store of hatred on his own side 
that would now and then break out in words and 
acts. But the wildest stories were set a-going, 
of children carried off by Jews to be circumcised 
and even to be crucified. It was under the stimu-
lus of such slanders that, at the close of the thir- 
teenth century, the Jews, after suffering outrage 
and robbery, were exiled from England, many of 
them being plundered and pitched into the sea on 
their passage to the Continent by mariners zealous 
to promote Christianity. 
Not all of Christendom has come out of bar-
barism yet. There are regions where the Jews 
still suffer from the folly and fanaticism of their 
neighbors. In Russia to-day, as in England five 
hundred years ago, the irresponsible despotism 
and blind fanaticism that bear so heavily upon 
the Jews seek to justify themselves by recounting 
wrongs, real and imaginary, wrought by the Jew. 
But all the rest of Christendom has long since 
found out that the simple remedy for all the 
wrongs, real or imaginary, wrought by the Jews 
is the admission of Jews to stand before the law 
on the same level with other human beings. The 
Jews are not worse than other people. The ras-
cally Jew is not more villainous than the rascally 
Christian. The race furnishes, by all account, a 
larger proportion of eminent men than any other. 
Dr. Guthrie, the Scotch divine, was accustomed 
to say that the best brains of modern times were 
in the heads of Jews. Those who cling tena-
ciously to a prejudice against the Jewish race 
will none the less follow the political lead of Dis-
raeli, or the theological leadership of Neander, or 
admire the philosophy of Spinoza and of Moses 
Mendelssohn, the poetry of Heine, the music of 
Niendelssohn-Bartholdy, and in a hundred ways 
will come under the influence of the Jewish intel-
lect, which plays so large a part in human thought 
and human affairs. 
The greatest paradox of history is the fact that 
Christendom reveres more than all other literature 
that which came from the pen of Jews, believing 
that to them was given a closer communion with 
God than to other people, while the same Chris-
tendom is ready to believe all slanders against the 
race that gave birth to that greatest of ancient 
poets—the author of the book of Job, as well as 
to Isaiah, to Daniel, to John, and to Paul—not to 
mention a name more deeply reverenced than all. 
It is never safe to accept the account given of the 
downtrodden by those who oppress them. Op-
pression no doubt degrades the oppressed, as it 
certainly does the oppressor, but it will not do to 
take the word of the tyrant for the character of 
the slave under his heel.—The Century. 
IT appears to be quite well established that 
ants, and a few other insects, have the highly 
organized faculty of communicating their ideas 
to one another. The researches of modern ob-
servers, such as Lubbock and McCook, have con-
firmed the belief in such a power. Dr. Franklin 
shared the belief, and tested the matter in an 
interesting experiment. He placed a small jar, 
containing a little treacle, in a closet, where a 
number of ants soon collected to prey upon the 
vessel's contents. When all was eaten the doctor 
cleared the jar of the ants, and putting some fresh 
treacle in it, suspended it by a string from a nail 
in the ceiling. A single ant remained in the jar, 
which ate until satisfied, and then sought to find 
its way out. It was for some time perplexed, 
but finally climbed the string to the ceiling, and 
escaped down the wall. It had been gone but a 
short time when a large swarm of ants flocked 
into the closet, climbed up the wall to the ceiling, 
and then descended by the string into the jar, 
where they remained until the treacle was de-
voured, and then departed by the string. It is 
hardly possible that this should have taken place, 
had not the first ant made some communication 
to the others. 
WHEN the history of this world comes to be 
read as it is written in the great book above, 
where alone it is truly written, all other histories 
being more or less fictions, it will be found that 
the real greatness of the great men has been due 
to their wives, whose care has relieved them from 
the cares which take up the larger part of the 
time of men less great, whose loving and tender 
severity has perpetually pruned them of faults 
which would have proved impediments, and 
whose unquenchable faith and courage has been 
an inspiration which all untender severity of the 
world has never been able to quench. Many 
husbands are meanly and selfishly loth to give the 
wife credit for her share in the partnership of life; 
more wives are unwilling to take it; and, most of 
all, both wives and husbands are unconscious of 
any partnership in the matter at all. 
256 �
THE SIGNS OF TI-1 �
F: TIMES. 
VoL. 8, No. 22. 
Thoughts on Daniel—Chapter XI. 
BY ELDER U. SMITH. 
A LITERAL PROPHECY. 
VERSE 39. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds 
with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and 
increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule 
over many, and shall divide the land for gain. 
THE system of paganism which had been intro-
duced into France, as exemplified in the worship 
of the idol set up in the person of the Goddess of 
Reason, and regulated by a heathen ritual which 
had been enacted by the National Assembly for 
the use of the French people, continued in force 
till the appointment of Napoleon to the provis-
ional consulate of France in 1799. The adherents 
of this strange religion occupied the fortified 
places, the strongholds of the nation, as expressed 
in this verse. 
But that which serves to identify the application 
of this prophecy to France, perhaps as clearly as 
any other particular, is the statement made in the 
last clause of the verse, namely, that they should 
" divide the land for gain." Previous to the revo-
lution, the landed property of France was owned 
by a .few landlords in immense estates. These 
estates were required by the law to remain un-
divided so that no heirs or creditors could parti-
tion them. But revolution knows no law; and in 
the anarchy that now reigned, as noted also in 
the eleventh of Revelation, the titles of the nobil-
ity were abolished, and their lands disposed of in 
small parcels for the benefit of the public excheq-
uer. The government was in need of funds, and 
these large landed estates were confiscated and 
sold at auction, in parcels to suit purchasers. The 
historian thus records this unique transaction:— 
" The confiscation of two-thirds of the landed property 
of the kingdom, which arose from the detrees of the Con-
vention against the emigrants, clergy, and persons con-
victed at the Revolutionary Tribunals, . . . placed 
funds worth above 700,000,000 sterling at the disposal 
of the government."—Alison, vol. i, p. 151. 
When did ever an event transpire, and in what 
country, fulfilling a prophecy more completely 
than this? As the nation began to come to itself, 
a more rational religion was demanded, and the 
heathen ritual was abolished. The historian thus 
describes that event:— 
"A third and bolder measure was the discarding of 
the heathen ritual, and re-opening the churches for 
Christian worship; and of this the credit was wholly 
Napoleon's, who had to contend with the philosophic 
prejudices of almost all his colleagues. He, in his con-
versations with them, made no attempts to represent 
himself a believer in Christianity, but stood only on 
the necessity of providing the people with the regular 
means of worship, wherever it is meant to have a state 
of tranquility. The priests who chose to take the oath 
of fidelity to the government were re-admitted to their 
functions; and this wise measure was followed by the 
adherence of not less than 20,000 of these ministers of 
religion, who had hitherto languished in the prisons of 
France."—Lockhart's Life of Napoleon, vol. i, p. 154. 
Thus terminated the reign of terror and the 
infidel revolution. Out of its ruins rose Bonaparte, 
to guide the tumult to his own elevation, place 
himself' at the head of the French government, 
and strike terror to the hearts of nations. 
VERSE 40. And at the time of the end shall the king 
of the south push at him; and the king of the north 
shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, 
and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall 
enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass 
over. 
After a long interval, the king of the south and 
the king of the north again appear on the stage 
of action. We have met with nothing to indicate 
that we are to look to any different localities for 
these powers from those which, shortly after the 
death of Alexander, constituted respectively the 
southern and northern divisions of his empire. 
The king of the south was at that time Egypt, and 
the king of the north was Syria, including Thrace 
and Asia Minor. Egypt is still, by common 
agreement, the king of the south, while the 
territory which at first constituted the king of the 
has been for the past four hundred years 
wholly included within the dominions of the Sul-
tan of Turkey. To Egypt and Turkey, then, in 
connection with the power last under considera-
tion, we must look for a fulfillment of the verse 
before us. 
This application of the prophecy calls for a 
conflict to spring up between Egypt and France, 
and Turkey and France, in 1798; which year we 
have seen to be the commencement of the time of 
the end; and if history testifies that such a tri- 
angular war did break out in that year, it will be 
conclusive proof of the correctness of the applica-
tion. 
We inquire, therefore, Is it a fact that at the 
time of the end, Egypt did "push," or make a 
comparatively feeble resistance, while Turkey did 
come like a resistless " whirlwind," against " him," 
that is the government of France ? We have a-
r
eady produced some evidence that the time of 
the end commenced in 1798; and no reader of 
history need be informed that in that very year 
a state of open hostility between France and 
Egypt was inaugurated. 
To what extent this conflict owed its origin to 
the drams of glory deliriously cherished in the 
ambitious brain of Napoleon Bonaparte, the his-
torian will form his own opinion; but the French, 
or Bonaparte, at least, contrived to make Egypt 
the aggressor. Thus, when in the invasion of 
that country he had secured his first foothold in 
Alexandria, he declared that " he had not come to 
ravage the country or to wrest it from the Grand 
Seignior, but merely to deliver it from the dom-
ination of the Mamelukes, and to revenge the 
outrages which they had committed against France." 
Thiers' French Revolution, vol. iv, p. 268. Again 
the historian says: " Besides, he [Bonaparte] had 
strong reasons to urge against them [the Mame-
lukes]; for they had never ceased to ill-treat the 
French."—Ib. p. 273. 
The beginning of the year 1798 found France 
indulging in immense projects against the English. 
The Directory desired Bonaparte to undertake at 
once a descent upon England; but he saw that no 
direct operations of that kind could be judiciously 
undertaken before the fall; and he was unwilling 
to hazard his growing reputation, by spending 
the summer in idleness. " But," says the histo-
rian, " he saw a far-off land, where a glory was to 
be won which would gain a new charm in the 
eyes of his countrymen, by the romance and 
mystery which hung upon the scene. Egypt, the 
land of the Pharaohs and the Ptolemies, would be 
a noble field for new triumphs."—White's History 
of France, p. 469. But while still broader visions 
of glory opened before the eyes of Bonaparte, in 
those eastern historic lands, covering not Egypt 
only, but Syria, Persia, Hindostan, even to the 
Ganges itself, he had no difficulty in persuading 
the Directory that Egypt was the vulnerable point 
through which to strike at England, by intercept-
ing her eastern trade. Hence, on the pretext 
above mentioned, the Egyptian campaign was 
undertaken. 
The downfall of the papacy, which marked the 
termination of the 1260 years, and, according to 
verse 35, showed the coin menement of the time of 
the end, transpired on the 10th of February, 1798, 
when Rome fell into the hands of Berthier, the 
general of the French. On the 5th of March fol-
lowing, Bonaparte received the decree of the Di-
rectory relative to the expedition against Egypt. 
May 3, he left Paris, and set sail from Toulon the 
19th, with a large naval armament, consisting of 
500 sail, carrying 40,000 soldiers and 10,000 sail-
ors. July 5, Alexandria was taken, and immedi-
ately fortified. On the 23d, the decisive battle of 
the pyramids was fought, in which the Mamelukes 
contested the field with valor and desperation, but 
were no match for the disciplined legions of! the 
French. Murad Bey lost all his cannon, 400 cam-
els, and 3,000 men. The loss of the French was 
comparatively slight. On the 24th, Bonaparte 
entered Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and only 
waited the subsidence of the floods of the Nile, to 
pursue Murad Bey to Upper Egypt, whither he 
had retired with his shattered cavalry, and so 
make a conquest of the whole country. Thus the 
king of the south was able to make but a feeble 
resistance. 
At this juncture, however, the situation of Na-
poleon began to grow precarious. The French 
fleet, which was his only channel of communica-
tion with France, was destroyed by the English 
under Nelson at Aboukir; and on September 2, 
of this same year, 1798, the Sultan of Turkey, 
under feelings of jealousy against France, artfully 
fostered by the English ambassadors at Constan-
tinople, and exasperated that Egypt, so long a 
semi-dependency of the Ottoman Empire, should 
be transformed into a French province, declared 
war against France. Thus the king of the north 
[Turkey] came against him [France] in the same 
year that the king of the south [Egypt] " pushed," 
and both at the time of the end;" which is an-
other conclusive proof that the year 1798 is the 
year which begins that period. 
Was the coming of the king of the north, or 
Turkey, like the whirlwind in comparison with 
the pushing of Egypt ? Napoleon had crushed 
the armies of Egypt; he essayed to do the same 
thing with the armies of the Sultan, who were 
menacing an attack from the side of Asia. Feb. 
27, 1799, with 18,000 men, he commenced his 
march from Cairo to Syria. He first took the fort 
of El-Arish, in the desert, then Jaffa (the Joppa 
of the Bible), conquered the inhabitants of Nap-
lous at Zeta, and was again victorious at Jafet. 
Meanwhile a strong body of Turks had intrenched 
themselves at St. Jean d'Acre, while swarms of 
Mussulmans gathered in the mountains of Sama-
ria, ready to swoop down upon the French when 
they should besiege Acre. Sir Sidney Smith at 
the same time appeared before St. Jean d' Acre 
with two English ships, reinforced the Turkish 
garrison of that place, and captured the apparatus 
for the siege, which Napoleon had sent round by 
sea from Alexandria. A Turkish fleet soon ap-
peared in the offing, which, with the Russian and 
English vessels then co-operating with them, con-
stituted the " many ships " of the king of the 
north. 
On the 18th of March the siege commenced. 
Napoleon was twice called away to save some 
French divisions from falling into the hand of the 
Mussulman hordes that filled the country. Twice 
also a breach was made in the wall of the city; 
but the assailants were met with such fury by the 
garrison, that they were obliged, despite their 
best efforts, to give over the struggle. After a 
continuance of sixty days, Napoleon raised the 
siege, sounded, for the first time in his career, the 
note of retreat, and on the 21st of May, 1799, 
commenced to retrace his steps to Egypt. 
"And he shall overflow and pass over." We 
have found events which furnish a very striking 
fulfillment of the pushing of the king of the south, 
and the whirlwind onset of the king of the north, 
against the French power. Thus far there is 
quite a general agreement in the application of 
the prophecy. We now reach a point where the 
views of expositors begin to diverge. To whom 
do the words, " he shall overflow and pass over," 
refer ? to France or the king of the north ? The 
application of the remainder of this chapter de-
pends upon the answer to this question. From 
this point, two lines of interpretation are main-
tained. Some apply the words to France, and 
endeavor to find a fulfillment in the career of 
Napoleon. Others apply them to the king of the 
north, and accordingly point for a fulfillment to 
events in the history of Turkey. We speak of 
these two positions only, as the attempt which 
some make to bring in the papacy here is so evi-
dently wide of the mark that its consideration 
need not detain us. If neither of these positions 
is free from difficulty, as we presume no one will 
claim that it is, absolutely, it only remains that 
we take that one which has the weight of evidence 
in its favor. 
Respecting the application of the prophecy to 
Napoleon, or to France under his leadership, so 
far as we are acquainted with his history, we do 
not find events which we can urge with any de-
gree of assurance, as the fulfillment of the remain-
ing portion of this chapter; and hence do not see 
how it can be thus applied. It must, then, be 
fulfilled by Turkey, unless it can be shown (1) 
that the expression, " king of the north," does not 
apply to Turkey, or (2) that there is some other 
power besides either France or the king of the 
north, which fulfilled this part of the prediction. 
But if Turkey, now occupying the territory which 
constituted the northern division of Alexander's 
empire, is not the king of the north of this proph-
ecy, then we are left without any principle to 
guide us in the interpretation. And we presume 
all will be agreed that there is no room for the in-
troduction of any other power here. The French 
king and the king of the north, are the only ones 
to whom the prediction can apply. The fulfill-
ment must lie between them. 
Some considerations certainly favor the idea 
that there is, in the latter part of verse 40, a 
transfer of the burden of the prophecy from the 
French power to the king of the north. The king 
of the north is introduced just before as coming 
forth like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, 
and many ships. The collision between this 
power and the French we have already noticed. 
The king of the north with the aid of his allies, 
gained the day in this contest; and the French, 
foiled in their efforts, were driven back into 
Egypt. Now it would seem to be the more nat- 
JUNE 8, 1882. �THE SIGNS OF TI C FA: TIMES. �
gal 
ural 
ural application to refer the "overflowing and 
passing over" to that power which emerged in 
triumph from that struggle; and that power was 
Turkey. We will only add that one who is famil-
iar with the Hebrew assures us that the construc-
tion of this verse is such as to make it necessary 
to refer the overflowing and passing over to 
the king of the north, these words expressing the 
result of that movement which is just before lik-
ened to the fury of the whirlwind. 
HANG ON LIKE A BEAVER.—When our Tom was 
six years old, he went into the forest one after-
noon to meet the hired man, who was coming 
home with a load of wood. The man placed 
Master Tommy on the top of the load, and drove 
homeward. Just before reaching the farm, the 
team went pretty briskly down a steep hill. 
When Tommy entered the house, his mother said, 
" Tommy, my dear, were you not frightened 
when the horses went trotting so swiftly down 
Crow Hill ? " "Yes, mother, a little," replied 
Tom, honestly; " I asked the Lord to help me, 
and hung on like a beaver." Sensible Tom ! 
Why sensible? Because he joined working to 
praying. Let his words teach this life-lesson: 
in all troubles, pray and hang on like a beaver; 
by which I mean, that, while you ask God to help 
you, you must help yourself with all your might. 
—Young Pilgrim. 
Two W AYS.—There are two ways of carrying 
your religion into your business. Talking religion 
to the people whom you meet in your business 
hours is one way; dealing fairly, meeting all obli-
gations promptly, treating those in your employ-
ment with kindness and courtesy, is another way. 
Some Christians may do good by the first method; 
no Christian can do any good who neglects the 
second.—S. S. Times. 
car �
abbath -*chroat. 
Christ Riding into Jerusalem. 
JESUS selected for his use a colt upon which 
man had never sat. The disciples in glad en-
thusiasm spread their garments upon the colt, and 
placed their Master upon him. No sooner was 
he seated than a loud shout of triumph rent the 
air, and the multitude hailed him as Messiah, their 
King. Jesus now accepted the homage which he 
had never before permitted, and his disciples re-
ceived this as a proof that their glad hopes were 
to be realized by seeing him acknowledged at 
Jerusalem as the King of Israel. They were un-
able to present him with costly gifts, but they 
spread their outer garments as a carpet in his 
path, and they also strewed the leafy branches 
of the olive and palm in the way. They could 
lead the triumphal propession with no royal stand-
ards, but they cut down the spreading palm 
boughs, nature's emblem of victory, and waved 
them aloft, while their loud acclamations and 
hosannas rent the air. 
As they proceeded, the multitude was contin-
ually increased by those who had heard of the 
coming of Jesus and hastened to join the pro-
cession. Spectators were constantly mingling 
with the throng and asking, Who is this? What 
does all this commotion signify ? They had all 
heard of Jesus and were expecting him to go to 
Jerusalem, but they knew that he had heretofore 
refused to receive kingly honors, and they were 
greatly astonished to learn that this was he. 
They wondered what could have wrought this 
change in him who had declared that his king-
dom was not of this world. 
While they are wondering and questioning, the 
eager crowd silence their queries with a shout 
of triumph that is repeated again and again, and 
is echoed from the surrounding hills and valleys. 
And now the joyful procession is joined by crowds 
from Jerusalem, that have heard of the grand 
demonstration, and hasten to meet the Saviour 
and conduct him to Jerusalem. From the great 
gathering of the Hebrews to attend the passover, 
thousands go forth to welcome Jesus to the city. 
They greet him with the waving of palm branches 
and a burst of sacred song. The priests at the 
temple sound the trumpet for evening service, 
but there are few to respond, and the rulers say 
to each other in alarm, " The world has gone 
after him." . . . . 
It was the purpose of Jesus to draw attention 
to the crowning sacrifice that was to end his mis-
sion to a fallen world. They were assembling at 
Jerusalem to celebrate the passover, while ke, 
the antitypical Lamb, by a voluntary act set 
himself apart as an oblation. Jesus understood 
that it was needful in all future ages that the 
church should make his death for the sins of 
the world a subject of deep thought and study. 
Every fact connected with it should be verified 
beyond a doubt. It was necessary, then, that 
the eyes of all people should be directed to him, 
that the demonstrations which preceded his great 
sacrifice should be such as to call the attention 
of all to the sacrifice itself. After such an exhi-
bition as that attending his entry into Jerusa-
lem
' 
 all eyes would follow his rapid progress to 
the final end. 
The startling events connected with this tri-
umphal ride were calculated to be the talk of 
every tongue, and bring Jesus before every mind. 
After his crucifixion, these events would be con-
nected with his trial and death; prophecies would 
be searched and would reveal the fact that this 
was indeed the Messiah; and converts to the 
faith of Jesus would be multiplied in all lands. 
In this one triumphant scene of his earthly life, 
the Saviour might have appeared escorted by 
heavenly angels and heralded by the trumps of 
God; but he remained true to the life of humili-
ation he had accepted, bearing the burden of hu-
manity, till his life was given for the life of the 
world. 
This day, which seemed to the disciples the 
crowning day of their lives, would have been 
shadowed with gloomy clouds had they known 
that this scene of rejoicing was but a prelude to 
the suffering and death of their Master. Al-
though he had repeatedly told them of his cer-
tain sacrifice, yet in the glad triumph of the 
present they forgot his sorrowful words, and 
looked forward to his prosperous reign on the 
throne of David. The shouts went up contin-
ually, " Hosanna to the Son of David ! Blessed 
is He that cometh in the name of the Lord ! Ho-
sanna in the highest ! " It was as if all that vast 
multitude were seeking to excel one another in 
responding to the call from a prophetic past. 
Many Pharisees witnessed the scene, and, burn-
ing with envy and malice, sought to turn the 
popular current. Fearful that this multitude, in 
the strength of their numbers, would lift Jesus 
to the position of king, they, as a last resort, 
pressed through the crowd and accosted him 
with reproving and threatening words: " Master, 
rebuke thy disciples." They declared that such 
noisy and excited demonstrations were unlawful 
and would not be permitted by the authorities. 
But the reply of Jesus silenced their haughty 
commands: " I tell you that if these should hold 
their peace the stones would immediately cry out." 
God himself had, in his special providence, ar-
ranged the order of events then transpiring, 
and if men had failed to carry out the divine 
plan, He would have given a voice to the inan-
imate stones and they would have hailed his 
Son with acclamations of praise. This scene 
had been revealed in prophetic vision to the 
holy seers of old, and man was powerless to turn 
aside the purposes of Jehovah. As the silenced 
Pharisees drew back, the words of Zechariah 
were taken up by hundreds of voices, " Rejoice 
greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter 
of Jerusalem. Behold, thy king cometh unto 
thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, 
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal 
of an ass." � 
When the procession arrived at the summit of 
the hill and was about to descend into the city, 
Jesus halted, and all the multitude with him. 
Jerusalem in all its glory lay before them, bathed 
in the light of the declining sun. The temple 
attracted all eyes. In stately grandeur it towered 
above all else, seeming to point toward Heaven, 
as if directing the people upward to the only true 
and living God. This temple in its splendid maj-
esty bad long been the pride and glory of the 
Jewish nation. The Romans also prided them-
selves iii it as an unequaled monument of magnifi-
cence. Their king had united with the Jews in 
embellishing it, and together they had spared no 
pains nor expense to furnish it with the most costly 
and beautiful decorations both without and within. 
Jesus gazes upon the enchanting scene before 
him, and the vast multitude hush their shouts, 
spell-bound by this sudden vision of beauty. All 
eyes turn instinctively upon the Saviour, expect-
ing to see in his countenance the admiration which 
they themselves feel. But instead of this they 
behold a cloud of sorrow gathering upon his coun-
tenance. They are surprised and disappointed to 
see the eyes of the Saviour fill with tears, and his 
body rock to and fro like a tree before the tem-
pest, while a wail of anguish bursts from his 
quivering lips as if from the depths of a broken 
heart. What a sight was this for angels to 
behold ! Their loved Commander in an agony 
of tears ! What a sight was this for that glad 
throng who had accompanied him with shouts of 
triumph and waving of palm-branches to that 
summit overlooking the glorious city where they 
fondly hoped he would reign ! Their acclama-
tions were now silenced, while many tears flowed 
in sympathy with the grief they could not com-
prehend. 
Jesus had wept at the grave of Lazarus, but 
it was in a God-like grief in harmony with the 
occasion. But this sudden sorrow is like a note 
of wailing in a grand triumphal chorus. In the 
midst of a scene of rejoicing, where all were pay-
ing him homage, Israel's King was in tears; not 
silent tears of gladness, but tears and groans of 
insuppressible agony. The multitude are struck 
with a sudden gloom, while they look upon this 
grief which is incomprehensible to them. The 
tears of Jesus were not in anticipation of physi-
cal suffering as he contemplated his crucifixion, 
though just before him was the garden of Geth-
semane, where he knew that soon the horror of a 
great darkness would overshadow him. The 
sheep gate was also in sight, through which for 
centuries the beasts for sacrificial offerings bad 
been conducted. This gate was soon to open for 
him, the great • Antitype toward whose sacrifice 
for the sins of the world all these offerings had 
pointed. Near by was Calvary, the scene of his 
approaching agony. 
Yet it is not because of those reminders of his 
cruel death that the Redeemer weeps and groans 
in anguish of spirit. His is no selfish sorrow. 
The thought of physical pain does not intimidate 
that noble, self-sacrificing soul. It is the sight of 
Jerusalem, that pierces the heart of Jesus with 
anguish—Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of 
God and scorned his love, who refused to be con-
vinced by his mighty miracles and is about to 
take his life. He sees what she is in her guilt of 
rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might have 
been had she accepted Him who alone could heal 
her wound. He had come to save her; how can 
he give up the child of his care I 
He raised his hand—that had so often blessed 
the sick and suffering—and waving it toward 
the doomed city, in broken utterances of grief; 
exclaimed: " If thou hadst knovirn, even thou, 
in this thy day the things which belong to thy 
peace—" Here the Saviour paused and left 
unsaid what might have been the condition of 
Jerusalem had she accepted the only help that 
God could give her,—the gift of his beloved Son. 
If Jerusalem had known what it was her privilege 
to know, and had acted according to the light 
bestowed upon her by God, she might have stood 
forth in the pride of prosperity, the queen of 
kingdoms, free in the strength of her God-given 
power. There would then have been no armed 
soldiers waiting at her gates, no Roman banners 
waving from her walls. The glorious destiny 
which might have blessed Jerusalem, had she 
accepted her Redeemer, rose before the Son of 
God. He saw that she might through him have 
been healed of her grievous malady, liberated 
from bondage, and established as the mighty 
metropolis of the earth. From her walls the 
dove of peace would have gone forth to all na-
tions. She would have been the world's diadem 
of glory. 
But the bright picture of what Jerusalem might 
have been had she accepted the Son of God, fades 
from the Saviour's sight as he realizes what sheds 
under the oppressive Roman yoke, bearing the 
frown of God, doomed to his retributive justice. 
He takes up the broken thread of his lamenta-
tions: " But now they are hid from thine eyes. , 
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine 
enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and com-
pass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 
and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy 
children within thee; and they shall not leave 
in thee one stone upon another; because thou 
knewest not the time of thy visitation."—Mrs. E. 
G. White, in Great Controversy. 
" A GOOD understanding have all they that 
keep His commandments." 
258 �
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. �
Vol,. 8, No. 22. 
h t �
Igns Jai the 'Units. 
"Can ye not discern the signs of the times ?" 
J. H. WAGGONER, �
 EDITOR. 
 
J. N. ANDREWS, 
1- CORRESPONDING EDITORS. 
URIAH SMITH, 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, JUNE 8, 1882. 
The Sabbath Law. 
LAW expresses obligation. It is not advice. Mere 
advice leaves it at our option whether to accept it or 
not. Law leaves no option, but peremptorily says, 
" Thou shalt." 
If three points are made clear to our minds, there can' 
be no further question concerning the advisability or 
necessity of obedience. 1. The authority; is it suffi-
cient ? 2. The reason; is it just and right ? 3. The 
terms or methods of statement; are they plain and spe-
cific ? 
Now in regard to the fourth commandment every 
requisite is fully met:- 
The authority is of Jehovah himself—the Creator 
of the heavens and the earth. He is the " one Law-
giver; " "Supreme Moral Governor;" " God over all." 
When he speaks " every mouth may be stopped." The 
authority is so complete—so entirely beyond question-
ing—that it would be sufficient to rest everything here, 
and stand in silent awe. But, as we said, every require-
ment is met in this law, as all may readily see. 
The reason is sufficient, and remains to-day with 
all the force which it ever possessed. God made the 
world and all things therein- in six days. This was, it 
is, and it will forever be true. He rested the seventh 
day. This is also an immutable and eternal truth. He 
blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; that is, 
set it apart from the other days, to be appropriated to 
sacred uses. This is true to-day; it can never cease to 
be true. All this is undeniable. In sanctifying it he 
reserved a special proprietorship in it as a sacred day, 
giving to man the other six days for his work. No one 
can deny his right to reserve one day to himself—to be 
used only as he shall direct. No one can dispute his 
" right of property " in the seventh day. 
The la* is given in plain terms; so plain that a 
child can understand them. Indeed, we have known 
children from five to eight years of age to be thoroughly 
converted from the observance of the heathen " day of 
the sun " to the keeping of " the Sabbath of the Lord 
thy God," by simply reading the fourth commandment. 
The difficulty in perceiving the truth of the Sabbath is 
not with the understanding but with the will. No 
law could possibly be given in plainer terms. 
This being the case, where is the chance for option or 
choice on the part of the subject—the creature? He 
who interposes his own will, when the will of the Crea-
tor is plainly expressed, does it at his peril. Such a 
procedure is the highest treason, the most unwarranted 
usurpation of which a feeble, dependent creature can 
be guilty. And yet this is being done continually, and 
(let the Heavens be astonished !) it is done by those 
who profess to regard the authority of the Lawgiver; 
who profess to reverence, to love, to adore him! Not-
withstanding the plainness, the reasonableness, the 
completeness of authority, of the fourth commandment, 
every term in it is set aside, and something substituted 
for it, even by those who claim to " fear God, and keep 
his commandments." 
To show the nature of the claim in behalf of the 
first day, we give another extract from our " Review of 
Baird ":— 
A most important part of Sabbath investigation is 
that which treats of the Sabbath as " a sign." A cor-
rect understanding of this subject will effectually cor-
rect Mr. Baird's errors in regard to the ends " of the 
Sabbath institution. He treats it merely in the light 
of a beneficial institution, subservient to man's choice, 
not being holy except by our own action; and no one 
day belonging to God more than another except as we 
choose to devote it to him. But this is as far from 
the truth presented in the word of God as midnight is 
from noon. The Bible leaves no option with man in 
regard to the observance of the Sabbath. It repre-
sents it as a memorial—a sign of the creative power 
of Jehovah; his own chosen day; a day blessed by 
the Lord; by him separated and set apart from the 
other days. The very nature of a memorial or com- 
memorative institution forbids that Mr. Baird's con-
clusions should be.true. 
.To illustrate, we will suppose, as a parallel, that the 
fourth of July has been set apart by our government, 
by an express law, as the day to commemorate the in-
dependence of the United States; and the law gives 
as the reason for such appointment, the signing of the 
Declaration of Rights. Now a party rises up and 
claims that the design of the law will be carried out 
by observing the eighth of January instead; that we 
are required to keep one day of the year, and not any 
particular day; that both the letter and the spirit of 
the law will be kept by observing the eighth of Janu-
ary; that on that day a very memorable event oc-
curred, worthy of being commemorated; that history 
has made much mention of the victory of Gen. Jack-
son, on that day; and that as we are to keep the day, 
it must be optional with us which day we keep. Now, 
query: Would that law be kept by keeping the eighth 
day of January instead of the fourth of July ? The 
law specifies the particular day—the fourth of July. 
It gives the reason—the signing of the Declaration of 
Independence on that day. It is not optional with 
us—the law carries with it the authority of the gov-
ernment. On the other hand, the eighth of January 
is not mentioned in the law; the victory at New 
Orleans is not the reason given for appointing the 
day; history is not law, so a historical fact cannot 
supersede a legal enactment; though the day is to be 
observed by us, it is not a matter of option, but must 
be kept in obedience to the law; the claim and author-
ity of the government are honored only by the observ-
ance of that day which is set apart by law. He would 
be considered wildly foolish, who would contest the 
case in favor of the eighth of January, under such cir-
cumstances. 
But such is the relative position of the parties in 
this Sabbath controversy. The law says 'the seventh 
day. Mr. Baird acknowledges the validity of the law, 
but says the first day will answer instead of the sev-
enth. The law gives as the reason, that God rested on 
the seventh day. Mr. Baird says the better reason is 
that Christ arose on first day. The law says the sev-
enth day is the Lord's day, the day of his choice, the 
day which he reserved to himself, and hallowed to 
sacred use. Mr. Baird says no one day belongs to 
the Lord, except as we give it to him, or is hallowed 
except as we make it so, and the first day will answer 
all the ends of the law. The fact that it is a law, 
that it is by authority, binds us to observe the day 
pointed out in the law. But Mr. Baird says a day 
not indicated by authority, not enforced by any law, 
will answer far better than the day mentioned in the 
law! Was ever folly and presumption more apparent ? 
A Warning. 
NONE of us are much inclined to profit by the expe-
rience and mistakes of others. We generally wait until 
we become involved in the same difficulty before paying 
heed to a warning. We heard it once objected that a 
majority of those who were earnest " health reformers,', 
or hygienists, were in a "broken-down condition." But 
the objector was not aware of the fact that they were 
not hygienists—that they refused to conform to the laws 
of health—until their " broken-down condition " forced 
the necessity upon them. He did not consider that this 
broken-down condition might have been averted by a 
timely obedience to the laws of their being. 
We have been pained to read of another " clerical 
scandal "--another minister who has disgraced himself 
and brought reproach upon the gospel in the work of 
which he was engaged. And probably a small propor-
tion of those who read the brief account in the daily 
papers will ever learn, or care to learn, of the causes 
which led to the unfortunate occurrence. 
A Baptist minister of St. Louis, well known and of 
good repute, was seen in a railroad car in a state of 
intoxication, where he grossly insulted the females in 
the car. This is the report. Now for the further facts. 
The members of his church come forward and state 
that he was an efficient and very zealous minister, and 
that in his zeal he greatly overworked himself; that 
they protested against his laboring so much and so hard, 
but, like many others who find so much to do, he could 
not. "find time" to take the rest which his exhausted 
system and fevered brain demanded. In this condition 
he traveled, but his brain seemed to have passed the 
resting point. Those who have sadly overworked their 
brains will know exactly what we mean by this expres-
sion. His landlord advised him to take some whisky, 
asserting that it would soothe and quiet him. He took 
it and the result is before the world. 
Most of our readers will be astonished that whisky 
should be recommended. or accepted as an anodyne in 
such a case. Only think ! whisky to soothe and quiet 
a fevered body and a burning brain. But before you let 
your wonder rise too high, consider, (1) That it was a 
landlord who recommended the whisky. Nothing won-
derful in that. (2) That the man who accepted it was 
nearly wrought up to a state of desperation. He was 
ready to grasp anything which was offered as a means 
of relief, perhaps without the power to calmly consider 
the probable consequences. Many bright minds have 
broken entirely under such circumstances. Some of the 
most promising men have committed suicide under the 
severe mental strain of over study and work. (3) That 
physicians are daily pursuing the same course so un-
wisely pursued by this landlord. They are feeding 
whisky to fevered patients; adding fuel to the flame 
which is consuming the life forces. Here you may stop 
and wonder. 
We have no idea that brain workers will profit by this 
warning. Some labor under great difficulties; they can-
not " see through their work," nor decide how to neglect 
it or to abandon it in season. In many cases their 
friends urge that they " cannot be spared " from their 
work. But when the jaded brain fails to perform its 
functions, or when they fall into an untimely grave, 
they are spared; they must be spared. 
As a people we are great trespassers in this respect. 
Our ministers and active mind-workers are so few that 
there is great danger of putting too heavy a load upon 
the willing laborer; a great inducement to the zealous 
servant of Christ to strive to accomplish more than he 
can do well, or safely undertake. Exactly what is duty 
to do under these circumstances is hard to tell. Few 
can be aware of the condition of the brain of the hard 
student or worker. Friends and even physicians are 
not prepared to give advice suitable to the case. An 
"inscrutable and all-wise providence " has to bear the 
blame of many very unwise actions of parents, teachers, 
ministers, and writers. 
While many will only blame the subject of this arti-
cle, some will be able to appreciate his sad condition, 
and to pity him. A few may pray God to avert such a 
calamity which, they are partially aware, hangs over 
them. But will any heed the warning, and preserve 
their lives in the midst of a multitude of cares and 
duties ? Of this there is room to doubt. 
Was the First Day Gradually Sanctified 
by the Apostles after the Ascen- 
sion of Christ? 
[From Les Signes des Temps.] 
The first day not sanctified during the first twelve 
years after the resurrection of Christ. 
IF the first day of the week is a day holy to the Lord, 
and one on which men ought not to labor, there was a 
time when it became holy, and some act or series of acts, 
which made it holy. The reason assigned by theolo-
gians why this day should be holy, is that Christ arose 
from the dead on that day. But it should be observed. 
(1) That no such reason is assigned in the Bible to estab-
lish the holiness of the day; (2) That the Bible does not 
even say that the day is holy; (3) That out of eight in-
stances in which the day is mentioned, only one instance 
is found in which it is directly asserted that Christ arose 
that day. Mark 16 :9. The Spirit of inspiration did 
not therefore attach any special importance to the fact 
that Christ arose on that day, though that fact would 
be of the highest importance if the people of God ought 
to observe the day in memory of that event. 
In our examination thus far, we have learned three 
important facts: 1. That there was no act of sanctifying 
the first day at the resurrection of Christ, as there was 
of sanctifying the seventh day when the Creator had 
rested upon it. Gen. 2 : 2, 3; Ex. 20:11. 2. That Christ 
did not gradually sanctify the first day, during the forty 
days preceding his ascension. 3. That the apostles, dur-
ing the period recorded in the first twelve chapters of 
Acts, said not one word in favor of the sanctification of 
the first day, and performed not one act which would 
indicate that they observed the day as sacred to the 
Lord. Yet these chapters embrace the first twelve 
years of the gospel dispensation, a period during which 
...sir JUNE 8, 1882.. 
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. 
259 
 
 
the apostles laid the foundation of the church of Christ, 
by preaching the gospel not to the Jews only, but also 
to the Gentiles. 
if they had ceased to celebrate the seventh day. The 
fourteenth chapter of Acts makes not the slightest allu-
sion to the sanctification of the first day, neither in what 
it says that the apostles taught. nor in what it records 
of any accusation made by the Jews. 
The fifteenth chapter tells us that after Paul and 
Barnabas had returned to Antioch in Syria, that city 
was visited by certain persons from Jerusalem, who 
were scandalized to find that the Gentile converts were 
not circumcised. Verses 1, 5. If they had found the 
Gentile converts breaking the Sabbath, they would have 
been still more vehement in denouncing them. But 
they made no complaint in this respect, which shows 
that they had none to make. But to set at rest the 
question whether the Gentiles ought to be circumcised 
and to observe the law of Moses, Paul and Barnabas 
went up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles. The 
law of Moses must signify the ceremonial law, for Peter 
called it a yoke which neither the apostles nor their 
fathers were able to bear. Verse 10. And the decision 
made by the apostles, shows that the moral law could 
not have been the subject of discussion in the council, 
unless we believe that the apostles broke down eight of 
the ten prohibitions against immortality, and even left 
in force only a part of each of the other two; that is to 
say, left in force a part of the second commandment and 
a part of the seventh. 
The apostles were unanimous in the decision that the 
Gentiles should not observe circumcision nor the cere-
monial law. Verses 1, 5, 24. If it be said that the 
apostles set aside, not the ceremonial law only, but the 
moral law also, then w ask why they should prohibit 
fornication if they had abolished the law which forbids 
adultery ? And why also should they forbid the eating 
of things offered to idols, if they abolished the com-
mandment which forbids idolatry ? If they permitted 
in each case the greater sin, how could they with any 
reason forbid the less ? Let those answer who think 
that the apostles set aside the moral law with the cere-
monial. 
The first day had not been sanctified when the first 
missionary tour was finished. The council at Jeru-
salem distinguished between the moral law and the 
ceremonial. 
The fourteenth chapter of Acts finishes the history of 
the first missionary tour of Paul and Barnabas. They 
preached in the synagogues of the Jews wherever 
they found them. They could not have done this, if 
they had taught that the first day had been sanctified 
in the place of the seventh; nor could they have done it 
II. 
The first day had not been sanctified when Paul 
preached at Antioch, in Pisidia. 
In this article we continue the examination of the 
book of Acts. Our object is to find some act which in-
stantaneously sanctified the first day; or if there be no 
one act of this kind on record, then to find some series of 
acts which gradually accomplished the sanctification of 
the day. If the apostles ever sanctified the first day, we 
shall find the fact attested by three things: 1. That they 
said something about the sacredness of the day. 2. That 
they treated the day as sacred; 3. That their words and 
acts in behalf of the first day occasioned controversy 
with the Jews. What then do we find on this subject 
in Acts 13 ? 
In this chapter we find Barnabas and Saul, or Paul, 
sent out on their first missionary tour. Verses 1-4. In 
every case they preached first to the Jews and afterward 
to the Gentiles. When they arrived at Antioch in Pisidia, 
Paul preached a sermon which Luke has recorded. 
There are three important facts connected with this dis-
course: 1. That Paul said to the Jews (verse 27) that 
the prophets were read by their nation every Sabbath 
day. But if the seventh day had ceased to be the Sab-
bath, and the first-day had become the Sabbath, or if 
there were two Sabbaths each week, the seventh day 
and the first day, the declaration of Paul that the Jews 
read the prophets every Sabbath day, cannot be true. 
The term every Sabbath in Acts 13 :24, means every 
seventh day, and cannot include one first day. 
Paul declared to them (verses 30-37), that God had 
raised Christ from the dead, and that Christ had been 
seen of his disciples many days after his resurrection. 
Here was an opportunity for Paul to say that the resur-
rection of Christ had caused God to sanctify the first 
day of the week; but he did not say it, not because there 
was no need to say it if it were true, but because it was 
not true. Here also was an opportunity for Paul to say 
that Christ gradually sanctified the first day of the 
week during the many days that he was seen by his 
disciples, by appearing to them uniformly, or generally, 
on that day. But he said nothing of the kind; and our 
examination of the history of the forty days in our 
number for March (SroNs for April), shows that Paul 
could not say it because it was not true. He might also 
have said—if it had been true—that during the twelve 
years that had elapsed since the ascension of Christ, the 
apostles had consulted together, and had decided to 
sanctify the day either by one united act of authority, 
or by many minor acts; but he said nothing of the kind, 
not because this was not necessary to be told, if true, in 
order that his hearers should understand their duty, but 
because it was not true, as we have shown in our number 
for April. [Sums for April 13.] 
But the most remarkable fact remains to be noticed. 
When Paul had finished his sermon, the Gentiles be-
sought him to preach the same words to them the next 
Sabbath day. This time the circumstances are such 
that Paul must speak of the sanctification of the first 
day of the week. if the day had been sanctified. When 
asked to preach the next Sabbath, he could not do 
otherwise than to answer thus: " You ought not to wait 
the period of a week; the first day has been sanctified 
to take the place of the seventh; I will preach to you 
to-morrow." The persons who requested him to preach 
were Gentiles, who would not be offended to hear of the 
sanctification of a new day, and who needed to hear of 
it if it were true. But Paul made no reference to the 
sanctification of the day, which is a conclusive proof that 
as late as the year forty-five, the first day of the week 
had not been sanctified. Luke informs us that the next 
Sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear 
the word of God. This fact is worthy of notice because 
it shows an extensive regard for the Sabbath among the 
Gentiles in the city of Antioch. 
III. 
 
The apostles took care that the Gentiles should not 
think any part of the moral law was set aside with the 
ceremonial. 
There can be no greater absurdity than to represent 
the apostles as forbidding fornication, but permitting 
adultery; and, as forbidding the eating of meats offered 
to idols, but permitting the worship of idols. Yet this 
is precisely what they did, if they abrogated the moral 
law with its prohibition of idolatry, blasphemy, mur-
der, and adultery, and only maintained the prohibition 
of meats offered to idols, and the prohibition of 
fornication. But they did nothing of the kind. The 
moral law was not in dispute, and the apostles did not 
grant permission to transgress one of its precepts. But 
they did set aside the ceremonial law, and this made it 
necessary that they should speak on three points which 
the Gentiles in their blindness might suppose to be set 
aside with the ceremonial law. 
These were: (1) The sin of fornication which properly 
signifies the transgression of the seventh commandment, 
when both the parties are unmarried The false educa-
tion of the Gentiles, led them to think that this sin was 
not a violation of the commandment that forbids adul-
tery. (2) The eating of meats offered to idols. The 
Gentiles were in danger of thinking that this would not 
be a violation of the commandment which forbids idol-
atry. (3) The eating of things strangled, and of blood; 
that is the eating of flesh with the blood, and the eating 
of blood by itself. The Gentiles were in danger of re-
garding the prohibition of blood as a part of the cere-
monial law which was not to be observed by them. 
Gen. 9 :3, 4; Lev. 17 :10-14. But the reason on which 
the prohibition of blood was founded, was that the blood 
was used in making atonement for the souls of men 
(compare Lev, 16: 15, 18; 17 :11), and the honor of the 
law of God which man has transgressed, forbids that 
man should taste blood. 
 
The change of the fourth commandment was not 
recognized by the apostles, because unknown to them. 
The first day had not been sanctified when Paul 
preached at Philippi. 
We have thus learned a fact of great importance. It 
is that when the apostles declared circumcision, and the 
ceremonial law, or law of Moses, not to be obligatory 
upon the Gentiles, they took care to define all the ques-
tions on which the Gentiles, through ignorance or false 
education, were in danger of transgressing the moral 
law. It was therefore in the highest degree necessary 
that the apostles on this occasion should speak of the 
change of the fourth commandment if the first day had 
been sanctified to take the place of the seventh. Or if 
it had not yet been sanctified, the time had come when 
they must sanctify it if they were ever to do it, for the 
apostles were assembled at Jerusalem for the last time. 
What did they say to indicate that the first day had 
already been sanctified ? Not one word. What did 
they say by way of then establishing the sanctification 
of the day ? Nothing! 
Yet in this council the Sabbath of the Lord was ex-
pressly recognized. When James, as president of the 
council, briefly announced the judgment of the apostles, 
he assigned as a reason for the brevity of the letter 
which was proposed to be written to the Gentiles, the 
fact that in ev ry city the books of Moses were read in 
the synagogues every Sabbath day. Acts 15 : 19-21. 
This shows: (1) That the only weekly Sabbath known to 
the apostles at the time of this council, A. D. 52, was the 
seventh day. (2) That the converted Gentiles were ac-
customed to hear the reading of the books of Moses in 
the synagogue on the Sabbath. (3) That the sanctifica-
tion of the first day was unknown to the apostles in A. D. 
52, and when this council was dissolved, the last oppor-
tunity for the apostles to sanctify the day by one united 
act, was gone forever, for they were never all assembled 
afterward. 
We have a remarkable reference to the Sabbath in 
Acts 16. When Paul arrived at Philippi he found that 
a certain number of devout Gentiles were accustomed 
to meet for prayer on the Sabbath at the side of the 
river. Verse 13. He united with them in worship, and 
from this commencement arose the church of Philippi. 
f they were not keeping the right day it was the duty 
of Paul to tell them that the first day had been sancti-
fied in the place of the seventh; but he certainly told 
them nothing of the kind, and the reason is evident: he 
could not do it and speak the truth. �J. N. A. 
Miracles—Do They Now Exist? 
OF late, this question has occupied quite a prominent 
place in religious journals, but none of them have dis-
posed of it in so few words as the Christian at Work. 
We give its remarks on the subject, together with the 
question which called them out:— 
If the age of miracles is not passed, can the sick still 
be healed by faith and prayer ? And are such cures now 
wrought ? If miracles are not to be looked for, how are 
the remarkable cases of sudden healing, called faith 
cures,' to be accounted for ? or are they not cases of sud-
den healing ?"—TV at eh- Tow er . 
" The age of miracles is past; the modern faith cures' 
can all be explained by Psychology, just as bread pills 
have effected like wonderful cures. Miracles are some-
thing more than preternatural events,—they are super-
natural occurrences sent to authenticate the divine char-
acter of a messenger. That is the touchstone of every 
miracle related between the covers of the Bible." 
When any question is thus arbitrarily answered, it is 
an evidence either that it has been so thoroughly can- 
vassed previously that the answer is self-evident, or else 
that the one who answers the question has no argument 
except his dogmatic assertion. We think it can be shown 
that the latter is true in this instance. 
It is a sad fact that the answer given above voices the 
sentiment of a large portion of the religious world of 
to-day. A sad fact, because it is only the stepping-stone 
to a disbelief in the inspiration of the Bible, and the 
divinity of Christ. The rank infidel claims, with equal 
reason, that such things as miracles never existed. In-
deed, if we deny that miraculous cures may be effected 
now, we virtually do deny that they were ever performed. 
No one now living ever saw any of the miracles that are 
recorded in the Bible. We accept them on the authority 
of that book. The Bible has ample evidence in itself 
that it is an inspired book, and we are bound to accept 
its statements as the truth. We therefore believe that 
miracles were really performed by Christ, and by the 
apostles and prophets. But the same book upon which 
we rely for our information in regard to miracles in the 
past, assures us that they will occur. See Mark 16 :17, 
18; James 5 :14, 15. Why should we accept the state-
ment of the Bible in one place, and disbelieve it in an- 
other ? 
" Miracles," it is said, " are supernatural occurrences 
sent to authenticate the divine character of a messenger." 
But it is well to remember that none of Christ's miracles 
seem to have been performed for this purpose. There is 
nothing forced or unnatural about them. There was 
260 �
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. �VOL. 8, No. 22. )poorj 
before quoted, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are 
not consumed." 
But there is still stronger evidence that the healing 
of diseases and the forgiveness of sins are co-existent, 
and it is given by our Lord himself. Read the account 
of the healing of the man sick of the palsy, as recorded 
in Matt. 9 :1-8, also in Mark 3 :1-12, and Luke 5 :18-
26. When Jesus saw the faith of the sick man and his 
attendants, he said to him: " Son, be of good cheer; thy 
sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes 
said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And 
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye 
evil in your hearts ? For whether is easier, to say, Thy 
sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk ? But 
that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on 
earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the 
palsy), Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 
And he arose, and departed to his house." Here we 
have the power to heal the sick given as an evidence of 
the power to forgive sins. " Whether is easier?" Both 
are entirely beyond the comprehension of man. Sin is 
disease of the soul, as sickness is of the body. Sickness 
and death are but the result of sin (Rom. 5 :12), and 
God alone can save from both. In the future state, 
when all sin is forever done away, we are told that 
" there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor cry-
ing, neither shall there be any more pain;" and it is 
said that the inhabitant of that country shall not say 
" I am sick." Now since God, in his infinite mercy, is 
pleased to forgive us our sins, if we but comply with the 
conditions, and give us, even here, foretastes of the 
heavenly glory, is it not reasonable that he should at 
times relieve the pain which his followers suffer ? Add 
to this the many plain declarations in the Bible, and 
who can doubt it ? That there are many pretended 
cures, and many that are simply imaginary, cannot be 
denied, but to say that all " faith cures " are such, is to 
play into the hands of infidels. 
The Bible itself is the best evidence that it is the 
word of God, because it is always consistent with itself, 
The different parts have so close a relation that they 
cannot be separated. The man who begins to doubt 
any portion of it, is in danger of disbelieving the whole. 
If we let one point go, and hold to our unbelief, the rest 
must surely follow. There are many things in the word 
of God that are " hard to be understood," and we cannot 
hope to know how God can perform his works; but it is 
foolish and wicked to reject and deny all that we can- 
not understand. Rather let us say with the psalmist: 
" Thy word is true from the beginning; and everyone of 
thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." 
THE spring term of our school closes two weeks from 
next Thursday. After a vacation of six weeks the fall 
term begins. Both teachers and students feel that this 
term has been a decided success. The latter are deeply 
interested in their studies, and much attached to the 
school. Thirty-eight have been enrolled thus far. 
There is no doubt that the attendance next fall will 
be large. We shall be disappointed if there are not 
sixty or seventy at the opening. Quite a number out-
side the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists from Healds-
burg and vicinity, have expressed their determination 
to attend. 
All who expect to attend next fall should make it a 
point to be on hand at the opening. Much instruction, 
of great importance to students, will be given during the 
first week, which will not be repeated during the term. 
For the benefit of young men and women who desire 
a special preparation for missionary work, Eld. Wag-
goner will deliver lectures upon Bible topics, and give 
instruction to classes in Bible and Church History. 
These lectures and class instruction will cover a period 
of about ten weeks. I am sure we would all be pleased 
if Eld. W. would give us through the SIGNS, as soon as 
convenient, a little more definite information concerning 
the object and character of this proposed course. Those 
who expect to attend this course will do well to come at 
the beginning of the term, even though the Bible in-
struction may not begin at that time. By so doing they 
will be able to devote more time to the study of the 
English language, and other branches of great impor-
tance to them, in preparation for their work. 
The interest in Bible study, during this term, has been 
all that could be desired. We believe that Heaven is 
blessing the efforts in this direction, to the salvation of 
always a want to be supplied, some distress to be re. 
lieved. All of Christ's miracles of healing were done 
as though they were the natural service of one who sees 
suffering, and puts forth his power to alleviate it. The 
idea of the pity and compassion of Christ is the most 
prominent in all his miracles. It is true that these 
miracles attested his divinity, and constrained the peo-
ple to say " That God hath visited his people," yet no- 
where does the humanity of Christ appear more plainly 
than in his contact with the afflicted. At the tomb of 
Lazarus he wept; he had compassion on the widow of 
Nain, and on the multitudes who were ready to perish 
through hunger and fatigue. He " went about doing 
good," not with parade and ceremony, as though to call 
attention to himself, but as one whose compassionate 
nature was touched by the sight of pain. Now we can-
not believe that Jesus is any less tender and compas- 
sionate now than when he was on earth. Although we 
cannot see him with our eyes, he is as truly present, 
"beholding the evil and the good," as when he walked 
with man; we read that he is " touched with the feeling 
of our infirmities," and that he cares for us. We might 
reasonably expect, then, that his power would at times 
be put forth to help his creatures, even if we had not 
been assured that such would be the case. 
But what is a miracle? It is simply a wonder, a 
wonderful thing. Then the fact that man, frail as he 
is, exists at all, is a standing miracle. David praised 
God because he was " fearfully and wonderfully made," 
and Jeremiah felt that " it is of the Lord's mercies that 
we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.' 
No one could, by his own power, keep himself alive for 
a single moment. No man can create even the tiniest 
blade of grass, although he may know the elements 
which compose it, nor can he understand how it could 
be made to grow. The whole creation is a constant 
proof of the power of God continually exerted. Why' 
then, should we limit his power ? If God is constantly 
performing miracles of one kind, why may he not per-
form others ? 
But there is still another point to consider. In Ps• 
103 :2, 3, we read: "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and 
forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine in-
iquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeeteth 
thy life from destruction." Here we have the forgive-
ness of sins, and the healing of diseases placed together, 
as two things for which to be thankful. Whoever will 
seriously consider the terrible condition of man in a 
fallen state, cannot but be convinced that the work of 
man's redemption, the plan by which his sins may be 
constantly forgiven, is one of the greatest miracles that 
can be conceived. Now that Christ forgives sins, no 
Christian can deny. This is the good news which the 
gospel brings to man. If this were not true, the gospel 
would cease to be a gospel. But the psalmist carries the 
idea that the healing of diseases belongs to God as well 
as the forgiveness of sins, and it must be that he does 
'heal diseases, or there would be no occasion for thanking 
him for it. And there is no intimation that the work 
of healing diseases should cease before the work of for-
giving sins ceased. 
If we study the New Testament, we shall find this fact 
still more clearly taught. Read the plain testimony in 
James 5 :14, 15: " Is any sick among you? let him call 
for the elders of the church; and let them pray over 
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 
and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord 
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they 
shall be forgiven him." There is no guess-work about 
this. It is a simple declaration of what shall be if cer-
tain conditions are complied with. It is very common 
to ignore this passage, or explain it away, claiming that 
it does not mean exactly what it says. But if we so dis_ 
pose of the first part, we must treat the second in like 
manner, and claim that sins are not actually forgiven. 
Both statements are equally emphatic. There are many 
who can testify to the fact that God does forgive sins; 
and witnesses of his healing power are not few. Those 
who are disposed to cavil, will say that God does not 
heal all the diseases even of those who profess that their 
sins have been forgiven, for if he did, none would die 
To this we can answer that man is not promised immu-
nity from death. " It is appointed unto men once to 
die," and this without reference to whether they are 
good or bad. Immortality is conferred upon God's peo-
ple only at the resurrection. See 1 Cor. 15 : 51-51. But 
the fact remains that men are healed by the power of 
God, when human power utterly fails. It is God that 
keeps us alive, and it is he that heals all diseases. As 
souls. The students take a greater delight in their 
Bible study than in any other branch they have. Their 
hearts are tender, and they seem eager and hungry for 
spiritual instruction. There is no listlessness or inat-
tention in the classes, but a spirit of earnest inquiry. 
To-day has been a profitable Sabbath for the Healds-
burg Church. At the close of the usual social meeting, 
an invitation was given to the youth to come forward 
for prayers. About thirty came forward without a 
moment's delay. There appeared to be a hungering 
among them for God and his blessing. Nearly all in 
the house were affected to tears when they beheld these 
youths so eager to seek God. In the afternoon several 
of these students held a prayer-meeting in a neighboring 
grove. 
We all feel that the Lord is ready to work for the 
youth who shall assemble here to attend the school, and 
that rich blessings are in store for the Healdsburg 
Church, if they are faithful to their own souls and to 
the souls of those brought under their influence. May 
God's spirit walk among us and prepare the way. 
May 27, 1882. �
S. BROWNSBERGER. 
Zite �
n ar p. 
Extracts from Letters. 
WE give this week a few extracts from letters 
received by members of the Oakland missionary 
society. We trust that they will serve as an 
incentive to others to persevere in the good work. 
A lady in the East, eighty years of age, writes 
that for a few months, some unknown friend has 
been sending her the SIGNS. She has read it 
carefully, thinks the arguments on the Sabbath 
question are sound, and has come out, in spite of 
opposition, to keep it. She has been a believer in 
the second advent for several years. 
A gentleman writes from the South: " It has 
been exceedingly kind in you to send me a copy 
of your paper every week. I must say it has 
been a great comfort to me. I think it is a paper 
that all should read. I inclose $1.50 to have it 
continued, as my friends, as well as myself, are 
anxious to have such a religious paper." 
Another writes: " I am very thankful for your 
interest in my welfare. The SIGNS is a great 
comfort to myself and family, and to others 
around. One man, a Baptist minister, borrows 
the paper to read. If you like, I would suggest 
that you mail him a copy. I am pleased with 
everything contained in the SIGNS, and especially 
with the temperance part." 
A gentleman writes from Alabama: " I received 
your kilid favor of recent date, and in reply must 
thank you for past favors in sending me your 
valuable paper. I can assure you it has been a 
most welcome visitor, and I don't suppose there 
is a copy goes from your press, that is read more 
than the copy sent to me. I have every copy 
you have sent me on file, and they are pretty well 
worn, I assure you. I read it, and let my neigh-
bors read it. I shall be thankful for any reading 
matter you send me. I send you the names of 
some who will be glad to get the paper." 
Another writes from the East: " I have received 
seven copies of the SIGNS, and so far I am very 
well pleased with it. I had hoped to make up a 
club to send you, but have not had spare time. 
Inclosed you will find $2.10 for SIGNS and pre-
mium." 
A gentleman writing from the South, says: I 
can assure you of my appreciation of the SIGNS OF 
THE TIMES. I esteem it, as it presents the truths 
of the Bible so plainly. The advice to parents, 
and the temperance pieces of the paper, are so 
good. I am persuaded that any candid person, 
who loves the truth, and desires that light may 
appear to those whose minds are darkened by 
self-indulgence, intemperance, and dress, must 
appreciate it. Its visits have been pleasant, and 
I hope profitable. I will be much pleased to re-
ceive any other reading matter you may desire to 
send." 
Another writes from North Carolina: " I have 
found the SIGNS to be welcome visitors � 
Dear brother, I want you by the 'Lord's help, to 
spread the truths of your paper all over the land, 
for I believe the Lord is soon to come, and I want 
the truth known. I request your prayers for me; 
all my family are angry with me because I own 
the truth. Pray that I may be faithful." He 
gives the names of others who wish to read the 
paper. 
E. J. W. 
Academy Items. 
Girls of the better classes are not expected to 
go beyond the doorway after they are ten years 
old. One lady is held up as a model, because she 
never even went near a window to look out. This 
custom is now observed to some extent in Foochow. 
The little daughters of wealthy families, who used 
to visit Miss Safford, come no longer, nor do they 
play around their front doors. She inquired for 
them, and was told, "They are too old to go out 
now, it is not proper." "1 was not allowed to go 
to the front door during my husband's life-time," 
said a mandarin's widow. 
The amusements of the wealthier women con-
sist- chiefly of smoking, gossiping, card-playing, 
and fancy work, while some few use musical 
instruments. They make occasional visits to fe-
male relatives. Perhaps an afternoon jaunt is 
allowed, once in a great while, to some pleasure 
garden. Of course they cannot walk thither with 
their deformed and weakened feet; they must ride 
in the palanquin, which has the merit of screening 
them from sight. Shall we not come to the rescue 
of these poor souls without God and without 
hope ?—Missionary Herald. 
Zrmixtrante. 
The Little Shoes Did It 
JUNE 8, 1882. �
THE SIGNS OF THE TIM �
261 
Again, another one writes: " Inclosed you will �
Chinese books for women are mostly stories of 
find one dollar, to pay for the SIGNS for what ancient discreet heroines, or "Rules of Propriety." 
time you have been sending it. I think I can In these books, industry and reverence for parents 
soon raise a' club to send you. I can hardly get are commended, but so is suicide. Devotion to a 
a chance to read the papers, before somebody will husband's memory is enjoined, and widows are 
take them to read. If you will send me some of entreated to disfigure themselves by cutting off 
your small tracts, with the price, I will send the their ears and noses, rather than marry a second 
pay for them." He also gives a long list of names, time. 
to whom he wishes papers sent, and also tracts As to the number who read, Miss Safford says 
on the Soon Coming of Christ, The Judgment, that she kept for some months a carefully-written 
State of the Dead, etc. �
record of all the women who could read, within a 
All these testimonies are an evidence to us that given number. Out of eight hundred there were 
the Lord is preparing the hearts of people to re- only eight who could read at all. Of the eight 
ceive his truth. May we all walk in the light, only too could read well, and of the two, the best 
and be ready to improve the opportunities for reader did not understand the meaning of the 
spreading the truth, as God opens the way. �
classics, though she knew the characters very 
well. Of course Chinese girls differ in capacity 
as other girls do, but their standard of education 
has left them as a whole in a low and dull mental 
condition. In one of the Methodist mission 
schools the girls said that Moses created the 
world, Adam was the true God, and Pilate was 
an apostle. On the other hand, Miss Porter, who 
reports this, found in a tour through villages south 
of Pekin, a girl who had read the catechism and 
the whole New Testament. She bad asked help 
of any one who could tell her the characters, and 
studied her lessons by night, after the family had 
retired and the house was quiet. She had read 
the New Testament till she had become familiar 
with it, and above all had learned to love it and 
to treasure special portions. " She came to my 
room alone one night, and read passage after pas-
sage, giving with each selection some reason why 
she enjoyed it. Her eyes filled while reading of 
the crucifixion, and she soon stopped, saying she 
could not read that without crying. Such prog-
ress on the part of the few," says Miss Porter, 
" strengthened hope for all and enlarged our vis-
ion of the whole work among the women." 
A YOUNG man who had been reclaimed from 
the vice of intemperance was called upon to tell 
how he was led to give up drinking. He arose, 
but looked for a moment very confused. All he 
could say was: "The little shoes, they did it." 
With a thick voice, as if his heart was in his 
throat, he kept repeating this. There was a stare 
of perplexity on every face, and at length some 
thoughtless young people began to titter. The 
man, in all his embarrassment, heard the sound, 
and rallied at once. The light came into his eyes 
with a flash; he drew himself up, and the choking 
went from his throat. " Yes, friends," he said, 
in a voice that cut its way clear as a deep-toned 
bell, " whatever you may think of it, I've told 
you the truth—the little shoes did it. I was a 
brute and a fool; strong drink had made me both, 
and starved me into the bargain. I suffered—I 
deserved to suffer; but I did not suffer alone—no 
man does who has a wife and children—for the 
women get the worst share. But I am no speaker 
to enlarge on that; I'll stick to the little shoes I 
saw one night when I was all but done for—the 
saloon-keeper's child holding out her feet to her 
father to look at her fine new shoes. It was a 
simple thing4but, my friends, no fist ever struck 
Girls in China. 
Oust young people may like to hear about the 
real condition of girls in China to-day. Perhaps 
they suppose that the heathenish customs, such 
as binding the feet of girls, and of mutilating or 
selling them, have passed away in the light of 
these latter days. But China still sits in great 
darkness. 
A few months ago there lived near Swatow, a 
girl of thirteen, named A Na. Her father and 
two married sisters were Christians, while her 
mother remained a heathen. One sister was 
at the English Presbyterian Mission School at 
Swatow. She was taken sick there, and A Na 
was sent for to take care of her. So A Na came, 
and went about her duties with a pleasant, cheer-
ful face, though the missionaries soon found that 
she had great trials. Her mother was determined 
to bind her feet, as nearly all the women in the 
village where she lives have the little misshapen 
feet produced by binding them tightly in early 
life. It is a torturing process, and the mission- 
aries and Chinese converts set their faces against 
it as unchristian. Poor A Na declared that she 
would riot submit to it, and that she wished to 
follow her father, and do as a Christian should. 
However, her mother consulted a fortune teller, 
and he fixed upon the twenty-seventh day of the 
twelfth moon as a lucky day to begin the binding. 
At that time she sent for A Na, who refused to go. 
The mother then came herself, but when A Na 
saw her, she threw herself into the matron's arms, 
and clung to her till she was pulled away by main 
force. Her mother dragged her down stairs, 
scolding and raving as only a heathen woman 
can. So the poor child was carried off, weeping 
bitterly as she went. Her last words to her sis-
ter, were, " My heart is fixed. I will be a Chris-
tian, and will not have my feet bound." 
The Peking Gazette of March 15, in the year 
of grace, 1881, states that the Governor-General 
of Sze-chuen asks imperial honors for a girl of 
eighteen who starved herself to death, after the 
burial of her betrothed. He also asks honors for 
other females who have " displayed their filial 
piety by mutilating themselves." The honors 
were granted. 
Miss Safford, of Foochow, writing for Woman's 
Work in China, says that parents do now sell their 
daughters, and husbands their wives. When a 
man sells his wife, the sale paper is stamped by 
the woman herself. The palm of her hand is 
smeared with ink, and makes on the paper a full, 
clear mark that could not be obtained without 
her consent. A paper thus attested proves that 
the woman was not stolen from her husband. 
me such a blow as those little new shoes. They 
kicked reason into me. What reason had I to 
clothe others with fineries, and provide not even 
coarse clothing for my own, but let them go bare ? 
And there outside was my shivering wife, and 
blue, chilled child on a Christmas Eve. I took 
hold of my little one with a grip, and saw her 
feet. Men! fathers! if the little shoes smote me, 
how must the feet have smote me ? I put them, 
cold as ice, to my breast; and they pierced me 
through. Yes, the little feet walked right into 
my heart, and away walked my selfishness. I 
had a trifle of money left; I bought a loaf of 
bread, and then a pair of shoes. I never tasted 
anything but a bit of bread all the next day; and 
I went to work like a man on Monday, and from 
that day I have spent no more money at the 
public house. That's all I have got to say—it 
was the little shoes that did it." 
The Smoker. 
THE smoker who is wedded to the habit, can-
not readily understand why every one else does 
not like the odor. But the fact is patent that 
the scent of tobacco is not only disagreeable to 
some persons, but also absolutely poisonous. It 
does not mend the matter to say that this is mere 
prejudice or weakness. You have no right to 
make others uncomfortable for your own satis-
faction. No gentleman will thrust himself in close 
proximity to ladies, with his coat saturated with 
stale smoke. No gentleman will pass through a 
car carrying a lighted cigar in his hand, and leav-
ing a trail of offensive smoke behind him. No 
gentleman will get in a stage carrying a smold-
ering stump in his hand, and keep it there until 
it smolders out and emits a more hideous stench 
than before. No gentleman will puff out his costly 
smoke on the platform of the horse-car, when the 
passengers inside cannot escape some portions of 
the fumes. But you can find " men " doing these 
things every day in the week.—Set. 
Growth of Vice. 
" TWENTY years ago, the young man who drank 
was the exception; now the young man who does 
not drink is the rarity. We are accustomed to 
blame everything on 'the war,' and perhaps the 
war will serve as a reason in this case. Certainly 
it was about that time or shortly after that lager 
beer began to grow in popularity, and young men 
and boys began to cultivate a fondness for it, and 
thereby to acquire a taste for alcoholic liquors of 
all kinds. The cigarette vice followed to reinforce 
and stimulate the drinking habit, until now a boy 
is scarcely in his teens before he begins to smoke 
his nasty cigarette, and drink his sophisticated 
beer and bad whisky; and gangs of youths who 
ought to be at school or serving an apprenticeship 
to some honest calling, go swaggering about the 
streets, and in and out of taverns, and are not 
ashamed to greet their mothers with their breath 
reeking with smoke and alcohol."—The Philadel-
phia Times. 
A Drunkard's Last Will. 
I DIE a wretched sinner, and I leave to the 
world a worthless reputation, a wicked example, 
and a memory that is only fit to perish. I leave 
to my parents sorrow and bitterness of soul all 
the days of their lives. I leave to my brothers 
and sisters shame and grief, and the reproach of 
their acquaintances. I leave my wife widowed 
and heart-broken, and a life of lonely struggling 
with want and suffering. I leave my children a 
tainted name, and a ruined position, a pitiful 
ignorance, and the mortifying recollection of a 
father, who, by his life, disgraced humanity, and 
at his premature death joined the great company 
of those who are never to enter the kingdom of 
God.—Selected. 
Ukiah, California. 
BEGAN meetings in this place Friday evening, 
May 26. Have given eight discourses to date. 
Audiences have been quite good, notwithstanding 
another protracted meeting is being held at the 
Disciple Church, by Elder John McCorkle, who 
commenced the next evening after we began. 
We have distributed quite a number of tracts and 
papers, and sold some books. There seems to be 
considerable interest manifested. There have 
been more invitations to visit than we have been 
able to fill. We are endeavoring to do what we 
can in this line. We feel of good courage, and 
trust by the blessing of God to turn many from 
darkness to the light of the present truth, and 
faithfully warn all of the approaching day of the 
Lord. 
Pray that the Lord's will may be accomplished 
for the people here. �
J. D. RICE. 
June 2, 1882. �
E. A. BRIGGS. 
L. A. SCOTT. 
IF all drinking should cease, jails could be 
rented for warerooms, and poor-houses would 
have to advertise for boarders. It is true that 
the poor saloonists and sample-room keepers 
would have a hard time, but it would be over-
balanced by the good time that would come to 
millions of homes where would be heard loving 
voices instead of curses and blows, and sobs of 
wives and children.—Inter-Ocean. 
A QUACK says of his cough balsam: " Thousands 
have tried it, and will never use any other." Too 
true. 
But if a scolding woman is so disgraceful and 
discordant a factor in a family, what shall be 
said of a scolding man? The man who, because 
business has gone wrong, or customers have 
deceived him, or employers have cheated him, 
comes home and vents irritability on his family, 
is wholly inexcusable. It is amusing to notice 
how a scolding man displays, in an exaggerated 
form, the very weaknesses and follies that are 
usually charged more particularly to women. 
He, too, will generalize from one fact in a most 
womanish way. If the room is too warm, he 
will declare that it is always like an oven; if it 
is too cold, he asserts that his wife never has 
enough fuel put in the fire; if the table is not up 
to the standard, he will wonder why he can never 
get a decent meal at home; if the children are 
fretful, they are the crossest, worst-trained chil- 
dren ever known; if the servants make a mistake, 
the whole race of servants are denounced, and 
the denunciation is usually wound up with the 
declaration that women are not fit to manage ser- 
vants anyway, and that their insubordination 
and failures are all owing to women's incompe- 
tency to train and govern them. A man, by a 
single evening's scolding, can disseminate enough 
discomfort and irritability through a household 
to make everybody uncomfortable for a week. 
Everywhere, and under all circumstances, scold-
ing has this distinguishing characteristic; it is in- 
tended to wound somebody, to hurt somebody, to 
make somebody uncomfortable, not with a reme-
dial design, but simply as a relief to an inward 
personal irritation. Its effect on family life is like 
throwing sand into a delicate machine; it causes 
all the parts to grate upon each other; it does no 
good, but only evil, and that continually. 
The scold, whether man or woman, in family 
or social life, in the church or in the State, for 
the same characteristic distinguishes scolding 
everywhere, is an unmitigated nuisance.—Mrs. 
H. E. Starrett, in Western Magazine. 
There'll be Room in Heaven. 
262 �
TH F SIGNS OF TH �
i-11 TIMES. �
VoL. 8, No. 22. 
on them. But, at all events, scolding only makes 
matters worse, not better. 
Scolding is, in fact, the weak expedient, either 
of a character too weak to energetically remedy 
or remove evils, or it is the weapon and defense 
of the inferior. 
"For every evil under the sun 
There is a remedy or there's none; 
If there is a remedy, find it, 
If there is not, never mind it." 
Hero is a husband who has certain habits 
which irritate and discommode his wife. She 
revenges herself by scolding, and by declaring 
that he always does such things; that all men 
are naturally selfish and mean ; and more words 
to the same effect, which is irritation only. Noth-
ing could be more derogatory to a wife's influence 
than such a course. She should decide either to 
force an issue by firmness and determination, 
and compel a respect for her rights and wishes 
in family matters, or she should make up her 
mind to overlook such peculiarities, and arrange 
her life accordingly. Either she must cure the 
evil or adapt herself to it, but let her not on any 
account degrade herself to scold about it. 
SHE was a little, old woman, very plainly dressed 
in black bombazine that had seen much careful 
wear, and her bonnet was very old-fashioned, 
and people stared at her tottering up the isle of 
the grand church, evidently bent on securing one 
of the best seats, for a great man preached on 
that day, and the house was filled with splendidly 
dressed people who had heard of the fame of the 
preacher, of his learning, his intellect and good-
ness, and they wondered at the presumption of 
the poor old woman. She must have been in her 
dotage, for she picked out the pew of the richest 
and proudest member of the church, and took a 
seat. The three ladies who were seated there, 
beckoned to the sexton, who bent over the in-
truder and whispered something, but she was 
hard of hearing, and smiled a little withered 
smile, as she said, gently:— 
Oh, I'm quite comfortable here—quite com-
fortable." 
" But you are not wanted here," said the sex-
ton, pompously; " there is not room. Come with 
me, my good woman; I will see that you have a 
seat." 
" Not room," said the old woman, looking at 
her old sunken proportions, and then at the fine 
Tlite bone Tirrie. 
IS IT WORTH WHILE ? 
Is rr worth while to jostle a brother, 
Bearing his load on the rough road of life ? 
Is it worth while that we jeer at each other—
In blackness of heart we war to the knife ? 
God pity us all in our pitiful strife. 
God pity us all as we jostle each other; 
God pardon us all for the triumph we feel 
When a fellow goes down with his load on the heather, 
Pierced to the heart. Words are keener than steel, 
And mightier far for woe and for weal. 
Were it not well this brief little journey, 
On over the Isthmus down into the tide, 
We give him a fish instead of a serpent, 
Ere folding the hands to be and abide 
Forever and aye in dust at his side? 
Look at the roses saluting each other; 
Look at the herds all at peace on the plain— 
Man and man only, makes war on his brother. 
And laughs in his heart at his peril and pain—
Shunned by the beasts that go down on the plain. 
Is it worth while that we battle to humble 
Some poor fellow down into the dust ? 
God pity us all ! Time soon will tumble 
All of us together, like leaves in a gust, 
Humbled, indeed, down into the dust. 
Scolding. 
No WOMAN who would retain her true ascend-
ancy in her family can afford to scold. It is the 
most undignified, belittling, disenchanting, self-
disrespecting performance that any one can 
engage in at any time, or under any circum-
stances, but it is especially so in the case of a 
mother and housekeeper. 
Scolding may be distinguished from the giving 
of reproof, for which there is often occasion in 
the best-regulated families, by its being an ex-
pression of personal irritability, and by the in-
tended effect of producing irritation and dis-
comfort on those around. Its most frequent 
form of expression is a sort of generalization 
which is usually false, from some difficulty which 
is irremediable except by specific action. " You 
children are the most disorderly creatures I have 
seen; you leave your hats ono place and your 
books another, and keep me forever picking up 
after you," says the petulant mother. " If you 
don't pick up your things better I will —," and 
here follow the ineffectual threats of the scolding 
mood. The words are worse than thrown away; 
they do positive harm. The child who is at fault 
on the occasion, escapes conviction, through the 
general accusation and blame thrown upon all, 
while the children who are not at fault are irri-
tated, and resent the injustice. A moment's 
reflection would convince a sensible mother that 
such petulant, useless complaint, would effect no 
good; but this is really not her object. She feels 
uncomfortable, discommoded, and irritated, and 
disposed to make those around feel the effects 
of her irritability, by making them sharers in 
her discomfort. The true way to remedy dis-
order among children, is kindly, but firmly, to 
compel each one to pick up and put away and 
take care of his own things. To accomplish this 
may often require severe reproof, and even pun-
ishment, but it should be administered individ-
ually, and, if possible, privately, with tone and 
manner free from personal irritation, and with 
especial care not to blame disorder on those who 
are not responsible for it. 
So of the scores and hundreds of occasions in 
family life, which try the temper of the mistress. 
If the cook is careless, and sets the meals on the 
table improperly prepared, how useless, how dis-
agreeable, for the mistress of the house to utter 
a general tirade against cooks, during the progress 
of the meal. How worse than useless afterward 
for her to tell the cook that, as a class, they are 
worthless, wasteful, and incompetent; that they 
don't earn their wages, and to indulge in harsh 
epithets and threats. There is no quicker way 
to lose the respect of servants and to demoralize 
them, than to scold at them in a general way 
when irritated. All faults charged should be 
specifically named, and the requirement made 
positive that such faults must be remedied. This 
is the only way consistent with the dignity of a 
mistress, and it is too often rendered nugatory 
by the fact that mistresses are not in a position 
to present an alternative. They are more de-
pendent upon servants in our present condition 
of household service, than servants are dependent 
ladies. " Why, I'm not crowded a bit. I rode 
ten miles to hear the sermon to-day, because—" 
But here the sexton took her by the arm and 
shook her roughly in a polite, underhand way, 
and then she took the hint. Her faded old eyes 
filled with tears, her chin quivered; but she arose 
meekly and left the pew. Turning quietly to the 
ladies, who were spreading their rich dresses over 
the space she had left vacant, she said, gently:—
" I hope, my dears, there'll be room in Heaven 
for us all." 
Then she followed the pompous sexton to the 
rear of the church, where in the last pew she was 
seated between a threadbare girl and a shabby 
old man. 
" She must be crazy," said one of the ladies in 
the pew which she had first occupied. " What 
can an ignorant old woman like her want to hear 
Dr. — preach for! She would not be able to 
understand a word he said." 
" Those people are so persistent! 
her forcing herself into our pew. 
voluntary lovely! There's Dr. — 
of the vestry. Isn't he grand! " 
" Splendid! What a stately man. You know 
he has promised to dine with us while he is here." 
He was a commanding looking man, and as the 
organ voluntary stopped, and he looked over the 
great crowd of worshipers gathered in the vast 
church, he seemed to scan every face. His hand 
was on the Bible, when suddenly he leaned ever 
the reading-desk and beckoned to the sexton, 
who obsequiously mounted the steps to receive a 
mysterious message. And then the three ladies 
in the grand pow were electrified to see him re-
trace his way the whole length of the church, to 
return with the old woman, whom he placed in 
the front pew of all, its other occupants making 
willing room for her. The great preacher looked 
at her with a smile of recognition, and then the 
service proceeded, and he preached a sermon that 
struck fire from every heart. 
" Who was she ? " asked the ladies who could 
not make room for her, as they passed the sexton 
at the door. 
"The preacher's mother," answered that func-
tionary in an injured tone. 
" Why didn't she look like a Christian, if she 
expected to sit in the front pews? I hate to be 
imposed on."—Selected. 
The Lost Dinner. 
Ix the town of Newcastle there was a man who 
went by the name of " Patient Joe," because, if 
grief came to him, he would say, "It's all for the 
best. Those who love God shall find that all 
things work together for good." 
If things went well with him, Joe praised God; 
if things went ill with him, he would praise God 
still, and say, " God knows best what is for my 
good. We must not judge things by this life 
alone. There's a life to come after this, and 
things that may not seem good for us here, may 
be good for us there." 
In the coal pit where Joe worked, some of the 
men would jeer and laugh at him when he said, 
"It's all for the best." There was a man by the 
name of Tim, who would miss no chance to laugh 
at Joe. 
One day, as Tim and Joe were getting ready to 
go down into the deep pit, Joe, who had brought 
his dinner of beef and bread with him, laid it on 
the ground for a moment. Before he could take 
it up, a hungry dog seized it and ran off. 
" Ha! ha!" cried Tim, " that's all for the best, is 
it, man? Now stick to thy creed, and say Yes." 
" Well, 1 do say ' Yes," said Joe; " but as I 
must eat, it is my duty to try to get back my 
dinner. If I get it back it will be all for the best, 
and even if I do not get it back, why, it will be 
for the best just the same. God is so great that 
he can rule the smallest things as well as the 
largest." 
Joe ran after the dog, and Tim, with a loud 
laugh and an oath, went down into the pit. Joe 
ran a long way, but could not catch the dog. At 
last he gave up the chase, and came back to the 
mine, thinking to himself that the men would all 
have a good laugh at him. But he found them 
all pale with alarm and awe. 
"What a narrow escape you have had, Joe!" 
said one of them. "The pit has caved in, and 
poor Tim is killed. If that dog had not run off 
with your dinner, you would have gone down 
with Tim into the pit, and been killed, too." 
The idea of 
Isn't that 
coming out 
T
HIS is a most beautiful book for children of all ages, and 
a very 
VALUABLE HELP TO PRIMARY TEACHERS 
Of Sabbath-School Classes. 
The text is in Great Primer type, and is printed on heavy, 
calendared paper, making a large and elegant volume, 
royal octavo size, of 838 pages. 
While the Bible is a book for all, there are some parts of it which are 
as milk for babes, and some as strong meat for men. The publishers of 
the " Child's Bible" have endeavored to put in consecutive form such 
portions of the Holy Scripture as seem best adapted to the wants and 
capacities of childhood, in the words of the Bible text. And where the 
sense requires it, words and clauses have been inserted in brackets, 
sometimes as summaries of what has been omitted, and sometimes as 
connecting links. 
Believing that the youth should know at what cost the English Bible 
was won and preserved for them, there has been prefixed to this edition 
an account of the Sacred Scriptures from the time of thez origin to the 
present day, prominence being given to the struggle of the English 
Reformers for its translation into the English language. 
The numerous engravings were executed by the best artists of this 
country and of England and France. They will assist in interesting 
children in the text, and will aid in the instruction of those too young to 
read. 
Price, in Muslin, marbled edge, 85.00 I In Morocco, gilt edge, ..........00 
Address, �
PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal. 
BIBLE SANCTIFICATION; 
A CONTRAST OF 
TRUE AND FALSE THEORIES. 
ripHIS is a pamphlet of only 84 pages, but its value is not 
_IL to be judged by its size. It is just what its title indi-
cates: a faithful presentation of Bible truth on this important 
subject, and an exposure of the false theories prevailing in 
regard to it. Every believer in Bible truth should read it. 
Buy it, read it, and lend it to your neighbor. Price 10 cts. 
Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
THE NATURE AND TENDENCY OF 
MODERN SPIRITUALISM. 
BY ELD. J. H. WAGGONER. 
JUNE 8 1882. �THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. �
263 
Joe took off his hat, while his breast heaved, 
and his cheeks grew pale, and the tears came into 
his eyes. He looked up to heaven, but said not a 
word. 
-At the recent matriculation examination of the 
Calcutta University, eight women passed successfully, 
six of whom were natives of India. 
-Six attempts were made to burn the city of Vallejo, 
Cal., on the night of the 2nd inst. The fires were dis-
covered in time to prevent much damage. 
-The estimated reduction of the public debt for May 
is $10,000,000. The amount is less than usual, owing 
to the heavy pension payments during the month. 
-For lighting the new residence of W. H. Vanderbilt, 
in New York, it is stated that there are 2,000 gas-burn-
ers, supplied by about 15,000 feet, or nearly three miles 
of pipe. 
-A saloon-keeper at Hutchinson, Kan., was convicted 
under the prohibition law, June 3, and fined and sent 
to jail. This is the ninth successful prosecution in Reno 
County. 
-The office of the Southern Baptist, at Meriden, 
Miss., has been destroyed by fire a second time. The 
books were saved, but the type, furniture, and all stock 
was destroyed. 
-General Garabaldi died June 2, at his home in 
Caprera, Italy. He was seventy-five years old, and had 
been very feeble for a long time, but the immediate 
cause of his death was bronchitis. 
-The Andre monument, erected by Cyrus Field, at 
Tappan, N. Y. , has given way under the repeated attacks 
made upon it by defacers and relic hunters, and has 
fallen over on one side. 
Religious Notes. 
-There are 23,373 Baptist churches in the United 
States, with a total membership of 2,336,022. 
-The American Bible Society distributed over 100-
000 Bibles among immigrants during the last year. 
-About two and a half million copies of the Revised 
New Testament have been circulated thus far in Great 
Britain and India. 
-It is said that out of 2,500 persons who " confessed," 
under the efforts of Mr. George 0. Barnes, the Kentucky 
revivalist, less than 100 have joined any church. 
-The Independent says it thinks that " what is 
called infant baptism is nothing more than a consecra-
tion, and that it does not at all involve even a modified 
form of church membership." If this be the case, would 
it be amiss to inquire why those who receive a so-called 
baptism in infancy, are not allowed to be baptized when 
they arrive at years of discretion ? 
--General Buford, of Kentucky, is a church member, 
but is also noted for his love of fine horses and horse-
racing. This excited considerable remark. When asked 
by some one if he was going to leave the church, he re-
plied: "Only the puritans are against me. Christianity 
now, compared with Christianity one hundred years back, 
is like an electric light compared with a tallow candle." 
Who can imagine what it would be if time should con-
tinue a hundred years longer! 
-Every mention of converts from among the heathen, 
brings into prominent notice their liberality as com-
pared with that of other Christians. The Christian 
at Work says: Gray Cloud, a chief among the Dakota 
Indians, who was sentenced to be hung for his part in 
the outbreak of 1862, but was pardoned by President 
Lincoln, is now one of the most active Christian minis-
ters in that region. These Indian churches have a mem-
bership of eight hundred, with ten pastors. Their con-
tributions average one dollar a month from each indi-
vidual. 
-Dr. Barbour, of Yale College, recently preached a 
sermon from the text, " The Scripture cannot be broken," 
in which he uttered the following truth: " Our Lord 
does not ask us to spend our time and strength in de-
fending the Bible or apologizing for it. He has taken 
that upon himself; the gates of hell shall prevail against 
it never. But he does ask us to circulate it-to bear 
witness to it in our own lives. If we bear the testimony 
he will see to its preservation. Let our faith be calm 
in his part of the work; let our anxiety and activity be 
spent upon our own." 
-The Methodist Church South elected, May 16, five 
bishops; viz., Alpheus W. Wilson, of Baltimore, Mis-
sionary Secretary of the church; Atticus G. Haygood, 
D. D. , of Georgia; C. Granberry, D. D., Professor in the 
Vanderbilt University; the Rev. R. K. Hargrove, of 
Tennessee, and Linus Parker, of New Orleans. Dr. 
Haygood declined the position, believing that he could 
accomplish more good as a teacher. The Committee on 
Revivals recommended the insertion of a chapter in the 
Book of Discipline prohibiting promiscuous dancing, 
public or private, visiting the theater, opera, or circus. 
-Infant baptism practice does not show any better 
results as investigation is pursued. We have already 
recorded instances of no infant baptism in pedobaptist 
churches in this city. Now comes Philadelphia, and in 
that city three Presbyterian Churches, with an aggre-
gate membership of 979, show not a single infant bap-
tized in the year, and there are other churches that 
make a like showing. Indeed, the whole Northern Pres-
byterian Church, with nearly 600,000 members in 1881, 
presented only 17,500 infants for baptism, while the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, having only 345,000 mem-
bers in the States and Territories, baptized 45,000 infants. 
We are aware that figures can be made to lie, like 
sinners; but, like other sinners, they can also be made 
to tell the truth. And, if in these instances the numer-
als stoutly and persistently assert that infant baptism 
is on the decline, will any one accuse them of bearing 
false witness ?-Christian at Work. 
News and Notes: 
-The town of Willows, Colusa County, Cal., was 
almost entirely destroyed by fire, May 30. 
-Mr. James Vick, the well-known seedsman of Roch-
ester, N. Y. , died of pneumonia, May 16, aged sixty-
four years. 
-It is stated that owing to the strict enforcement of 
the gambling law in St. Louis, the gamblers of that city 
are flocking to Chicago. 
-The Chicago Journal of Commerce says that 
enough wooden shoes are worn to keep a large factory 
going at Green Bay, Wis. They are cut out of green 
bass-wood, smoked and dried like hams, and sold at 
thirty-five cents a pair. 
-Seven saloon-keepers of Elgin, Ill. ,have been fined 
to the amount of $2,804 damages, in behalf of Mrs. Sarah 
Naughton, for the death of her husband at the Fox 
River depot, while attempting to board a train when 
intoxicated. This is right. Let the responsibility of 
deaths by whisky rest where it belongs. 
-Frank James, the brother of the notorious Jesse, 
and his associate in crime, is now negotiating for pardon 
for his past offenses before he commits any more. The 
future course of the family is indicated by the grave 
assurance that his five-year-old son is " a remarkably 
good shot with a revolver." 
-May 31, the pump-column of the Alta mine, at Vir-
ginia City, Nev., broke, flooding the drift where the 
miners were at work. Seven men were thus imprisoned 
by the hot water. After three days' imprisonment they 
were all rescued, but two men who went to their relief 
in a boat, were killed by the foul air, 
-A manifesto has been issued stating that the Czar 
desires to celebrate his coronation by granting reforms, 
but is compelled to postpone the ceremony for a year, 
because of the impossibility of completing preparations 
earlier. He evidently considers that it is better to be a 
live emperor uncrowned, than to be crowned and die. 
-Dr. Wm. S. King, Surgeon United States Army, 
ims that the frequent movement of railway trains 
ds to diminish or prevent malarial diseases in local-
es where all the necessary conditions for the develop-
nt of malarial effects seem to be present. His theory is 
at the heated locomotives, by continually passing 
ough the infected districts, rarefy the air, and create 
onstant atmospheric disturbance, by inducing warm 
ward currents, such currents acting with the pure 
which rushes in from all directions, as agents in the 
persion or annihilation of the miasmatic influence. 
Obituarv. 
PRITCHARD.-Willie Arthur, son of R. A. and Fannie 
Pritchard, died in Oakland, Sunday morning, May 28, 
aged 2 years, 8 months, and 4 days. His last illness 
was very short, being caused by the breaking of an old 
abscess into the lung, Words of comfort and exhorta-
tion were spoken by Elder Van Horn, in the presence of 
a large number of sympathizing friends. �
E. J. W. 
OXFORD S. S. TEACHERS' BIBLES. 
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For sale at the Office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 
Oakland, Cal. 
ROYAL OCTAVO, 838 PAGES. �
285 ENGRAVINGS. 
THE PICTORIAL CHILD'S BIBLE. 
BEING A 
Consecutive Arrangement of the Narrative and other portions of 
the Old and New Testaments, 
In the words of the Authorized Version, embellished with 
NEARLY 300 FINE ENGRAVINGS AND MAPS 
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. 
DR. LYMAN BEECHER, while visiting Oxford Uni-
versity, on being told of the system of " coaching," 
by which students can pass examinations without 
any study, said: " A degree of B. A., then, does 
not mean anything." The reply was, " Oh, yes; 
it means that the young man has lived for three 
and a half years in the society of cultured gentle-
men, and has not behaved so badly as to be turned 
out." 
cl a 
ten 
iti 
me 
th 
tlir 
ac 
up 
air 
dis 
-Extensive strikes are now the order of the day in the 
East. Dispatches of June 1, stated that in Cincinnati 
all the mills but three had closed, and 15,000 men were 
out of employment. In Pittsburg, all the mills had shut 
clown. In Wheeling, W. Va. , all the nail mills stopped 
work, intending to remain closed until the situation 
�
I' �
changed. 
-Curtis, second mate of the ship Gatherer, has been 
convicted of brutality to seamen and sentenced to State 
Prison for six years. In the case of the captain, the 
jury disagreed twice, and he was discharged, although 
he was clearly responsible. The Judge, in discharging 
the prisoner, said that the inability to convict was owing 
to a defect in the law, which ought to be amended. 
-The records of the Police Department disclose 195 
cases reported as missing or having run away, forty 
five of whom were afterward found. Fully one-half cof 
this number were boys and girls who, having drunk in 
the inspiration derived from dime novels and other pro-
ductions of that character, ran away from home to seek 
fame and fortune.--Philadelphia Medical and Sur 
gical Review. 
-The tract of land in Dakota known as the " Turtle 
Mound " district, which has been closed hitherto by the 
claim of wandering bands of Chippewa Indians, has 
been opened to settlers, Secretary Teller having decided 
that the Indians' claim to it was invalid. The tract 
comprises 9,000,000 acres of the finest land in Dakota, 
and will doubtless cause an increased immigration to 
that Territory. 
-Bishop Gilmore has written a letter to be read in 
the Catholic Churches of his diocese in Massachusetts, 
excommunicating any Catholic lady who shall hereafter 
�
at �
any meeting of the Ladies' Branch of the Land 
League, or become a member thereof. The Bishop de-
nounces the League as calculated to make brawling 
politicians of women, and membership as incompatible 
with womanly modesty. 
Size �
x 7 x 11.) 
 
 
 
665. 
THIS is a thorough exposure of the system of spiritualism. The author 
has carefully studied the subject, and has given such copious extracts 
from• a large library of spiritualist publications, as to fully condemn them 
in their teachings and their practices, by their own testimony. It is also 
shown from the prophetic scriptures that spiritualism is one of the most 
impressive signs of the times. 184 pp. Price, 20 cents. 
Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal, 
261 �
THE SIGNS OF TH 
Vol,. 8, No. 22. 
Vitt �
irt.ns Lvi tIu 
OREGON, Salem, 
NORTHERN MICHIGAN, Saginaw, 
MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, 
DAKOTA, Parker, 
TEXAS, Waxahachie, 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, JUNE 8, 1882. 
Camp-Meetings. 
June 14-
" 14-20. 
" 21-27. 
June 29-July 4. 
July 21-31, 
IN order to facilitate the work, and that all our read-
ers may receive their paper in good season, we now go 
to press one day earlier than formerly. Let our friends 
who have matter for the paper send it as early in the 
week as possible. Appointments, reports, etc., should 
reach us not later than Sunday morning, to insure in-
sertion in that week's paper. 
A CARD from Sister Haskell, dated May 23, tells us 
that she had just received a telegram from Elder Has-
kell, from Falmouth, England, whither he had arrived 
safely. All the readers of the SIGNS will be glad to 
hear of his safe arrival, and will join us in praying that 
his journey may be successful, and that much good to 
the cause of God may result from it. We shall doubt-
less hear from Elder Haskell soon through the SIGNS. 
THE article from Professor Brownsberger entitled 
"Academy Items" should have appeared in last week's 
paper, but, unfortunately, it was delayed on the way, 
until too late. We are glad to hear such encouraging 
reports of the success of the school. It is one of the 
most important branches of our work, and must, with 
the blessing of God, contribute very much to the ad-
vancement of the cause on this coast. Let all the 
friends of the truth, then, give it their hearty support, 
and their earnest prayers. 
Upper Columbia Camp Ground. 
How "Salvation Is of the Jews.". 
AFTER a tiresome ride, the last night all night on the 
cars, we arrived on the ground Tuesday forenoon, May 30. 
The weather is now beautiful, though the season is late. 
We had to come thus early because of the time of the 
steamer leaving San Francisco. The brethren are fast 
putting the camp in order for the meeting, which com-
mences to-morrow. 
Without a moment's rest we engaged in preparing 
our manuscript for the SIGNS, in order that it may be 
returned to the steamer before it leaves Portland. The 
state of our health would not permit us to do more than 
to rough sketch a little on the passage. Though never 
sea-sick, we did not sit up much on our late trip on the 
ocean. 
Notwithstanding the increase in the number of Sab-
bath-keepers in Washington, it is not expected that we 
shall have as large an attendance as last year. This is 
not owing to any want of interest, but to the fact that 
the work of the year has mostly been for the north, and 
quite a number of families have moved from this part 
of the Territory to the north, too far for all to attend 
the camp-meeting. The present prospect is that the 
next one will have to be held from 80 to 100 miles north 
of this place. �
EDITOR. 
IT is often astonishing to see the conclusions which 
some persons are able to reach from given facts. Dr. S. 
H. Kellogg, of Alleghany City, Pa., Professor in the 
Western Theological Seminary, recently preached a 
sermon in San Francisco, from the text, " Salvation is 
of the Jews." In his sermon " he showed how the Jews 
are leading in educational matters, finance, and politics, 
while only forming a small percentage of the population 
of Austria, Hungary, and Germany, and how, by reason 
of the concentration of capital in their hands, they 
caused the distress in Silesia, Posen, and Roumania. 
The Jews' ascendency in politics in Italy, England, 
France, and Germany was also illustrated, from all 
which he argued, that modern Judaism has become a 
threatening and consuming fire, which, according to 
Scriptural predictions, is yet to work the salvation of 
the world and the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile.', 
OF the one hundred and sixty Presbyterian Churches 
in Texas, seventy are without pastors. 
"Constitutional Amendment." 
WE have noticed this book before, and an advertise-
ment of it may be found in our columns, but we think 
it is worthy of further notice. It is a book that every 
Seventh-day Adventist ought to read, and is an admir-
able hook to place in the hands of any who are willing 
to read. Our ministers, when presenting the truth in a 
new place, frequently hear the remark, " We want to 
hear the other side of this question." This book con-
tains both sides of the Sabbath question, presented in 
an able manner. 
The first part of the book is devoted to a clear and 
forcible presentation of the New Testament evidence 
that the Sabbath was observed by Christ and the apos-
tles, and that the original Sabbath law continues right 
along through the Christian dispensation; the supposed 
evidence that Christ or the apostles did anything tend-
ing to the sanctification of the first day of the week, is 
candidly considered. 
The second part contains the strictures of the editor of 
the Christian Statesman upon the above-mentioned arti-
cles, with Elder Littlejohn's replies. The question is ably 
handled by both parties, the discussion is conducted in 
a courteous manner, and the dignity of the subject is 
maintained throughout. The thoughtful reader can 
weigh the evidence on both sides, and decide for him-
self where the truth lies. Purchase it, read it, and lend 
it to your neighbor. 
San Francisco Tent-Meetings. 
ON account of the difficulty of procuring a suitable 
lot on which to pitch our large tent, the meetings were 
delayed nearly a week, but finally we secured a place 
on the corner of Larkin and Washington Streets, in a 
good neighborhood, and convenient to several lines of 
street railroad. The Sutter Street Line transfers to 
Polk, which comes within one block of the place. The 
Clay Street Line comes within one block. The Califor-
nia Street Line comes within three blocks and the Union 
Street, via North Beach, comes within six blocks of the 
place. Elder Van Horn commenced meetings Thursday 
night, June 1. Up to date three meetings have been 
held, with a larger attendance than we expected to have 
at first. 
Our tent is quite well protected from the wind. It is 
well lighted and has better seats than usual. The grassy 
floor is covered with clean straw, and the whole place 
presents an inviting and comfortable appearance. 
Sister Alice Bartlett is organist, Brother Hurley leads 
the singing, and Brother and Sister McClure assist in 
the meetings, and do missionary work. 
We hope, by the blessing of God, that these meetings 
will increase in interest, and that many souls may be 
gathered in, who will obey the truth and be saved in 
the day when Jesus comes to gather his jewels. We 
ask for the prayers of God's people for the success of the 
work in this city. �
M. C. ISRAEL. 
June 4, 1882. 
Appointintntz. 
Oakland and San Francisco. 
OAKLAND.—Church N. E. corner Clay and 13th Streets. 
Meeting every Sabbath (Saturday) at 11 A. M. Preaching 
every second and fourth Sunday evening of each month. 
Prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening. Eld. J. H. Wag-
goner, Pastor. Sabbath-school at 9:30 A. M. 
Dr. E. J. 
Waggoner, Superintendent. Seats always free. 
SAN FRANCISCO.—Church on Laguna Street, between Mc-
Allister and Tyler Streets. Meeting every Sabbath (Satur-
day) at 11 A. M. Prayer-meeting Wednesday evening. M. 
C. Israel, Elder. No regular preaching. Sabbath-school at 
9:45 A. M. E. A. Stockton, Superintendent. Street-cars of 
the Hayes Valley Line, and Central and Lone Mountain Line, 
pass close to the meeting-house. 
REVISED EDITION—JUST ISSUED. 
THOUGHTS ON BAPTISM. 
BY ELD. J. IL WAGGONER. 
Being an examination of its ACTIONS, SUBJECTS, and 
RELATIONS. 
Also, a brief consideration of the 
Historical Evidences of Trine Immersion. 
Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. 
Price, postpaid, Paper Covers, 25c.; Flexible Cloth, 350. 
Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
LIFE SKETCHES. 
Ancestry, Early Life, Christian Experience, and 
Extensive Labors of 
ELDER JAMES WHITE, 
AND HIS WIFE, MRS. ELLEN G. WHITE. 
TESTIMONIALS. 
I have read " Life Sketches" with much interest, and do not hesitate 
to pronounce it a valuable book. It presents before the reader a 
review of the life work of two individuals whose untiring energy and 
faithful devotion to the cause of truth have, through the blessing of God, 
contributed more to the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist de-
nnmination than any others ever connected with it. Engaged in the 
great Advent movement of 1843 and 1844, and after the disappointment, 
among the first to proclaim the Third Angel's Message, their experi-
ence is at once interesting and instructive. 
This volume cannot fail to be of value as a promoter of spiritual growth, 
for certainly no one can read of the sacrifices, labors, and keen trials en-
dured by these persons in the cause and not feel his own desires quickened 
for a larger sphere of usefulness. If one wishes to trace the guiding hand 
of God in the upbuilding of his cause, as connected with the fulfillment 
of the prophecy, I know no work better calculated to give the desired 
information than the book entitled " Life Sketches." 
Eillma J. 0. CORMS& 
When we see a people, in so short a space of time, coming into the 
position occupied by Seventh-day Adventists, we at once inquire "Under 
whose leadership, and- by what means have such speedy results been 
accomplished ?" To this question we obtain an answer in the "Life 
Sketches" of Elder James and Mrs. Ellen G. White. Their life history is 
interwoven with the rise of this cause, and is an interesting record of 
victories gained over obstacles met in establishing the institutions of this 
people upon a permanent basis. 
These pages are replete with interest, and contain facts concerning the 
gradual development, present facilities, and standing of this people, 
that can be found in no other book. �
ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. 
Southampton, Eng. 
We have a copy of " Life Sketches," and have examined it with pleas-
ure. It will interest all classes of readers, and will well repay perusal. 
It gives a good idea of the toils, trials and sacrifices of those whose lives 
it relates. It also gives many facts in the history of the denomination 
of Seventh-day Adventists—a denomination which has arisen during the 
period of the active labors of Elder and Mrs. White, and largely through 
their instru inental:ty. This volume will have a wide circulation, and will 
do much good. �
ELDER J. N. ANDREWS. 
Basle, Switzerland. 
THE SANCTUARY, AND THE 
2300 DAYS OF DANIEL 8:14. 
BY ELDER U. SMITH, 
Tins question has developed the people known as Seventh-day 
Adventists, and is the pivotal doctrine upon which their applications of 
prophecy largely depend. It explains the past Advent movement, 
shows why those who looked for the Lord in 1844 were disappointed, re-
veals the fact so essential to be understood, that no prophetic period 
reaches to the second coming of Christ, and shows where we are, and 
what we are to expect in the future. But the greatest beauty of the 
subject is seen in the light it throws upon the progressive steps of the 
remedial system, the types and shadows of the former dispensation, and 
the position and work of our Lord in the present. It determines abso-
lutely the question of the nearness of the second coming of Christ, the 
perpetuity of the law of God, the nature and time of the atonement, and 
the work of Judgment that precedes Christ's coming. A knowledge of 
this subject is indispensable to a correct application of the more impor-
tant prophecies pertaining to the present time. 352 pp. 61.00. Con-
densed edition, paper, 224 pp., 30 cents. 
Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. 
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, Al OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE 
Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists. 
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the 
Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the 
Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home 
Uirele, The Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school. 
�
Price Per Year, �
$2.00 
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Mis- 
�
sionary Work, �
- �
- �
- �
- �
- �
• �
• �
1.50 
Address, 
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
—OR— 
RsviEw AND HERALD, Battle Creek, 
Michigan. 
MISS ELIZA THAYER, Sec. N. E. Tract 
Society, South Lancaster, Mass. 
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravens 
wood, Shirley Road, Southamp-
ton, England. 
W. L. Raymond, Gaston, Oregon. 
Our Publications in England. 
ANY of the books, pamphlets, and tracts issued at this 
Office may be obtained of Eld. J. N. Loughborough, Ravens-
wood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England, who will fur-
nish Catalogues, and give prices in English money. He will. 
also receive subscriptions for our periodicals. 
Nearly the last literary labor of the late Elder James 
White was the production of the above-named work. It 
comprises a sketch of his life, and his public labors in connec-
tion with those of his wife, Mrs. E. G. White, and presents a 
comprehensive history of the Seventh-day Adventist denom-
ination which he, more than any other man, was instrumental 
in founding. Almost the entire period of his active public 
labors having been occupied in the promulgation of the Ad-
vent doctrine and kindred subjects, and much of that labor 
having been devoted to spreading the knowledge of what is 
now known as the "Third Angel's Message,' the work is 
necessarily to quite an extent a history of that message from 
its earliest inception to the present time. 
The life of a public man is always of interest, even to the 
general reader, but when that life is closely interwoven with 
the details of a conspicuous religious movement, it becomes 
doubly interesting, and especially so to those who have an 
interest in the movement itself. 
The book abounds in interesting incidents, personal 
sketches, and religious experiences, some of which are quite. 
remarkable, and altogether it forms a volume at once instruc-
tive and entertaining. 
Printed on tinted paper, 416 pp., with portrait of Mr. and Mrs 
White. Muslin bound, price, $1.25. 
Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.