" Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22 :12. 
'VOLUME 9. 
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH—DAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. 
NUMBER 37. 
1 
Christ to depart from all iniquity. You must d 
this, if you would represent the truth as it is i 
Jesus. God wants whole-hearted, thorough-goin 
men. . These only can stand the test of the Judg 
ment. If those who have received the light wer 
but true to their trust, what a flood of light woul 
be poured upon the world! But how is it, no 
only with the members of the church, but wit 
those who stand as ministers of the gospel ? D 
 their habits and experience correctly represen 
the purity and simplicity of a holy, cross-bearing 
life? 
The true toilers in the Lord's vineyard will be 
men of prayer, of faith, of self-denial,-- men who 
hold in restraint the natural appetites and pas-
sions. These will, in their own lives, give to the 
world evidence of the power of the truth which 
they present to others; and their labors will not 
be without effect. " He that goeth forth and 
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless 
come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves 
with him." " And he that reapeth receiveth 
wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal." 
Fellow-workers for Christ, time is short; we 
 have no moments to idle away. Are you watch-
ing for souls as they that, must give an account, 
or are you yourselves drowsy, ease-loving, and 
lukewarm ? Have you a living faith ? Are you 
every day increasing in the knowledge of Christ ? 
Do you possess practical godliness, Christian 
meekness, and deep love for the souls for whom 
Christ died ? Search the Sciptures. Do not de- 
pend upon the little knowledge which you already 
have. Pray for clearer light. Dig for the pre-
cious gems of truth as for hid treasure. Thus 
will you be enabled to bring forth from the store-
house of God things new and old. 
In this age of conflicting doctrines, when fables 
abound, and there is so much sensational preach- 
ing on the one hand, and so great formality on the 
other, it is a difficult matter to arouse the people. 
Our only hope of success is to reach them through 
God. We must give evidence of earnestness, 
zeal, and devotion commensurate to the impor-
tance and solemnity of our work. There should 
be no exaltation of self. We are not to call atten-
tion to the instrument, but to present Christ and 
the sacred truths that are to test the people of 
God. If these truths sanctify our own hearts, if 
they purify and ennoble our own characters, we 
shall be living epistles, known and read of all men. 
The ambassadors of Christ must learn where 
their strength lies. They must themselves drink 
of the living water, before they can guide others 
to the fountain. We must learn by experience 
what it is to lean upon the arm of our Beloved. 
There is no evil more fatal to the prosperity of the 
church than the influence of professed teachers 
and ministers of the gospel who are deficient in 
Christian experience, in faith, self-denial, self-
control, and in the tact and energy essential for 
skillful warfare. 
My brethren, you should be constant learners 
in the school of Christ, obtaining from the heav-
enly Teacher precious lessons to impart to others. 
You have lost much in your labors because you 
have not constantly felt the necessity of vital 
connection with God. There is earnest, solemn 
work to do in every branch of the cause of Christ. 
You need the Spirit and power of God, that your 
estimony, like a sharp, two-edged sword, may 
ut to the heart of those who hear. 
The faithful witnesses for Christ will keep 
hemselves unspotted from the world. Those who 
eek to be popular with the world, will not love 
he testimony of the Spirit of God. They are 
of sanctified through the truth; and after a brief 
eriod of half-hearted service, they will make a 
ecided move toward uniting with the enemies of 
od. They reject the light, and it is withdrawn 
rom them. In time it will be seen that they are 
n utter darkness. 
Many retain a form of godliness and a connec- t 
Eke *iv) of Ot 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, FOR THE 
S. D. A. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
(For Terms, etc., See Last Page.) 
Entered at the Post-Office in Oakland. CaL 
BEAUTIFUL. 
BEAUTIFUL hands are those that do 
Work that is earnest, brave and true, 
Moment by moment the long day through. 
Beautiful feet are those that go 
On kindliest ministries to and fro, 
Down lowliest way, if God wills it so. 
Beautiful shoulders are those that bear 
Ceaseless burdens of homely care, 
With patient grace and daily care. 
Beautiful lives are tliose that bless—
Silent rivers of happiness, 
Whose hidden fountain but few may guess. 
6,entral Artitin, 
Christian Privileges and Duties. 
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. 
IT Is the privilege of every soul to seek and find 
peace in Christ. Yet 'this peace is granted only 
upon conditions. We must surrender our own 
ways and wills and plans; and thus put off the 
grievous yoke which we have bound upon our 
own necks, and we must take upon us the yoke 
of Christ, which will bring rest to our souls. 
"Learn of me, " says the Divine Teacher•
' 
 " for 
I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find 
rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and 
my burden is light." 
We each need to learn in the school of Christi 
and it is because we are not more humble and 
diligent students that we are so slow to mani-
fest meekness and lowliness of heart. It is only 
when we cherish these precious graces that peace 
and rest can abide in the soul. Only the humble 
and contrite ones find shelter in the promises 
of God; only these obtain a saving knowledge 
of the Scriptures, and a rich experience in trust-
ing God and obeying his precepts. In our own 
strength we are indeed feeble; but in the 
strength of our Redeemer we may be strong. In 
the midst of tumult we may have quietness and 
peace. We must believe in him, even though 
darkness envelop the soul; we must work from 
principle, rather than from feeling. By this con- 
tinual, unwavering trust, Satan is baffled and dis-
appointed. Says the psalmist, " Thou through 
thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine 
enemies." " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 
and a light unto my path." 
If we would maintain our fidelity to God, in 
this time of danger and deception, we must con- 
stantly rely upon the power of Christ. We must 
be often before God in prayer, holding every emo-
tion and every passion in calm subjection to rea-
son and cons•cience, banishing all unholy imagin- t 
ings, bringing every thought into captivity to the c 
obedience of Christ. By earnest prayer and liv-
ing faith we can resist the assaults of Satan, and t 
keep our hearts unspotted from pollution. 
The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. t 
However great the pressure brought to bear upon n 
the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not p 
in the power of earth or hell to compel any one d 
to sin. The will must consent, the heart must G 
yield, or passion cannot overbear reason, nor in- f 
iquity triumph over righteousness. 
I appeal to you who profess to be followers of 
tion with the church, when they bring no strength, 
help, or blessing to the church. They seek to 
g make the narrow way broad and pleasant for the 
- multitude to walk in. Such are destitute of spirit- 
ual eyesight. They have put out their own eyes, 
d and they stumble at every step. The word of 
t God has not widened the narrow way; and if the 
h half-hearted and pleasure-loving choose a path 
where they need not bear the cross or suffer trib-
t ulation, they are in a path where the Saviour 
did not walk. 
In all parts of our country, during the summer 
and autumn, large companies assemble in the 
tented grove, to worship God and to listen to 
words of warning and instruction from his serv-
ants. Great privileges are afforded by these 
yearly convocations. The Lord Jesus himself 
comes up to the feast. We have a precious op-
portunity to humble our hearts before God, and to 
become settled and grounded in the truth. Are 
these opportunities wisely improved ? They will 
prove to us either a savor of life unto life or of 
death unto death. After these seasons are over, 
and those who met together have returned to 
their homes, will they be prepared to let their 
light shine forth to the world ? Will their works 
correspond with the faith which they profess ? 
If we continue to love the world, to have fellow-
ship with the works of darkness, or to find pleas- 
ure in unrighteousness, then we have put the 
stumbling-block of our iniquity before our face, 
and have set up idols in �
s 
our hearts. If we do 
not heed the word of the Lord, " Come out from 
among them, and be ye separate, and- touch not 
the unclean," we are in a worse condition than if 
we had not listened to the words of truth. 
The Scriptures clearly set before us the high 
and holy position which we should occupy as sons 
and daughters of God. If all who attend the camp-
meetings would seek earnestly to attain this po-
sition, and would receive the spiritual benefit 
which it is their privilege to receive, they would 
be prepared to do good when they return home. 
If the love of Christ is kindled afresh in their own 
hearts, if they have drank anew from the heav-
enly fountain, their cheerful testimonies and their 
prayers, sent up in faith, will be as great a help 
to the church as ministerial labor. The Spirit of 
God will come into their meetings, and the hearts 
of believers will say, It is good to be here. 
Every church, be it large or small, should be 
taught not to depend on ministerial labor. There-
fore, fellow-Christians, there is the greater need 
that you kindle your tapers at the divine altar, 
that the light may shine forth to all around. 
However weak you may be, you can become a 
help and blessing to others, if you will keep your 
own souls in the love of God, and search the script-
ures for a clear understanding of the truth. It is 
not only your privilege but your duty to grow in 
grace and in the knowledge of the truth. You may 
rejoice in a living Saviour, and may show to all 
connected with you that he is the center of your 
affections and your hopes. 
Would that all might view this matter of daily, 
practical Christianity as it has been presented to 
me; would that they could see what we might be 
in spiritual power, and what we are because we 
neglect the light which God has given us! Many 
will have to combat intellectual slothfulness and 
spiritual stupor, before they can be a blessing to 
themselves or to their fellow-men. We are living 
under the most solemn message of warning ever 
given to our world. We are altogether too near 
the closing scenes of this world's history to be in-
attentive, to occupy a neutral position. It be-
hooves us now to be wide awake, ready for every 
good work, ready to give a reason for the hope 
that is in us. 
Brethren, you must come closer, closer to the 
bleeding side of Jesus. Instead of yielding to ev-
ery passing influence, seek earnestly to know the 
rutb, and then endeavor to form a character con - 
434 �
THE SIGNS OF TII-E TIMES. �VoL. 9, No. 37. 
sistent therewith. Seek to be like Christ, meek ing truth. In like manner Huss, Jerome, Ridley, Therefore the day of " the Sabbath" is the same 
and lowly of heart, and, like him, be resolute also; and many others, counted not their own lives day of the week, on which God rested from the 
in principle be firm as a rock; be pure, sincere, dear unto themselves that they might keep the work of creation; and as he rested on the seventh 
and holy. Be ever cheerful, humble, grateful. testimony of Jesus. Amid torture and flames, day of the first week, and on no other, the seventh 
Keep yourselves separate from the spirit and influ- amid dungeons and horrible deaths, these faithful and no other day of every other week must be 
ence of the world. Let not sin find a sanction in standard-bearers held aloft the banner of the cross the only " day of the Sabbath." 
your position. Give no occasion for evil-doers of Christ. �
Let it be particularly observed that God does 
even to imagine that they have your sympathies. �
We also, who are called to stand in these last not say, Remember the Sabbath, or, Remember 
Let not irreligion find in your lax principles a trying days of peril and conflict, must be willing, the Sabbatic institution, though this is necessarily 
pretext to excuse itself. �
for the truth's sake, to sacrifice our ease, our time, implied in the command; bat, Remember ,' the 
God calls upon you to be zealous and repent of our reputation, yea, even life itself. At whatever day of the Sabbath"—the day on which I have 
your half-heartedness. Strive to walk wisely, in cost, we must be true to principle and to God. �
ordained that the Sabbatic institution be observed. 
a perfect way. Begin and end each day with �
As if he had said, There is little danger, compar- 
earnest prayer and close self-examination. Corn- �The Day of the Sabbath. �
atively that you will forget the fact of my having 
pare your life and character with the law of God, �
kept Sabbath; nor is it likely that you will 
mark where its precepts condemn you, and set to
THE seventh day of the week is the only altogether neglect to observe some day of rest 
work at once to correct the wrong by repentanceweekly Sabbath of God's appointment. �from your arduous toils; for you will be driven 
toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.My first reason for believing this proposition is, to this by the ever-returning demands of your 
That the original Sabbath law referred to in Gen. 
Wash your robes of character, and make them
exhausted bodies; but you are, and always will 
white in the blood of the Lamb. Let your words2 : 2, 3, and embodied in Ex. 20 : 8-11, requires be, in especial danger of forgetting the proper 
be well chosen. Put away all lightness, trifling, the sanctification of no other day. �
day of the week for honoring me in my own 
and irreverence.
Gen 
da the seventh �
.
God ended his work which he institution. Satan, who takes infinite delight in 
, 
Those who really desire to advance in the di- �2:23: "And on the seventh day [on 
had made; and he
all kinds of " will-worship," while he, hates with 
rested on the seventh day [on 
vine life will cherish every ray of light, and heed 
�
�
a perfect hatred every act of strict obedience to 
every warning given by the servants of God.
my law, will do all he can to persuade you that 
day the seventh] from all his work which
, he had 
The Holy Spirit admonishes those who preach the 
�
�
some other day will do just as well or even better. 
made. And God blessed the seventh day [the 
gospel, " Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long- 
�
�
Remember, therefore, the day of my Sabbath, 
day the seventh], and sanctified it; because that 
suffering and doctrine." If the Lord has given 
�
�
and keep the same day holy in every week; for 
in it he had rested from all his work which God 
this command, there is certainly a work of re- 
�
�
—mark the reason—I have my self rested on the 
created and made." 
proving, rebuking, warning, and correction to be
seventh day, and on that account I have blessed 
Ex. 20 : 8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day 
done. Let all be careful, then, how they allow 
�
�
and sanctified that, and no other, day of the week, 
[the day of the rest, or Sabbath] to keep it holy. 
their hearts to rise up against the reproofs of God 
�
�
that you may observe it, and .keep it holy, not 
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 
through his servants; for in so doing they rise up 
�
�
because it is in itself better than any other day, 
but the seventh day [day the seventh] is the Sab- 
. against God. 
�
�
but because I have blessed and sanctified it. 
bath [rest] of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt 
Like the Pharisees of old, the self-deceived, the not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy �
But you say the phrase, " the Sabbath day," or, 
self-sufficient, the self-righteous, refuse to be daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-
servant, " the day of the Sabbath," does not mean any 
warned. The Lord points out their dangers, but nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy particular day, but " one day in seven," or some 
they do not heed his voice. As they assimilate to gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and one of the days of the week. You allege that 
the world, they become the friends of evil-doers. earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested " the day of the Sabbath," like " the pope of 
While God reproves the transgressor, they feel the seventh day [on day the seventh]; wherefore Rome," " the Emperor of RusSia," or " the King 
inclined to excuse and encourage him. Thus they the Lord blessed the Sabbath day [the day of of Denmark," is a generic term, alike applicable 
say to the sinner, It shall be well with thee. rest, or Sabbath], and hallowed it." �
to all the members of the same class. The phrase, 
Such persons call good evil, in that they oppose �
The only object, direct or indirect, of this com- " the Emperor of Russia," you say refers alike to 
and denounce those who faithfully deliver the mandment, is " the day." What are we corn- Peter, to Alexander, and to Nicholas, though 
messages of warning and reproof committed to 
them of God. They call evil good by extolling manded to remember ? " The day." What are only one of them could be emperor at any given 
we required to keep holy ? " The day." What time; so " the day of the Sabbath" refers alike 
those who have no reproofs to bear and no warn- did the Lord bless and hallow? " The day." In to the seventh and to the first day of the 
ings to give, who pass along in a careless, indiffer- what are we forbidden to work ? In " the day." week, though there never was but one Sab- 
ent spirit, excusing sin, and by their own course Now let us inquire:— �
bath at any one time. This is a very ingenious 
encouraging worldliness and backsliding. All �
1. What day? Not the day of Adam's fall; and plausible method of evading the force of the 
these are sanctioning a deception which has nor the day Noah went into the ark; nor the day divine testimony; but, as the reasoning by which 
proved the ruin of many. The blood of souls is of the overthrow of Sodom; nor the day of the it is sustained appears to be entirely sophistical, 
upon them. Their course is more offensive to exodus; nor the day of the provocation; nor the I cannot but look upon the whole thing as a fab-
God than is that of the open sinner. Anciently, day of the removal of the ark; nor the day of rication. I believe that any man, possessing the 
the Lord always had among his people faithful Christ's birth; nor the day of his crucifixion • nor requisite qualifications, may become "Emperor of 
prophets, whom he sent to reprove sin. He has the day of his resurrection; nor the day Of his Russia," but deny that any day but one can be 
never removed these from his church. Those who ascension; nor the day of Judgment. It may be, the day of God's Sabbath, inasmuch as God had 
rise up against warning and reproof, and seek by and certainly is, proper that we should remember never kept, at that time, but one Sabbath, and 
their Jests, their smart speeches, or their decep- all these; but we are not told to do so in this that occupied only one day. There is only one 
tions, to make of no effect the plain words of re- 
proof prompted by the Spirit of God, will find, in commandment. Neither is it some one day of the day of American Independence; only one day 
week, but no day in particular; for how could we of the resurrection of Christ; only one day 
the great day of final reckoning, an account remember " the day,' that is no day in particular? of the birth of any one man; and only one day 
against them which they will not wish to meet. how could we keep holy " the day" that has not of judgment. And why? Because the American 
To be a Christian is to be Christ-like, a man of been specified ? and how could we say that God Independence was declared on but one day; 
faith, a man of principle. The Christians most had blessed and hallowed " the day" that was no Christ arose on but one day; the same man cannot 
serviceable in the church are those whose convic- one day more than another ? What day, then ? be born on two different days; and God hath 
tions are so firm, whose characters are so strong, God says, Remember the Sabbath day, or the appointed only one day in which he will judge 
that nothing can sway thetn from their faith or day of the Sabbath; Keep holy the day of the the world. Now, on the same principle, there can 
deter them from their duty. As a people, we are Sabbath; The Lord blessed and hallowed the day be but one " day of the Sabbath" of the Lord our 
altogether too much like the world. We are not of the Sabbath. He also says, " The seventh day God. If I should say that the day of Christ's res-
the separate, holy people that God requires us to is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou urrection is not on any particular day of the week, 
be. �
When we come up to the high standard of shalt not do any work." This day, therefore, is but only " one day in seven," you would not hesi- 
God's law, then shall we be indeed the light of the "the seventh day," or " the day of the Sabbath." tate to call me a fool, while my ignorance would 
world. �
2. What Sabbath ? Not " a Sabbath," or " any excite your deepest sympathy; but when you say 
The professed church of Christ has wandered Sabbath that man can invent, or that God may that " the day of the Sabbath' does not mean that 
from her privilege, her duty, and her God. Like hereafter keep; for that would be ,' some Sab- particular day on which the Lord's Sabbath 
ancient Israel, she has forsaken the covenant, and bath," but no one in particular. Not some insti- occurred, but only " one day in seven," you ex-
joined herself in harmony with the world. Pride, tution yet undetermined that God may require pect me to receive your assertion as th infallible 
luxury, and pleasure are invited into the sanctu- man to observe weekly; for the command is not, teaching of superior wisdom. I cannot, however, 
ary, and her holy places are defiled. Those who Remember the Sabbath institution, but, " Remem_ so receive it for the following reasons:— 
have pledged their allegiance to God, enjoy the ber the day of the Sabbath;" not, Keep holy the �
1. If God had meant " one day in seven," he 
company and spirit of his avowed enemies. Their Sabbath institution, but, " Keep holy the day of would have said so. His first and great design in 
choice determines their character. Strong is the the Sabbath." The Lord did not bless and hal- writing his law on tables of stone was to be un- 
Lord God who judgeth them. �
low the Sabbath institution, but, ,, the day of the derstood by his creatures; but, for more than two 
But, thank God, in every age he has had men Sabbath." We are not forbidden to do work in thousand years after he gave the law, no human 
who were not time-servers, men who would stand the Sabbath institution, but in " the seventh day." being ever supected that " the day of the Sab-
firm for the right, and risk all consequences. In In fact, the phrase, " the Sabbath," in this corn- bath" meant anything else than the seventh day 
the strength of God, Martin Luther fearlessly pro- mandment, means neither more nor less than of the week, because it was commonly known 
claimed the truths of the Bible. In vain earthly " the rest." It is not here the name of any insti- that that day alone was in reality " the day of 
potentates sought to intimidate him. In vain tution at all, though it is often thus used in other the Sabbath." Indeed, this " one-day-in-seven" 
they attempted to break his hold on God, and parts of the Bible. Hence this Sabbath is " the doctrine is known to have been invented within a 
drive him to seek the favor of the pope or the Sabbath [or rest] of the Lord thy God." �few hundred years, with the pious design of ac- 
protection of the emperor at the sacrifice of his �
3. Which day of the week is " the day of the counting for a change of Sabbath, without the 
faith. His one answer was, " God and the right Sabbath ?" No other than that day on which the necessity of repealing a portion of the moral law. 
will triumph." Neither men nor devils could si- Lord rested; for the command refers to God's It is matter of great surprise that those pious the-
lence him. Gold, ambition, honors, could not win Sabbath. On which day of the week did he rest ? ologians, who first substituted " one day in seven" 
him from his work of exposing error and declar- " And he rested on the seventh day ?" Gen. 2 : 2. for " the day of the Sabbath," did not shudder 
OCTOBER 4, 1883. �THE SIG-NS OF THE TIMES. �
435 
at the thought of presuming to amend the 
language of the Holy Ghost. " The words of the 
Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace 
of earth, purified seven times." Ps. 12 : 6. Breth-
ren, are you prepared to enter into judgment, 
and answer for the liberties you have taken with 
God's word? In substituting the vague and in-
definite expression, " one day in seven," for the 
definite and unequivocal terms, "the Sabbath 
day," and the " seventh day," you have as truly 
taken " away from the words of the prophecy of 
this book" as if you had blotted the fourth com-
mandment from the decalogue; while your lead-
ing object has been to make way for the intro-
duction of a new command that, for aught the 
Scriptures teach, it never entered into the heart 
of the Almighty to put into his law. " A faith-
ful witness will not lie," and when the world asks, 
Which day of the seven hath God appointed to 
be the weekly Sabbath ? God expects that you, 
as faithful witnesses, will not only " not lie," but 
that you will not equivocate, or give with the 
gospel trumpet an " uncertain sound." He does 
not expect that you will quote a text from the 
Acts of the apostles, that says not one word about 
Sabbath-keeping, to prove that the fourth com-
mandment enjoins the keeping holy of " one day 
in seven," but of " no day in particular." 
God never blessed " one day in seven," with-
out blessing a particular day. He either blessed 
some definite object or nothing. You may say, 
indeed, without falsehood, that God blessed " one 
day in seven;" but if you mean that this act of 
blessing did not terminate on any particular day, 
you ought to know that you are asserting what 
is naturally impossible. As well might you say 
of a band of robbers, that they had killed " one 
man in seven," while in reality they had killed no 
man in particular. No, brethren, yourselves 
know very well that God had not blessed and 
sanctified any day but the seventh of the seven, 
prior to the giving of the written law. You know 
that if God blessed any day of the week at all, it 
was a definite day, distinct from all the other days 
of the week. But this commandment says that 
" the Lord blessed the Sabbath day." Therefore 
the Sabbath day must be a particular day of the 
week. Therefore the " Sabbath day" is " not one 
day in seven," or an indefinite seventh part of 
time. Therefore it is not " one day in seven" 
that we are required to remember, and keep holy, 
and in which we are forbidden to do any work, 
but " the seventh day of the week," which was 
then, is now, and will be till the end of time, 
"the day of the Sabbath of the Lord" our God. 
No day of the week but the seventh was 
ever called the " day of -the Sabbath," either by 
God or man, till long since the death of the 
last inspired writer. Search both Testaments 
through and through, and you will find no other 
day called " the Sabbath," or even " a Sabbath," 
except the ceremonial Sabbaths, with which, of 
course, we have nothing to do in this controversy. 
And long after the close of the canon of inspi-
ration, the seventh day, and no other, was still 
called " the Sabbath." If you can prove that any 
one man, among the millions of Adam's children, 
from the beginning of the world to the rise of 
Antichrist, ever called the first day of the week 
" the Sabbath," you will shed a light upon this 
controversy, for which a host of able writers have 
searched in vain. 
But further, the first day of the week was 
not observed by any of the children of men, as a 
Sabbath, for three hundred years after the birth 
of Christ. Do you ask proof? I refer you to 
Theodore de Beza, who plainly says so. If you 
are not satisfied with the witness, will you have 
the goodness to prove the affirmative of the prop-
osition ? 
I infer, therefore, that " the day of the Sab-
bath," or " the Sabbath day," is the proper name 
of the seventh day of the week, as much so as 
"the day of Saturn;" and that to attach this 
proper name now to some other day of the week, 
and to affirm that God meant that other day, as 
much as he did the seventh, when he wrote the 
law on tables of stone, is as unreasonable as it is 
impious. If you say that when God speaks of 
the Sabbath day, he means " one day in seven, 
but no day in particular," you are as far from 
the truth as if you had said that when he speaks 
of Moses he does not mean any particular man, 
but some one of the Israelites. Moses was one 
of the Israelites, just as the Sabbath day is one 
day in seven. But when God says Moses, he 
means Moses, the son of Amram; and when he 
says " the Sabbath day," he means the seventh 
'day of the week. You may give different names 
to the same object, without interfering with its 
identity; but to apply the same name to two 
different objects and then to affirm that these 
two objects are identically the same, so that what 
is predicted of the one must be true of the other, 
is as though a navigator should discover an island 
in the Southern Ocean, and call it "England," and 
then affirm that the late work of Mr. Macaulay, 
entitled " The History of England," is a veritable 
and authentic history of this newly-discovered 
empire. Which would you wonder at the most, 
the stupidity or the effrontery of that navigator? 
I cannot close this chapter without reminding 
you that, in attempting to refute the above rea-
soning, the main thing you will have to show is, 
that " the Sabbath day," or " the day of the Sab-
bath," is an indefinite expression, applicable alike 
to at least two different days of the week, and 
that it is used indefinitely in this commandment. 
If it has been proved that " the day of the Sab-
bath" refers, and can refer, only to the seventh 
day of the week, then it is true, and will remain 
forever true, that the original Sabbath law re-
quires the sanctification of no other day. This 
is the truth which I undertook to exhibit in this 
chapter, and is my first reason for believing the 
proposition under consideration.—.T. W. Morton, 
in Vindication of the True Sabbath. 
The Night Cometh. 
WE are admonished to work while it is day, 
because the night cometh wherein no man can 
work. Our opportunities for doing good will close. 
While life and probation lasts is the time to labor. 
In the grave there is no work, nor device, nor 
knowledge, nor wisdom; therefore what we find 
to do should be done without delay. If delayed, 
it will soon be too late; the night will have come, 
and it must remain forever undone. To those of 
former ages and generations the exhortation to 
labor and the time in which to labor have been 
bounded by the life of each- individual, and death 
brought the night in which no work could be done. 
But to the present generation the time to labor 
will close during the life of many who are now 
living. The work of saving lost sinners is about 
to close. The time is at hand when the living 
can work no longer. The night cometh. Then 
nothing more can be done to save lost sinners, 
ourselves, or others. Now is the time to work. 
The flying moments are swiftly passing in which 
we may work. How important that they be all 
improved! 
How precious are the remaining days and hours 
of our probation! Shall they be lost in idleness, 
while souls that might be saved are lost in conse-
quence ? Shall we remain indifferent while they 
run to waste ? There is much to be done. The 
people of God are now called upon to make a 
united and mighty effort for the salvation of men. 
A great work is to be done. The time is short. 
The night cometh. Let all put forth a mighty 
effort, and do it now. Work while the day lasts. 
By spending the little remnant of our time aright, 
we may yet hope to hear it said in truth, " W ell 
done;" and it must be said in truth, if said at all. 
Lose no time. Get the heart right before God; 
and work with zeal in the cause of truth and 
salvation. The night cometh. 
R. F. COTTRELL. 
Postal-Card Jottings.—No, 2. 
JEHOVAH-ROPHI. 
JEHOVAH -ROPHI is the title which our God takes 
to himself in Ex. 15 : 26. " I am Jehovah-Rophi;" 
i. e. Jehovah thy Physician, the Lord that heal-
eth thee and will keep thee from these bodily dis-
eases which I have brought- upon the Egyptians. 
In Jehovah-Jireh (Gen. 22 : 14), we see the Lord 
providing a Saviour, through whom our sins are 
forgiven. Here we see him as a Saviour for our 
bodily ailments. So in Ps. 103 : 3, we bless the 
Lord first for forgiving all our iniquities, and 
secondly, for healing all our diseases, true cer-
tainly as to spiritual diseases, as, evil temper, 
pride, selfishness, covetousness, etc., but none the 
less true, to those who believe, as to bodily and 
physical ailments. The Lord Jesus, when on 
earth, "healed all that were sick (who applied to 
him), that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 
by Esaias the prophet, (Is. 53 : 4) Himself took 
our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." This 
he did on the tree, where " he was wounded for 
our transgressions," and " bruised for our ini-
quities," (verse 5). Blessed Christ of God ! how 
little we know of thee and thy precious work on 
that accursed tree ! Reader, believest thou? Hast 
thou a personal Physician? Jer. 8 : 22. Art thou 
sick ? He has died to heal thee. Only believe, and 
thou shalt see the salvation—the deliverance of 
God in thy case. Saints are not relieved of their 
bodily pains for the same reason that sinners do 
not get rid of their sins. They do not believe—
they do not look to Jesus. (1) They do not dili-
gently hearken to God, Ex. 15 : 26; Jas. 5 : 11-16; 
or (2) they look to other means which God gra-
ciously uses, as in John 5 : 3, 4; or (3) they do 
not believe in the Physician. Matt. 13 : 58; Mark 
6 : 5, 6; Heb. 11 : 6. Pray over 2 Chron. 16': 12, 
believe and obey. �
H.•VEYSEY. 
Battle Creek, Mich. 
The Proof of Love. 
LOVE, like faith, must be proved by works or 
deeds. The apostle John says: "My little chil-
dren, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, 
but in deed, and in truth." 1 John 3 : 18. To 
love in deed is to prove our love by our deeds; 
and to love in truth is to seek the truth and cling 
to it. 
In reading this epistle (1 John) we should dis-
tinguish between commandment (singular) " That 
we should believe on his Son J esus Christ, and 
love one another," and commandments (plural). 
By commandments (plural) the apostle means 
the ten commandments; for he says: Whosoever 
committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for 
sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3 : 4. 
And again he says: " Whosoever abideth in him 
[God] sinneth not." 1 John 3 : 6. Or in other 
words, whosoever abideth in him keepeth his 
commandments or his law. " For this is the love 
of God that we keep his commandments; and his 
commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5 : 3. 
Again, "All unrighteousness is sin." 1 John 5 : 
17. �
But what is sin ? �
Sin is the transgression 
of the law." 1 John 3 : 4. 
It puzzles me exceedingly that any -one can 
persuade himself that he is a sincere Bible Chris-
tian and also claim that the code of ten command- 
ments has been abolished. �
EPSILON, 
What God Blesses. 
GOD blesses very slender things to the conver-
sion of souls. It is very humbling, sometimes, 
to a preacher who thinks, " Well, I did preach a 
pretty fair sermon that time," to find God does 
not care a pin about him or his sermon, and that 
a stray remark he made in the street, which he 
hardly thought was of any value whatever, was 
what God had blessed; that when he thought he 
had succeeded best he had done nothing, and 
when he thought he had succeeded Worst then 
God blessed him. Many a soul has had his eyes 
opened by an instrumentality which never dreamed 
of being so useful; and, indeed, the whole way 
of salvation is in US-elf extremely simple, so as to 
be well compared to the clay and spittle which 
the Saviour used. 
I do not find many souls converted by bodies 
of divinity. We have received a great many 
into the church, but never received one who be-
came converted by a profound theological discus-
sion. We very seldom hear of any great number 
of conversions under very eloquent preachers—
very seldom indeed. We appreciate eloquence, 
and have not a word to say against it by itself, 
but evidently it has no power spiritually to en-
lighten the understanding, neither does it please 
God to use the excellency of words for conversion. 
When Paul laid aside human wisdom and said he 
would not use the excellency of speech, he only 
laid aside what would not have been of much serv-
ice to him. When David put off Saul's armor, 
and took the sling and the stone, he slew the 
giant; and giants are not to be conquered to-day 
any more than they were then by champions 
arrayed in Saul's armor. We must keep to the sim-
ple things, to the plain gospel, plainly preached.—
Spurgeon. 
INFIDELITY removes nothing that is bad; It only 
ridicules and denounces all that is good. It tears 
down, it never constructs; it destroys, it never im-
parts life; it attacks religion, but it offers no ade-
quate substitute. 
436 �
T1-1 �
I- SIGNS OF TIlE TIM �
S. �
VoL. 9, No. 37. 
The Divine Government. 
(Continued.) 
As THERE cannot be diverse or unlike attributes 
of Deity, so there can be only one rule of holi-
ness growing out of those attributes-one moral 
law for his Government. And upon obediencesor 
disobedience to this law must all good and evil, 
life and death, be suspended. Therefore the fol-
lowing declarations apply to these command-
ments, or to this law, and to no other:- 
Lev. 18 : 5. " Ye shall therefore keep my stat-
utes, and my judgments; which if a man do, he 
shall live in them." 
Deut. 30 : 15, 16. " See, I have set before thee 
this day life and good, and death and evil; in that 
I command thee this day to love the Lord thy 
God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his com 
mandments and his statutes and his judgments." 
See verses 19, 20; chap. 11 : 26-28. 
lsa. 51 : 7. " Hearken unto me, ye that know 
righteousness, the people in whose heart is my 
law." 
Ps. 19 : 7. " The law of the Lord is perfect, 
converting the soul." 
Ps. 40 : 8. " I delight to do thy will, 0 my 
God: yea, thy law is within my heart." Also 
Ps. 119. 
Eccl. 12 : 13. " Fear God, and keep his com-
mandments; for this is the whole duty of man." 
Matt. 19 :17. " If thou wilt enter into life, 
keep the commandments." 
Rom. 2 :13. " The doers of the law shall be 
justified." 
Gal. 3 : 12. " The law is not of faith; but the 
man that doeth them shall live in them." 
1 John 3 : 4. " Sin is the transgression of the 
law." 
Rom. 7 : 12. " The law .is holy, and the com-
mandment holy, and just, and good." 
Verse 14. " For we know that the law is spir-
itual." 
This law is also referred to in certain scriptures 
wherein it is called God's holy covenant, and the 
covenant commanded. 
Deut. 4 :13. " He declared unto you his cove-
nant, which he commanded you to perform, even 
ten commandments." 
1 Chron. 16 :15-17. " Be ye mindful always 
of his covenant; the word which he commanded 
to a thousand generations; even of the covenant 
which he made with Abraham, and of his oath 
unto Isaac; and bath confirmed the same to Jacob 
for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting cove-
nant. 
Gen. 26 : 3-5. "I will perform the oath which 
I swear unto Abraham � Because that 
Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, 
my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." 
For breaking this " everlasting covenant," the 
inhabitants of the earth will be desolated with a 
curse, and burned up. Isa. 24 : 5, 6. 
By indignation against the " holy covenant," 
was the man of sin, the abomination that maketh 
desolate, set up. Dan. 11 : 28, 30. 
As this law has sometimes been confounded 
with other laws, to which the foregoing declara-
tions of Scripture will not apply, it will be in 
place to notice the distinction of laws. 
The system (not the law) under which the peo-
ple of God lived in the past dispensation was 
complex; its elements were moral, civil, and cere-
monial. The amoral was the basis of all, existing 
prior to., and independent of, the others, and was 
from the beginning the standard of duty to God 
and to our fellow-men.* The civil enforced the 
moral, especially in men's relations to their fellow-
men, making application of its principles to every-
day lith. The ceremonial expiated the violations 
of the moral, and had especial reference to their 
relations to God. But both the ceremonial and 
civil were merely typical, looking forward to the 
priesthood of Christ and to his kingdom; and 
therefore illustrated the true relation we sustain 
under Christ to the law of God, the moral rule, 
in this and the future dispensation. 
This distinction of the two laws, moral and 
ceremonial, is shown in the following scriptures:- 
Jer. 6 : 19, 20. " Hear, 0 earth; behold I will 
bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their 
thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto 
*" The decalogue having been spoken by the voice, and twice written 
upon the stone tables by the finger of God, may be considered as the 
foundation of the whole system."-J. Q. Adams. 
Alexander Campbell, speaking of these commandments, called them 
"God's Ten Words, which not only in the thd Testament, but in all 
revelation, are most emphatically regarded as the synopsis of all religion 
and morality."-Debate with Purcell, p. 214. 
my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. To 
what purpose cometh there to me incense from 
Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? 
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your 
sacrifices sweet unto me." Here one was kept 
and the other rejected; but the observance of 
the ceremonial was not acceptable when the 
moral was disregarded. That this was illus- 
trative of our position in this age is proved by 
Matt. 7 : 21-23, and John 7 : 16, 17, where the 
efficacy of faith in the Son, and of the knowledge 
of his doctrine, is dependent on obedience to the 
will or law of the Father. 
Jer. 7 : 22, 23. " For I spake not unto your 
fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I 
brought them out of the land of Egypt, con- 
cerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this 
thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice." 
We have seen that to obey his voice was to keep 
his covenant, the ten commandments; and this 
shows that when God gave his law, which him- 
self declared to be the rule of holiness, the cere- 
monial law of burnt offerings and sacrifices was 
not included. He spoke only the ten command- 
ments, and wrote only this law on the tables of 
stone; this alone was put into'the ark over which 
the priest made atonement for sin. No other law 
had such honor bestowed upon it. 
The Saviour himself explicitly declares that he 
came not to destroy the law; yet we know he 
did set aside the ceremonial law, by introducing 
its antitype. 
The same is proved by Paul in his letters to the 
Ephesians and Romans. In one, he speaks of a 
law which Christ abolished (Gr. katargeo), Eph. 
2 : 15, and in the other, he speaks of a law which 
is not made void (Gr. katargeo), by faith, but 
rather established. Rom. 3 : 31. 
It has been noticed in another place that it is 
not consistent with justice to relax the claims of 
a just law, neither can the acts of abolishing the 
law and pardoning the transgressor be united. 
Hence, if the law of God had been abolished by 
the gospel, justice would be trampled .under foot. 
But the Bible is not thus inconsistent with reason. 
God is infinitely just, and his law must be satisfied; 
Christ, a voluntary substitute, is set forth as our 
Saviour, that God might be just, and the justifier 
of him who believeth in Jesus. Rom. 3: 26. 
Though many other scriptures might be given 
to the same intent, those quoted are sufficient to 
show that the Bible truly harmonizes with the 
great principles of Government examined in the 
light of reason. 
As objections are stronger with some persons 
than even positive proof, it will not be amiss to 
notice a few objections urged against the perpe-
tuity of the law of God, by those who would 
make it void through faith, and pervert the gospel 
to a system of license. 
Luke 16 : 16. " The law and the prophets were 
until John; since that time, the kingdom of God 
is preached, and every man presseth into it." 
It is unjustly inferred that the question of the 
existence of the law is here introduced. The trans- 
lators saw that the passage was elliptical, but 
violated the laws of language by inserting the 
word " were," which does not make the sentence 
complete; the verb " is " being the antithesis of 
" were" the word " preached " is redundant. The 
following must be the • correct view. The word 
or words understood or to be supplied must be 
antithetical to the words " is preached;" and 
therefore " were preached" would complete the 
sentence. The omission of these words prevents 
tautology, while nothing would require the omis-
sion of the word " were " if it alone belonged 
there. " The law and the prophets were preached 
until John; since that time, the kingdom of God 
is preached." Now no one will claim that the law 
and the prophets ceased with John; even the cere-
monial law remained in force later than the time 
of his death. Thus it is evident that the subject 
of the existence or continuance of the law and 
the prophets is not introduced in this scripture; 
therefore there is no objection in it. 
Rom. 3 : 21. "But now the righteousness of 
God without the law is manifested, being wit-
nessed by the law and the prophets." 
In considering this text, and any other in this 
argument, we must bear in mind that the subject 
is justification by faith, and the object is " the re- 
mission of sins that are past." And no one who 
understands the principles of Government will 
for a moment insist that a sinner can be justified 
by the law which he has transgressed. Justifi-
'cation to the transgressor comes by pardon with- 
out the law; but it never comes at all to the person 
who continues in transgression. Pardon, in the 
gospel system, stands closely related to conver-
sion, for none but the converted will ever be par-
doned. But none are truly converted without an 
amendment of life. Paul says we shall not sin 
that grace may abound. Grace superabounds 
above sin, to save from it; but grace never com-
bines with sin to save any who continue in it. 
That justification for past sins is without law, by 
faith only, does not prove that a right character 
in the future may be formed without law, or by 
faith only. We are aware that without faith it 
is impossible to please God; and we are as well 
aware that faith without works is dead, being 
alone. 
But there is another part to this text which 
objectors to the law never consider. It says that 
the righteousness of God is " witnessed by the 
law." But a law cannot witness concerning that 
to which it does not relate. Now Paul says that 
" the doers of the law shall be justified." Born. 
2 : 13. That does not prove that any can now 
be justified by the law, for alas, there are no doers 
of it. Rom. 3 : 9-19. But it does prove that the 
law contains the principles of justification; that 
it is of that nature that it would justify man if 
he had always kept it. In other words, it con-
tains the true principles of righteousness; it is 
holy, and just, and good, and spiritual. Rom. 
7 : 12, 14. And Solomon attests the same truth 
when he says the commandments contain " the 
whole duty of man." Eccl. 12 : 13, 14. For man 
is a moral agent, under a moral Government in 
which the Supreme Governor says: " Be ye holy, 
for I am holy." 1 Pet. 1 : 16; Lev. 19 : 2. And 
the law of God is the only rule of holiness given to 
man. To a sinner it is no longer the means of 
justification, but to all classes an under all cir-
cumstances it is the rule of justification, or of 
righteousness. It witnesses to the righteousness 
of God because it contains the principles of his 
righteousness; it is the expression of his will; the 
foundation of his moral Government; the very 
outgrowth of his attributes. Surely, we find in 
Rom. 3 : 19 no ground for objecting against the 
law of God. 
Rom. 6 : 14. " For sin shall not have dominion 
over you; for ye are not under the law, but under 
grace." 
It is not difficult to show that. the objection 
based on this text arises from an entire misap. 
prehension of its meaning. As sin is trans-
gression of the law, sin surely has dominion over 
the transgressor of the law. It is only the obe-
dient that are free from the dominion of sin. To 
set man free from sin, to turn him from violating 
the holy law of God, is the object of the gospel. 
Of Jesus it was said by an angel, "He shall save 
his people from their sins." Matt. 1 : 21. And 
Paul said " he appeared to put away sin by the 
sacrifice of himself." Heb. 9 : 26. That is, he 
saves us from breaking the law of his Father; 
he puts away transgression. He had no trans- 
gression of his own to put away, for he kept his 
Father's commandments. John 15: 10. Of' course 
he came to put away our transgression•' 
 to restore 
sinful, fallen men to allegiance to the divine law 
-to loyalty to the divine Government. But this 
object is not accomplished in him who continues 
to transgress the law of God. Such are not saved 
from sin. Over such sin has dominion; how they 
can they be under grace? 
If it be replied that all are under grace now, 
because the dispensation of law is past• and th( 
dispensation of grace has taken its place, we say, 
then, that is destructive of the sense of the text 
The apostle offers the fact of our being uncle] 
grace as the reason or the evidence that sin shall 
not have dominion over us. But if the relation: 
is dispensational and not personal, then the dis 
tinction noted in the text is obliterated; if all are 
under grace, then also the multitudes are under 
grace over whom sin has dominion, and the text 
has no force. �
EDITOR. 
(To be continued.) 
IT is much safer to obey than to govern. Who 
is so wise that he can fully know all things ? Be 
not, therefore, too confident in thine own opinion, 
but be willing to hear the judgment of others.-- 
Thomas a' Kempis. 
WHOEVER looks •for a friend without imperfec-
tions will never find what he seeks. We love 
ourselves with all our faults, and we ought to love 
our friends in like manner. 
OCTOBER 4, 1883. �TIC �
Fi, SIGNS OF THE TIMES. �
437 
LESSON NOTES. 
"AND Paul after this tarried there yet a good 
while." Although they had fiercely risen up 
against Paul, and beaten Sosthenes, the chief ru-
ler of the synagogue, the apostle did not leave his 
work there until he was satisfied in his own mind 
that it was pleasing to the Lord. While we 
should never place ourselves in danger unneces-
sarily, and thus tempt the providence of God, the 
servant of the Lord should look to his Master for 
indications of duty, and not suffer the world, or 
opposers, to deter him from his work. 
" HAVING shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he 
had a vow." Conjectures on this text are very 
numerous, and commentators are much divided 
in respect to it. The original does not positively 
show to whom this statement refers, whether to 
Paul or Aquila. Dr. Clarke says that " Chrysos-
tom, Isodore of Seville, Grotius, Hammond, Zeg-
erus, Erasmus, Baronius, Pearce,:and Wesley, refer 
the vow to Aquila; Jerome, Augustin, Bede, Cal-
met, Dodd, Rosenmuller, and others, refer it to 
St. Paul." Where it is left so obscure we cannot 
think any importance attaches to it. And the na-
ture of the vow cannot be determined. Dr. 
Barnes, after giving a number of conjectures 
which have been raised by different authors, dis-
cretely says: But where nothing is r'ecorded, 
conjecture is useless." Happy would it be for the 
cause and the honor of Christianity if everything 
not revealed were treated in the same manner. 
" I MUST by all means keep this feast that 
cometh in Jerusalem." Here again conjecture 
has been busy as to this feast. Clarke and Scott 
suppose it was the passover; the Biblical Commen-
tary says, pentecost. But all agree that the 
passage is very doubtful. Clarke says: The 
whole of this clause is wanting in ABE., six 
others; with the Coptic, Athiostic, Armenian, and 
Vulgate. Griesbach leaves it in the text with the 
mark of doubtfulness." etc. It is also wanting 
in various translations, and in the Revised Version. 
Dropping this the verse reads: "But bade them 
farewell, saying, I will return again unto you, if 
God will." 
" AND a certain Jew named Apollos, . . . an 
eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, . . 
. . �
instructed in the way of the Lord, and being 
fervent in spirit, he spake and taught diligently 
the things of the Lord." The context makes this 
description of Apollos noteworthy. Notwith-
standing his gifts and zeal, he was of a teachable 
spirit, willing to be instructed by Aquila and Pris-
cilla. It would be well for the cause of truth, 
for the honor of Christianity, if all learned and 
eloquent men were so gifted with the grace of 
humility. This is the true spirit of a teacher. 
For how can one teach who has not first been 
taught ? And how shall he be taught if he is not 
teachable ? It is not difficult to graduate in the 
schools, or in theology; but there is no such thing 
as graduating in Christian experience or Bible 
knowledge. In these we are always " disciples," 
learners. Nor did he wait for Paul to be his 
instructor; he was willing to have the way of 
God expounded unto him by any who were more 
fully instructed than he was. Though Aquila and 
Priscilla were helpers in the work, at the time 
here spoken of they were probably not public la-
borers in the gospel, if they ever were. 
WHY would Apollos listen to those who were 
not eloquent as himself, who could not reason as 
powerfully as he could ? We find the answer in 
the then prevailing method of teaching the faith. 
They reasoned—but not with " vain reasoning," 
nor according to the demands of " science," falsely 
so called, as is the custom of these days, but they 
" reasoned out of the Scriptures." Acts 17 : 2. 
What the Scriptures said was a finality to the 
early Christians, no matter who presented the 
word. There is truly a great "falling away" 
from the simple faith of early times.- 
"AND when they heard this, they were baptized 
into the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19: 5. 
On this text we copy from " Thoughts on Bap-
tism:" " Acts 19 does not afford so clear proof 
that they who were baptized unto John's baptism 
were again baptized by the apostles as has been 
supposed by many. This was an unusual case, 
according to the record. On being questioned by 
Paul they said: ' We have not so much as heard 
whether there be any Holy Ghost.' They had 
not been baptized by John, but by Apollos, who 
had been converted at Ephesus a short time before 
the visit of Paul. Though this was twenty-five 
years after the resurrection of Christ, Apollos 
knew only the baptism of John, and baptized just 
as John had administered the ordinance, unto a 
belief in a Messiah who was •yet to come. That 
they were unacquainted with the facts concerning 
Christ, and the fulfillment of John's predictions of 
Christ's work, is evident from their answer to 
Paul: We have not even heard whether the 
Holy Spirit is given.' (Anderson's translation.) 
The Revised Version gives the same form in verse 
2. We did not so much as hear whether the 
Holy Ghost was given.' It was an error on the 
part of Apollos to teach the people that Christ 
was yet to come, when he had already died and 
was risen from the dead. This error of Apollos 
was corrected when Aquila and Priscilla ex-
pounded to him the way of God more perfectly. 
Those who were baptized by John in the faith 
of a coming Messiah, did not need to be baptized 
again when they accepted him. But thooe who 
were baptized in the faith of a coming Messiah 
after he had died and risen from the dead, needed 
to be baptized again, inasmuch as their first bap-
tism was nearer to a denial of him who had come, 
than a belief in him. It every way seems just 
and fitting that Paul should commence with them 
as novices." 
" HE went into the synagogue and spake boldly 
for the space of three months." The apostle al-
ways gave the Jews the first opportunity of 
hearing the doctrine concerning Christ. Speak-
ing three months boldly in the synagogue cer-
tainly effected his purpose. And in this the 
churches of this day might learn a lesson. Ob-
jection is made against those who preach the ad-
vent near, and the special message of warning 
which is to precede the advent, that they seek to 
proselyte members of the churches, instead of en-
deavoring to convert sinners. The charge is un-
just; they preach to all classes. But if they have 
a neglected duty or a rejected truth to proclaim, it 
is certainly right to present it to the professed 
servants of God, that they may have the light 
they need. The word of the Lord says: " Cry 
aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, 
and show my people their transgressions, and the 
house of Jacob their sins." Isa. 58: 1. It is no 
excuse for the neglect of this order that they seek 
the Lord daily, and delight to know his way, and 
take delight in calling upon him. See verse 2. 
No matter how zealous they may be in worship, 
if they are indulging in sin they must be warned. 
The Saviour confirmed the words of the prophet, 
that they worship in vain who teach for doctrine 
the commandments of men and make void the 
commandments of God through their traditions. 
Isa. 29 : 13; ,Matt. 15 : 1-9. 
WHEN the Jews had been fully warned, Paul 
having spoken in the synagogue for the space 
of three months, some of them turned to actively 
opposing his doctrine'
and he left them, and sep-
arated the disciples from the congregation. But 
he did not leave the city. It is not likely that a 
large proportion of the people had heard him in 
the synagogue of the Jews, and with commend-
able perseverance he determined to proclaim the 
truth to all, while the opportunity was afforded, 
and the minds of many were already awakened 
on these subjects. He labored, speaking daily in 
a public place, and continued thus doing for the 
space of two years; " so that all they which 
dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, 
both Jews and Greeks." In this a great purpose 
was accomplished, worthy of the labor and the 
time employed. 
THE position and importance of the city of 
Ephesus made it a desirable point for the apostle 
to labor in for so long a time. The goddess Diana 
and her famous temple were here, of which Dem-
etrius said " whom all Asia and the world wor-
shipeth." The temple of Diana was considered 
one of "the seven wonders of the world." It 
was built at the expense of all AsiaiMinor; and 
Barnes says, " by contributions from a great num-
ber of princes, and doubtless multitudes from all 
parts of the earth came to Ephesus to pay their 
homage to Diana." Thus by Paul's remaining 
here so long opportunity was given to all in Asia 
to hear the word of the Lord. We should wisely 
exercise our judgments in improving the openings 
presented to us by Providence for furthering the 
cause of truth. 
" MANY of them also which used curious arts 
brought their books together, and burned them 
before all." Magical arts, enchantment, divina-
tion; all this was declared to be an abomination to 
the Lord. Deut. 18 : 9-12. It was done by con-
sultation with demons professing to be the spirits 
of the dead. When these magicians became con-
verted to the doctrine of Christ they quit those 
practices of the heathen. And this proves that 
the standard of Christianity under the preaching 
of the apostles was quite different from that ac-
knowledged in the churches of the present day; 
for now, under the name of " Christian Spiritual-
ism," divination, or consulting with " familiar 
spirits," is carried on within the church, and many 
of the most eminent ministers of the land are in 
the habit of constantly consulting those who prac-
tice witchcraft, or mediums. Not many are 
aware, and very few are willing to be convinced 
of the fact that under the working of the " mys-
tery of iniquity," many of the practices of the old 
pagan worship were grafted into the Christian 
faith, and their influence is largely felt even to 
the present day. This idea of the spirits of the 
dead being in Heaven, becoming our guardian an-
gels, with whom we may hold intercourse through 
some medium, or necromancer, is increasing in 
popularity, instead of its being avoided as the 
Lord commanded. That they will continue until 
the coming of the Lord, and that they are still 
abominable in his sight, see 2 Thess. 2 : 1-12; Rev. 
16 : 12-15; 21:8. 
THE value of the books which were burned is 
variously estimated, it not being known what 
currency was refered to. It was, however, some-
where between $8,500 and $25,000. " To what 
purpose was this waste?" (Matt. 26 : 8.) Judas 
would have suggested that they should be sold, 
and the proceeds given to the poor. In modern 
churches they might have been put up for " a 
raffle," and thus much money brought into the 
church treasury. But they were connected with 
a work of iniquity; a work which the Lord ab-
horred, and their possessors proved the thorough-
ness of their conversion by destroying them. On 
this Dr. Barnes well remarks: " The universal 
prevalence of Christianity would make much that 
is now esteemed valuable property utterly worth-
less, as, for example, all that is used in gambling; 
in fraud; in counterfeiting; in distilling ardent 
spirits for drink; in the slave trade; and in at-
tempts to impose on and defraud mankind." To 
which may be added, the enormous expense in-
curred in raising, preparing, and in trafficking 
in tobacco. But that evil could be eradicated 
only by a purer type of Christianity than that 
generally recognized at the present day. 
And these converts were not ashamed to de-
stroy the property which was valued so highly 
by the world. They " burned them before all." 
There is power in the truth when preached in its 
purity, to separate men from the works and 
workers of iniquity. 
God's Plan for Your Life. 
NEVER complain of your birth, your training, 
your employment, your hardships; never fancy 
that you could be something if you only had a 
different lot and sphere assigned you. God un-
derstands his own plans, and he knows what you 
want a great deal better than you do. The very 
things that you most deprecate as fatal limitations 
or obstructions, are probably God's opportunities; 
and it is nothing new that the patient should dis-
like his medicines, or any certain proof that they 
are poisons. No! a truce to all impatience! 
Choke that foolish envy which gnaws at your 
heart because you are not in the same lot with 
others; bring down your soul, or rather, bring it 
up to receive God's will and do his work in your 
lot, in your sphere, under your cloud of obscurity, 
against your temptations, and then you shall find 
that your condition is never opposed to your good, 
but really consistent with it. Selected. 
g e �
a b ath-#ch fr , 
Lesson for Pacific Coast.—October 13. 
ACTS 18: 18-28; 19: 1-20. 
*405 of tke Chum 
" Can ye not discern the signs of the times ?" 
�
J. H. WAGGONER, �
 
�
E. J. WAGGONER, �
 
J. N. ANDREWS, 
�
URIAH SMITH, �
t CORRESPONDING EDITORS. 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. 
EDITOR. 
ASSISTANT EDITOR. 
438 �
THE SIGNS OF TI-I 
Fi] TIME FIS. 
VOL. 9, No. 37. 
A Specimen Sunday Falsehood. 
SUNDAY is a counterfeit of the Sabbath, and in its 
support all manner of deceptions are practiced. Many 
readers of the SIGNS will remember the letter which we 
published, received from a gentleman in Harlem, Bel-
gium, in which he said there was a publication circu-
lated in that country, professedly translated from the 
English, giving an account of a man who built a boat 
on a lake in California, and, in contempt of the Sunday, 
named it " The Sabbath-breaker; " how it upset on its 
first sail, and all on board perished; all of the boat that 
could be seen out of the water was the part on which 
was painted the ominous name. Thus, it was claimed, 
did Providence frown upon all who refused to keep 
Sunday. 
We called upon the people of this State to verify the 
occurrence, if it were a fact. We were sure it was a 
falsehood—a " pious fraud "—but gave opportunity to 
the friends of Sunday to defend the story if they could. 
The only letter we ever received was from a friend in 
Washington Territory, who had heard something to the 
same intent, professedly in another State. But the fact 
as related never occurred. 
In a religious paper published in the East, we find an 
article in answer to a question concerning Sunday, in 
which is the following paragraph:— 
" The persecutors of the Christians were accustomed 
to put to them this question : Hast thou kept the Lord's 
day ? ' If they had they were marked as Christians. 
This was the badge of their Christianity. And if they 
said they had, and would not recant, they must be put 
to death. And when they continued steadfast, what 
was their answer? I am a Christian; I cannot omit 
it. It is a badge of my religion, and the man who as-
sumes it must of course keep the Lord's day, because it 
is the will of his Lord: and should he abandon it, he 
would be an apostate from his religion.' (Baron. An. 
Eccles. A. D..303, Num. 35, etc.) " 
Passing over the fact that no one can bring a particle 
of Scripture proof that Sunday is the Lord's day, or any 
historical evidence that it was so called in the days of 
the apostles, we confidently assert that the Annals of 
Baronius contain no such statement as is given in the 
above-quoted paragraph. And what is worse for the 
writer, he knew that this Sunday fraud had been thor- 
oughly exposed by different writers when he penned 
these words. Baronius distinctly says that the question 
proposed to the Christians who suffered for their fidelity 
to the faith had reference to the celebration of the mass, 
or the Lord's Supper; it had no reference to the Sunday. 
These are his words:— 
" It has been shown above, in relating these things, 
that the Christians were moved, even in the time of se-
vere persecution, to celebrate the Dominicum. Evi-
dently, as we have declared elsewhere in many places, 
it was a sacrifice without bloodshed, and of •divine ap-
pointment." And again: " Though it was a fact that 
the same expression was employed at times with refer-
ence to the temple of God, yet since all the churches 
upon the earth have united in this matter, and from 
other things related above, it has been sufficiently shown 
concerning the celebration of the Dominicum that only 
the sacrifice of the mass can be understood." 
Dr. Justin Edwards in the " Sabbath Manual," a very 
popular book advocating the Sunday, says the martyrs 
were asked that question, " Hast thou kept the Lord's 
day," but gives no authority. Perhaps he thought his 
cause was safest to make the assertion without offering 
any authority, as he knew many would swallow all that 
was held out to them as proof for Sunday, and if no 
authority was given it would be all the more difficult to 
disprove! Mr. Gurney, an. English writer in favor of 
Sunday, quoted the story as from Bishop Andrews, who 
ascribed it to the " Acts of the Martyrs," giving, how_ 
ever, no instance or reference to any place in those 
legends where it might be found. But Sir Wm. Dom-
ville, another English writer, exposed the deception. 
He said: 
I have carefully consulted that work, and I take 
upon myself to affirm that among the questions there 
stated to have been put to the'martyrs in and before the 
time of Pliny, and for nearly two hundred years after- 
wards, the question, Dominieum, servasti? does not once 
occur, nor any equivalent question." 
And no Sunday writer has ever attempted to show 
that Domville was wrong in this statement; no one has 
pointed to any place in the " Acts of the Martyrs '' 
where it might be found. Notwithstanding, they con-
tinue to use it with as much assurance as if it had not 
been proved to be a falsehood! The Sunday-Sabbath is 
only a fraud, and to support it fraud must unavoidably 
be the resort. 
But Gilfillan has written a large work entitled, " The 
Sabbath," and while he did not dare to make the refer-
erence used so successfully by others in the face of the 
exposure of Sir Wm. .Domville, he could not aftbrd to 
lose a story which has already done so good service for 
Sunday. He therefore repeats it, and ascribes it to Ba-
ronius, as given by the writer of the first paragraph 
quoted in this article. But Eld. J. N. Andrews, author 
of the " History of the Sabbath " (which is often adver-
tised in our paper), made a thorough examination of 
this matter, and has fairly convicted Gilfillan of duplic-
ity in his pretended quotation. Two facts, which can-
not be disputed. establish the matter. 1. Baronius 
never used the expression "Dominieum servasti ? " as 
asserted by Gilfillan, and from him quoted by this 
writer in the Eastern religious paper. 2. Baronius dis-
tinctly defines the word _Dominicum, to refer to the 
mass, or the Lord's Supper, and says that by it "only 
the sacrifice of the mass can be understood," as quoted 
above.' Whether he had really consulted Baronius or 
not, as we suppose he had, his words are actually a fab-
rication. Baronius does not leave the subject so ob-
scure that the reader might make an honest mistake, a•ld 
infer that he spoke of the keeping of Sunday. No; he 
distinctly says the question referred to the sacrifice Of 
the mass, and to nothing else. And we have sufficient 
reason to believe that the writer first referred to in this 
article, who follows Gilfillan in the quotation, was well 
acquainted with the exposure of his inexcusable un-
truth in reference to the statement of Baronius. 
We have no hesitation in expressing our firm belief 
that there is no other question or doctrine which was 
ever foisted upon the Christian world, in favor of which 
so much deception has been used and so many false-
hoods told, as that of the Sunday—the falsely-styled 
" Christian Sabbath." The Baptists take pleasure in 
pointing to the fact that infant baptism is sustained 
only by tradition, having no foundation in the word of 
God. In this we think they are right. But they can-
not produce a tithe of the false reasoning and flagrant 
deceptions used to uphold infant baptism that are pro-
duced to uphold the Sunday. Consistency demands 
that the Baptists repudiate the Sunday as a traditional 
error. The very fact that so many deceptions and 
"pious frauds" (minus the pious!) are practiced to hold 
it up, is sufficient to cause every thinking Bible believer 
to regard it with just suspicion. And when it is con-
sidered that nothing better than bare inferences are ever 
brought from the Bible, without a single direct state-
ment in its favor, or a basis for these deceptions, the case 
ought to be settled in every candid mind. The truth is 
that if auy Bible evidence could be produced resort 
would not be had to these deceptions; they would not 
be necessary. 
It is sad to contemplate that Protestantism has degen-
erated to that degree that almost the best of her denom-
inations will cling to a dogma which has no sure founda-
tion except that of tradition; no direct evidence but 
that of " the church; " no law in its favor but that of 
legislatures! A Catholic priest whom we told that we 
kept the seventh day and not the Sunday, said to us: 
" You are genuine Protestants; you have nothing of the 
Catholic Church left to you." This is exactly the posi-
tion which we wish ever to occupy. If this is our posi- 
tion; if we are successful in keeping the " command- 
ments of God, and the faith of Jesus," unadulterated by 
any of the institutions and requirements of " the beast 
and his image," we shall hope by divine favor to meet 
our Lord with joy when he comes to reap the harvest of 
the earth. Rev. 14. , 
IT is stated that the idols now worshiped in India 
and Africa are for the most part manufactured in Eng-
land. These are frequently sent out in the same ves-
sels which carry Bibles and other religious literature 
for the conversion of the heathen. Adding this to the 
opium enormity forced upon China by British guns, the 
great Christian nation " upon whose possessions the sun 
never sets,", is carrying, a fearful load of responsibility. 
Melchisedek. 
THE question is asked us how we reconcile our views 
of Melchisedek with the following words from the 
" Spirit of Prophecy," Vol. 2, page 396, concerning 
Christ: " Ask Abraham, he will tell you, It is Melchis-
edek, King of Salem, King of Peace." We see no diffi-
culty in this. King of Salem is king of peace, for " Sa-
lem " means " peace." Melchisedek is formed from two 
Hebrew words, melek, king, and zedek, righteousness. 
Christ is truly Melchisedek, in the sense that he is truly 
the king of righteousness, but he is not that Melchge-
dek of Gen, 14, who was a type of Christ. He is the 
antitype—a priest after the order presented by him in 
Gen. 14. In that type Abraham saw Christ, as truly as 
Israel saw him in Aaron, or in the sin-offering. Because 
he was the Lamb of God, an offering for sin, he was not 
the lamb offered in the sanctuary on earth. 
Ezekiel, speaking of the final restoration of God's 
people, more than four hundred years after the death 'of 
King David, said: "And I will set up one shepherd 
over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant Da-
vid; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 
And the Lord will be their God, and my servant David 
a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." Eze. 
34:23, 24. 
By this shall we conclude that David was actually 
Christ ? and that, when the kingdom is restored, David 
will again reign over it, he being truly the Messiah ? 
No; we shall not. Yet we have just as strong reason 
for this conclusion as we have for the belief that Mel-
chisedek of Gen. 14 was Christ. Abraham saw Christ 
in Melchisedek, just as Ezekiel saw Christ in David. 
Melchisedek represented Christ in his priesthood, even 
as David represented him in his future reign and king-
dom. He is a priest " after the order " of the first; he 
will be a king in the line of the second. We willingly 
rest with our readers the argument on this subject in 
the SIGNS of September 20. 
The Doctrine of the Second Advent of Christ 
Was Known to the Patriarchs. 
. IN our last number we showed that the prophecy of 
Enoch concerning the second advent of Christ (Jude 14: 
15) was known to the entire ten generations which pre-
ceded the deluge. But was the doctrine of the second 
advent of Christ known also to the patriarchs Abra-
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of the Hebrew race ? 
Noah was not born till after the translation of Enoch; 
but six generations of the ancestors of Noah were able 
to repeat to him the prophecy of Enoch, and to confirm 
that prophecy by the history of his godly life, and of 
his translation to Heaven in a chariot of fire. These six 
generations of witnesses were Lamech, Methuselah, Ja-
red, Mahalaleel, Cainan, and Enos, the grandson of 
Adam. 
Noah lived after the flood during the period of 350 
years. Gen. 9:28, 29. His life was continued till he 
had seen ten generations of his decendants. These were 
Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug. Na-
hor, Terah, and Nahor. He died when Nahor was 58 
years of age, and two years before the birth of Abraham. 
Gen. 11:10-27. St. Peter tells us that Noah was a 
preacher of righteousness. 2 Pet.. 2:5. Noah was well 
instructed concerning the doctrine of the second advent, 
and concerning the life and the translation of Enoch, 
and was able to teach these things to ten generations of 
his descendants. Though Noah died two years before 
the birth cf Abraham, yet the latter had the privilege 
of conversing with Shem, the son of Noah, 150 years; 
with Arphaxad, his son, 53 years; with Salah, his son, 88 
years; and with Eber, his son, 145 years. These had 
listened during several centuries to the preaching of 
Noah. 
In particular, Abraham had the great privilege of 
conversing with Shem during 150 years, and Shem had 
not only been instructed by Noah, his father, during 
448 years, but also by Lamech, the father of Noah, and 
grandson of Enoch, during 93 years, and what was still 
more interesting, by Methuselah, the father of Lamech, 
and the son of Enoch, during 98 years. The instruction 
of Abraham by Shem during 150 years was therefore of 
the highest value to Abraham, as it gave him all the 
knowledge of divine truth possessed by Noah and Enoch. 
Shem was able to converse also during 50 years with 
Isaac, the son of Abraham. Compare Genesis, chapters 
5, 9, 11, and 21. 
We know then from these 'facts that Abraham and 
OCTOBER 4, 1883. �THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. �
439 
Isaac were well instructed concerning the prophecy of 
Enoch, and concerning his translation. But we have 
other facts which clearly prove that Abraham under-
stood the second advent of Christ and the resurrection 
of the just. Christ said to the Jews: " Your father 
Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and 
was glad." John 8:56. And on another occasion he 
showed that his day was the day of his second advent. 
He said: " For as the lightning that lighteneth out of the 
one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part un-
der heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day." 
Luke 17:24. We are certain, then, that in vision Abra- 
ham beheld the second advent of Christ. 
According to Paul, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 
dwelled together. "By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in 
the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in 
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of 
the same promise." Heb. 11: 9. There was therefore 
an excellent opportunity for Abraham to instruct his 
son and grandson concerning the great truths which he 
had learned respecting the second advent of Christ and 
the day of Judgment. We know that Abraham was 
faithful in the performance of this sacred duty, for God 
says of Abraham: " I know him, that he will command 
his children and his household after him, and they shall 
keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; 
that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he 
hath spoken of him." Gen. 18:19. 
The apostle also informs us that Abraham looked for 
the New Jerusalem: " For he looked for a city which 
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." 
Heb. 11:10. This city will not come down from God 
out of Heaven until the day of Judgment arrives. Rev. 
20 and 21. We know therefore that Abraham looked 
forward to the second advent of Christ and to the day 
of Judgment for the fulfillment of the promise, and that 
Isaac and Jacob shared this hope with him. Heb. 11: 
9, 10. 
Paul said to Agrippa: " I stand and am judged for the 
hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers." 
Acts 26:6. These fathers were Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob. Then he defines this hope by saying: " Why 
should it be thought a thing incredible with you that 
God should raise the dead ? " Verse 8. The promise 
made to the fathers could only be fulfilled by the resur- 
rection of the dead, and this was well understood by 
them, for they saw the fulfillment afar off." Heb. 11: 
13. This fact is confirmed by Stephen when he says 
that God did not give to Abraham so much of the land 
of promise as would suffice for him to set his foot on, yet 
he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his 
heirs also. Acts 7: 5. It is certain therefore that Abra- 
ham looked forward to the resurrection of the just, at the 
Second advent of Christ, for the fulfillment of the prom- 
ise made to him by God. And this is confirmed by the 
declaration of St. Paul, that the resurrection of the dead 
was not only his hope personally, but also the hope of 
Israel, and the hope of the promise made of God unto 
the fathers. Compare Acts 23:6; 24:15, 21; 26: 6-8; 
28 : 20. 
The city of Sodom was destroyed just before the birth 
of Isaac. Compare Genesis, chapters 18, 19, and 21. 
Christ said that it should be more tolerable in the day 
of Judgment for Sodom than for the Jews who rejected 
him. Matt. 10:15; 11:24. This shows that the men of 
Sodom will appear at the judgment-seat of Christ. We 
must therefore conclude that the Sodomites had some 
knowledge of the day of Judgment. Let us see how this 
could be. 1. Lot dwelled among them and was called 
in derision a judge. Gen. 19: 9. But Lot had long been 
associated with Abraham, and was therefore familiar 
with all that Abraham knew concerning the second ad-
vent and the Judgment. It was the unpopular preach-
big of Lot that caused him to be called a judge. 2. 
Abraham, to whom God had given so great light on this 
subject, dwelled •but a short distance from Sodom. Gen. 
19 : 27, 28. 3. Melchisedek, who was greater than Abra-
ham (Heb. 7: 1-7), and who was the express representa- 
tive of Christ, also dwelled near Sodom. Gen. 14. 4. 
Shem, who had witnessed the deluge, and who had con- 
versed many years with Methuselah, the son of Enoch, 
and with Lamech, his grandson, lived till fifty years 
after the destruction of Sodom. The men of Sodom had 
therefore the means of great light concerning the sec- 
ond advent of Christ and the day of Judgment. Cer-
tainly Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob well understood these 
great truths, and when Jacob died in Egypt, not hav-
ing received the promise, he fell asleep in the confident 
assurance that the promise would be fulfilled to him in 
the resurrection of the just. �
J. N. A. 
Sabbatou in Col. 2 : 16. 
LUTHER LEE, in his " Theology," p. 375, presents 
the following criticism on Col. 2 : 16. The text reads 
thus: " Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in 
drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, 
or of the Sabbath days." 
On which Mr. Lee says: " To what Sabbath does the 
apostle refer ? He uses the Greek word sabbaton, which 
is everywhere used to denote the seventh-day Sabbath, 
without giving any notice that he means anything else; 
and while by a holy day and the new moon, he includes 
all other feasts and rests which might be called sabbaths, 
he leaves nothing but the seventh-day Sabbath to be 
meant by the sabbath days." 
The arguments which Mr. Lee presents to show that 
Paul refers to the seventh-day Sabbath in Col. 2 :16, 
and that, consequently, that Sabbath is not binding on 
Christians, are these: First, the apostle uses the word 
sabbaton, which everywhere denotes the seventh-day 
Sabbath; and, secondly, the other terms used in the 
text cover all other kinds of sabbaths, so that this word 
must refer here to the seventh-day Sabbath. 
He evidently designed to convey to the mind of the 
reader the idea that the term sabbaton, always and in ev-
ery place, means the seventh-day Sabbath; and we can 
see the object of this; for unless it does always have this 
meaning, his argument on the use of the term here is 
null and void. But it will be noticed that he does not 
directly assert this; nor do we think he would be willing 
to so far risk his reputation as a scholar as to make such 
a declaration. He says the term sabbaton " is every-
where used to denote the seventh-day Sabbath; " which 
is true so far as the fact is concerned that whenever the 
seventh-day Sabbath is spoken of, the term sabbaton or 
its synonym, sabbata, is used. But it is quite another 
thing to say that the word sabbaton never means any-
thing else, as he evidently designed to have the reader 
understand. It may be used to denote the seventh-day 
Sabbath in every instance where that Sabbath is brought 
to view; and yet it may have a much wider significa_ 
tion, and be applied, in other places, to other objects. 
The question to be decided is, Does the term sabbaton 
ever refer to the ceremonial sabbaths of the Jews ? If 
it does, then the apostle may have used it in that sense 
in Col. 2 :16; and the argument of Mr. Lee so far falls 
to the ground. We therefore refer the reader to Lev. 
16 :31; 23 : 32; and 25 :2, 4, 6, as found in the Septua-
gint, where he will see that the term Sabbaton is used 
in reference to the day of atonement, one of the yearly 
sabbaths of the Jews, and is even applied to the sev-
enth year in which the land should rest. 
This is conclusive on this point. But there is in the 
New Testament evidence enough that the term sabba-
ton does not always mean the seventh-day Sabbath. 
Every lexicon tells us that it sometimes means the 
whole week, the interval from Sabbath to Sabbath; 
and Luke 18 : 12 furnishes an instance where it must 
have this signification. 
So much for his argument on Sabbaton. Let us now 
look for a moment at his other statement, that the re-
maining terms in Col. 2 : 16, namely, the " holy day " 
and " new moon " include all other feasts and rests 
which might be called sabbaths, so that the term sab-
baton is necessarily restricted to the seventh-day Sab-
bath. The term translated holy day " is heorte, 
which is defined by Greenfield, a "solemn feast;public 
festival, holy day ; specially spoken of the passover." 
Robinson adds, " Specially (a) The passover, and the 
festival of unleavened bread connected with it, the pas-
chal festival. (b) The feast of tabernacles." The pass-
over festival occupied seven days, and the feast of tab-
ernacles, eight. The first and last days of these feasts 
were special days. In them the people were to have a 
holy convocation, and perform no servile work. They 
were sabbaths. The other days of the feast were simply 
holidays, and were designated by this term, heorte; 
while the solemnity and cessation from labor that per-
tained to the first and last days called for another title, 
and they were termed sabbaths. So Kitto says, respect-
ing the feast of tabernacles, " It began on the fifteenth 
day of the seventh month, and continued eight days, 
the first and last being sabbaths." The new moon, 
noumenia, was another kind of festival, and did not 
include any which could properly be called a sabbath; 
that is, no day was a sabbath, or day of rest, on account 
of its being the festival of the new moon. 
Thus we see that the terms, " holy day " and new 
moon " are not sufficient, as Mr. Lee asserts, to cover all 
the subjects which the apostle wished to introduce, 
namely, the ordinary feast days of the Jews, the new 
moons, and the sabbaths connected with their feasts; 
and these latter he designates by the word sabbatone, 
just as they were designated in the Greek version of the 
Old Testament then in use. 
But there are other considerations which should have 
been sufficient to save Mr. Lee from so false a criticism 
upon this text:- 
The sabbaths here mentioned are those associated 
with meats, drinks, new moons, and festivals. But the 
seventh-day Sabbath never was so associated. 
The sabbaths here spoken of were, like the new 
moons and feasts with which they were connected, shad-
ows of things to come. But the seventh-day Sabbath 
never was a shadow; it was instituted before the fall, 
when, from the very nature of the case, a type could 
not have existed. This language of the apostle, there-
fore, in the most emphatic manner, excludes the weekly 
Sabbath from the days of which he speaks. 
All that is mentioned in verse 16 is included in the 
handwriting of ordinances of verse 14, which was 
against us, and which was blotted out and nailed to the 
cross. But the seventh-day Sabbath never was a part 
of these ordinances, as such. It owed its existence to 
enactments entirely distinct, not being written by the 
hand of Moses, but being proclaimed by the voice of 
God from the summit of Sinai, and engraved with his 
finger upon the tables of stone. And to speak of blot-
ting out such a document would be to say that a person 
could, with pen and ink, erase the chiseled inscription 
of the marble monument. If Mr. Lee is correct, Paul 
did not write by inspiration of God; for that never thus 
bungles in the use of language. 
The word Sabbatone is in the plural, and shout! here 
be so rendered. If it was in the singular number, it might 
with propriety be claimed that it referred to the weekly 
Sabbath. But being plural, it may properly be so ren-
dered; and the context, showing that it must refer to 
the ceremonial sabbaths of the Jews, demand4 that .the 
plural rendering be here given it. So if the word days, 
which our translators have supplied, be omitted, it 
should be rendered sabbaths. In this manner God 
speaks of the sabbaths of the Jewish church, when by 
the prophet Hosea (2:11) he calls them " her sabbaths," 
and predicts that they should cease, as Paul here de-
clares that they had ceased. Robinson says sabbatone, 
in Col. 2:16, has a plural signification. 
Mr. Lee's criticism thus fails in every particular; for, 
1. The terms holy day (or feast day) and new moon do 
not cover the ceremonial sabbaths of the Jews. 2. The 
term sabbaton is applied to those sabbaths, and is 
needed in this text to denote them. 3. The sabbaths of 
this text are associated with ceremonies. 4. They are 
shadows, or types. 5. They are blotted out. 6. The 
word is plural. All which considerations prove that the 
text has no reference whatever to the Sabbath of the 
moral law; and hence contains no evidence that we are 
not morally bound to observe it. �
u. s. 
REMARK.-It is quite sufficient to condemn any doc-
trine or theory that its advocates have to resort to cavils 
and subterfuges, to false reasonings and even to false 
statements to uphold it before the world. And no doc-
trine was ever foisted upon the church which has been 
advocated by so much error in reasoning and statement 
as that of the misnamed " Christian Sabbath." What 
but a lack of proof, and a deep-seated prejudice could 
lead such a man as Luther Lee to put before the world 
such a criticism as that noticed above ? " Rev. R. G. 
Baird," a Congregational minister, wrote, and preached, 
and published two sermons in opposition to the views of 
Seventh-day Adventists, in which he said the plural 
form of sabbaton, as found in Col. 2 : 16, always means 
the Jewish Sabbath, by which he meant the seventh day. 
Now the form used in Col. 2 : 16, the genitive plural, is 
used in the New Testament ten times, and of these it is 
eight times used with a prefixed numeral and trans-
lated first day of the Reek ! For notice of another 
" specimen falsehood" see the first editorial of this pa-
per. Now the question arises, Why will people still 
cling to that which can be upheld only by sophistry and 
deception ? This is a question which ought to receive 
candid consideration. We think the explanation is 
found in the fact that the standard of piety in • the 
churches is very low; that there is very little genuine 
faith in the Bible; and that the majority prefer popu-
larity to' the cross of the truth of God. 
440 �
TII �
1-i; SIGNS OF 111-11-1] TIM I-4.S. �
Vol,. 9, No. 37. 
theAlfli55i,onam 
California Tract and Missionary Society. 
THE first meeting of the thirteenth annual 
session of the California Tract and Missionary 
Society was called to order by the President, Eld. 
S. N. Haskell, Sept. 9, at 9 A. M. Prayer was 
offered by Elder Colcord. The reading of the 
minutes of the last annual session was waived, 
and the report of the April meeting, showing the 
plans of labor for the summer, was read, also the 
following report of the workings of the Society 
for the past year:— 
The membership of the Society is 699, the 
number of new members added during the year 
being 86. There were 1,142 reports returned, 
which is an increase of 200 over the previous 
year. Number of families visited, 9,783; in-
crease, 4,776. Letters written, 3,946; pages of 
tracts given away, 1,195,366; increase, 106,892. 
Periodicals distributed, 158,564; increase, 74,464. 
The number of SIGNS taken in clubs is 2,000; 
increase, 446. Number of subscriptions obtained 
to the various periodicals, 2,184; and 1,184 of 
these are yearly subscribers. In addition to this, 
171 yearly subscriptions were taken upon the 
camp-ground, making 1,355, of which 156 were 
for the Review and Herald. 
During the year, books to the amount of $1,-
016,47, and $598.42 worth of tracts have been 
sold, making a total of $1,614.89, not .including 
books sold by subscription. The expense of 
freight, postage, stationery, furnishing SIGNS and 
Good Health to public libraries, etc., is $201.24. 
On account of the increased agitation of the 
Sunday question last fall, it was thought ad-
visable to issue a special edition of the SIGNS 
previous to the election. Over 300,000 of this 
edition were sent out, the greater portion of them 
to the citizens of this State. This cost $1,779.62, 
the mdst of which was paid at the time by sub-
scriptions and donations. The remainder, $383.55, 
has been paid since the quarterly meeting in April, 
when pledges were made for this purpose and for 
the support of the Seaman's Mission. 
The Seaman's Mission has steadily increased 
in interest and importance since its beginning, 
and at present one missionary is devoting all of his 
time, and two others spend a portion of their 
time, in the work. They have visited 1,113 ships, 
and with the officers and crews of these vessels, 
176,096 pages of reading matter, and 14,152 peri-
odicals have been left; for these they have paid 
$174, which shows their interest in the truth. 
Donations to the amount of $1,000 have been 
received from the friends of the cause throughout 
the State, leaving. about $616.45 now due on 
pledges made last April. A reading-room has 
been secured, with a library of over one hundred 
volumes. A general assortment of our publi-
cations is kept on hand, and meetings held with 
those that are interested. The workers also re-
ceive fifty copies of the SIGNS, and a club of each 
of the foreign papers, with which to supply the 
ships. A number have been baptized, and many 
are reported as interested. On some ships the 
entire crew are keeping the Sabbath, as the re-
sult of this work. 
The SIGNS is considered as an important means 
of forwarding the truth; and experience has 
proved that the people will read with more in-
terest that for which they pay, hence the plan 
of obtaining monthly subscribers was adopted. 
During the short time devoted to this work, more 
than 1,000 subscriptions were taken, and many 
of these have renewed for a longer period. This 
being an experiment, it was thought that the 
cost would exceed the income; but this has not 
been the case, as $18.00 above the expense have 
been received. 
The. President spoke of the success which has 
attended the efforts of those engaged in the work 
of obtaining short-term subscriptions to the SIGNS. 
Eld. Israel mentioned the plan of missionary work 
adopted in connection with the tent-meetings at 
Downey, Los Angeles County, and the favorable 
results which attended the Bible-readings. Bro. 
McClure also gave some of his experience in the 
missionary work. 
The President appointed the following com-
mittees: On Nominations—N. C. McClure, John 
Judson, J. W. Gardner; on Resolutions—W. C. 
White, �
C. Israel, G. D. Ballou. 
The second meeting was held Sept. 17, at 5:30 
M. Prayer by Eld. Ballou. The minutes of 
the last meeting were read and approved. The 
following resolutions were presented:— 
WHEREAS, The experience of our colporteurs in many 
conferences has been such as to give us great confidence 
in the results to be gained by obtaining short-term sub-
scriptions for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and following 
the interests thus aroused by supplying other reading 
matter; and 
WHEREAS, Some would engage in this work who can-
not make a second visit; therefore 
Resolved, That we recommend to such the plan of 
taking monthly subscriptions, with the understanding 
that some Vigilant Mis4onary Society shall furnish the 
papers, and follow up the work by correspondence. 
Resolved, That we regard with, pleasure the increas-
ing usefulness of the Seaman's Mission, and heartily ap-
prove of the steps taken in the opening of a reading-room. 
WHEREAS, We have arrived at a time in the history 
of the Message when greater efforts should be made by 
all our Tract Societies to carry forward the work, 
Resolved, That each director be requested to visit every 
church in his district as often as once in three months, 
that he may be able to direct the work, and see that a 
supply of books, tracts, and papers, is provided for the 
use of the members, and that proper persons are en-
couraged to act as colporteurs and canvassers, and that 
he visit families and conduct Bible-readings. 
WHEREAS, A revised and enlarged book of instruc-
tions has been prepared by the officers of the Inter-
national Tract and Missionary Society, containing the 
constitution of International, State, and Vigilant Mis-
sionary Societies, besides many valuable hints and sug-
gestions which are indispensable to those who would 
be successful misssonary workers; therefore, 
Resolved, That we recommend this book to all who 
desire to work intelligently and harmoniously in the 
cause; and we recommend that our directors, district 
secretaries, librarians, and all others who have any in-
tere,st in the tract and missionary work, study this new 
work, and endeavor to carry out its important sug-
gestions in connection with their work. 
These resolutions were adopted, after remarks 
showing the importance of the officers and mem-
bers' taking steps to put them into effect. 
In favor of the first resolution, Eld. Haskell 
related the partial result of the work in Nevada, 
where, in a short time, 273 subscriptions were 
obtained. The papers were furnished by the 
California Society. As the canvasser could not 
revisit the subscribers, the Secretary corresponded 
with them, and in nearly every instance they 
expressed themselves as very much interested in 
its contents, and some have renewed. He thought 
 
those travelingcould call on families take their 
subscription, and the SIGNS be furnished by ome 
society which will also correspond with them and 
receive the subscription price, thus helping pay 
for the club of SIGNS. 
The Nominating Committee presented the fol-
lowing names for officers, who were duly elected: 
President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, 
Eld. M. C. Israel; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. 
C. Rice; the Assistant Secretary to be ap-
pointed by the other officers. Director of Dis-
trict No. 1, Wm. Ings; No. 2, W. G. Buckner; 
No. 3, W. A. Pratt; No. 4, J. D. Bandy; No. 5, 
Wm. Butcher; No. 6, Jos. Leininger; No. 7, W. 
J. Bostwick; No. 8, H. C. Palmer; No. 9, A. F. 
Brown. 
It was voted that Nevada Tract Society join 
us as District No. 10, with J. W. Bond as Director. 
The Treasurer's report was read as follows:— 
Cash received on memberships �
$ 86.00 
" �
" �
" donations. �
 430.53 
" �
" �
" one-third �
 574.27 
" �
" book sales 
�
643 27 
" �
" �
" SIGNS 
 1,557.40 
" �
" �
" periodicals �
 543.95 
" �
" Special SIGNS and Ship Fund.... �
 1,170.15 
" �
" Reserve Fund �
 207.5G 
" �
" �
" International T. and M. Society �
20.00 
" �
" �
" Tent Fund
1.00-$5,234.07 
Paid SIGNS Office �
$3,835.23 
" Review " �
 862.79 
" incidentals 
�
55.00 
" individuals. �
113.55 
" International T. and M. Society 
�
60.00 
" Tent Fund 
�
1.00 
`` Seaman's Mission...
99.00 
" Reserve Fund
207.50.45,234.07 
FINANCIAL STANDING OF THE SOCIETY. 
$1,236.35 
253.25 
40.75 
250.72 
2,451.45 
Foreign publications on hand �
 287.00-$4,519.52 
Society owes Spanish Mission �$131.00-$ 131.00 
Assets �
4,388.52 
Adjourned sine die. 
ALICE MORRISON, Sec. 
WHAT sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to hu-
manity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but scat-
tered along life's pathway, the good they do is 
inconceivable. 
College Missionary Work. 
IN a previous communication, the organization 
and working condition of our Society were men-
tioned. It may be well to give further infor-
mation respecting labor performed by some of 
the members. The following are extracts from 
other letters which have been received from in-
terested readers of our publications. A gentle-
man in Kansas writes:— 
"DEAR SIR: I have just received your card. I 
have also received copies of your excellent paper, 
the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It contains some very 
able articles. I have read them with increasing 
interest. I will write you a letter soon. Yours 
truly." 
The writer of the foregoing is a graduate of 
the Kansas State University, and is a very intel-
ligent man, and, it is believed, a thoroughly hon- 
est one. �
_nother writes from Kansas:— 
" Mir DEAR SIR: I have just received your letter 
informing me where the SIGNS OF THE TIMES 
came from. Let me say in beginning that I am 
very much pleased with the tone of your paper. 
I most heartily agree with you that the paper 
is calculated to purify and fit for a higher life.' 
And it is sad that more such literature is not cir-
culated. Can say, ' God-speed' to all efforts to 
circulate the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; for God knows 
there is enough ignorance, enough perversion of 
the Scriptures in the orthodox theology of to-
day. I wish you all the success you possibly 
can have in the good work. I should enjoy a 
letter from you once in awhile touching upon 
these matters, very much indeed; that is, if you 
think me worthy. Your brother in Christ." 
The writer is a county school superintendent. 
Another who has been reading the SIGNS and 
tracts for a number of weeks past writes:— 
" DEAR FRIEND: Your letter to hand two days 
ago. I 'am glad to learn that you are in good 
health, which is one of the greatest blessings for 
which we ought to be thankful. I truly thank 
you for your true kindness and Christian sym-
pathy shown toward me, a mere stranger. I 
only can say that I am glad that I ever met you. 
Now you ask my opinion of your paper. I am 
very much pleased with it, and, believe me, I 
read it all through as soon as I receive it. I am 
very much interested with the contents of the 
first page, as it gives a clear view of the way 
that Martin Luther had to battle against the 
Romish Church, and of his glorious victory over 
the papal power. What would have been the 
result if such a man had not existed ? and why 
was it that Rome had such a stronghold? Where 
was Christianity all those years, that there should 
have existed only such a corrupt and wicked 
doctrine ? I am satisfied on one thing, however, 
and that is, I believe it was a good and glorious 
victory, the reformation of Martin Luther. I 
would be glad to see many more come from their 
ranks, as they are still in a state of corruption, 
and always will be. Now I also agree with your 
paper and pamphlets treating on the Sabbath. 
In fact, everything is very clearly brought out, 
and it will enlighten the minds of all who read 
it carefully and thoughtfully; and as soon as I 
have done reading it, I send it to my brother 
Will, thinking that he, too, may be interested 
and benefited by it. I am unsettled just now, 
else I would subscribe for it and save you the 
trouble of sending it to me, for which I am much 
indebted to you. I believe that the Bible is the 
best guide I can have on this earth, as it is a sure 
one for all who read and accept it as such. If I 
had always taken it for my guide, I know I 
would be a better man to-day. There is another 
thing which I would like to mention to you. 
Heaven and hell seem a mystery to me. I am 
not at rest on that question. I have used the 
language of Saul, Lord, what wilt thou have me 
to do ?' and, Lord, I believe; help thou my un-
belief;' and still I am not satisfied. I cannot 
realize the horrors of hell as usually spoken of. 
Dear friend, I know that you will feel sorry at 
hearing these things, and, if you have time, I 
will be glad to hear from you on this life or death 
question. You will hear from me before you 
come this way in September, as I want to see 
you. Your friend." 
The writer is a gentleman who lives in San 
Francisco, and whom one of our members met 
while traveling during vacation. At that time 
many others of interest were met, and have since 
been remembered with reading matter. Such 
letters as the last are full of encouragement, yet 
Due from districts on account �
 
`` �
" individuals �
 
" �
" �
SIGNS to England �
 
" �
" �
Seaman's Mission �
 
Reserve deposit �
 
..... • • �
• • • • • 
S. N. HASKELL. Pres. 
OCTOBER 4, 1883. �THE SIGNS OF THE TIM I-41,S. �
441 
the Lord might bless the worker as much in 
a less promising case. It is ours to sow, and 
patiently wait and watch and pray. These, and 
all other letters, are answered by the persons 
receiving them, after they have been read in the 
weekly meeting and suggestions have been made 
relative to the proper method of reply. 
A member of the society went out into the 
country a few miles on business. As usual, he 
carried a few copies of the SIGNS and some tracts 
in his pocket for distribution. He found an op-
portunity to leave several with a family con-
sisting of the parents and two adult relatives. 
These were eagerly read, and more requested. 
Within a few weeks these four individuals began 
to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, two of whom 
are thoroughly established in the faith. More 
might be added concerning work performed, but 
enough has been stated to show that God has 
signally blessed the efforts of Healdsburg College 
Missionary Society. �
CHAS. C. RAMSEY. 
Healdsburg College, Sept. 20. 
Camp-Meeting at Merrillon, Wisconsin. 
IT was something of an experiment to appoint 
a meeting in this part of the State; but the result 
has justified the mo'vement, although the attend-
ance was not quite as large as was anticipated, 
or as it should have been, because, no doubt, 
many who did not come might have done so by a 
proper effort. But those who did come enjoyed 
a blessing which amply repaid their trouble and 
sacrifice. There were about thirty tents pitched 
in a grove of young pines. The weather was 
fine, except for a rain on Sabbath afternoon and 
the evening following. 
All who came seemed to have done so for the 
purpose of seeking the blessing of God, and his 
Spirit was present to reprove of sin and neglect, 
and to teach the way of truth.. The practical 
duties of the Christian, Spiritual Gifts, plainness 
of dress, tithing, and the tract and missionary 
work received particular attention. The cam 
was so divided as to bring every individual unde 
the personal care of a minister. The surrounding 
groves afforded good opportunity for secret de-
votions; and as there were no business meetings 
to divide the attention, the circumstances all 
seemed to favor a spiritual meeting. There was 
one favorable feature in nearly all the good res-
olutions express,ed—they were practical, they 
covered some definite point. 
One day of the meeting was given to the chil- 
dren and Sunday-school work. The day was a 
profitable one, and several children publicly came 
to the Saviour for his blessing. A praise-meeting 
was held at which we spoke of our blessings, and 
expressed the praise of God. After about two 
hours, want of time closed the meeting while 
many evidently desired to bear their testimonies. 
At this and a few previous local meetings about 
$1,200 have been raised to aid the work in can-
vassing for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. This was 
said by many to have been the best meeting they 
ever attended, and it is to be hoped it may prove 
to be a permanent blessing to the cause in this 
portion of State; and should another be held 
doubtless the attendance would be larger. 
G. C. TENNEY. 
New York Camp-Meeting. 
Tins meeting was held Sept. 12-18, at Union 
Square, the same place and ground occupied last 
year. There were upwards of seventy tents on 
the ground, and about five hundred campers. We 
arrived at the place on Wednesday afternoon, and 
found the preparations far advanced. 
The camp-meeting opened at 5:30 P. M. of the 
12th, with a business session of the New York 
Conference. At 7:30 the same evening the first 
sermon was given. A special effort was made to 
get the business out of the way before the Sab-
bath, and with good success. Everything moved 
off in harmony. Steps were taken to bring up 
the colporteur and canvassing work to its true 
position, and it had the effect to decide quite a 
number of brethren and sisters, both old and 
young, to consecrate themselves to the work. Bro. 
Boynton was here with his accustomed zeal, to 
give instruction in this branch of the work. He 
had quite a large class. 
Sr. White arrived on the ground on Friday. 
She had taken a severe cold at the Maine meeting, 
and had stopped near Portland to take some treat-
ment. She felt so poorly that she nearly decided 
to go by the New York meeting to Battle Creek, 
and take treatment at the Sanitarium; but she 
finally decided to stop. On Sabbath afternoon 
she spoke with her usual freedom and power, and 
labored after speaking for backsliders and sinners. 
The Lord blessed and raised her above her phys-
ical infirmities, so that she spoke on Sunday, and 
to our people again on Monday, and when we left 
the meeting she was much better than when she 
came. 
The special effort made for sinners, and those 
far from God, met with a good degree of success. 
Many responded, not only by coming forward, 
but by earnestly seeking God. On Monday, those 
wishing baptism were invited forward, and twenty 
candidates went to the water, and this holy ordi-
nance was administered to them by Eld. R. F. 
Cottrell. 
There was a good degree of freedom enjoyed in 
the preaching, and in the social meetings. The 
plain testimony borne, and the clear, searching 
truth that we are entering the perils of the last 
days, and that we are not doing one-twentieth 
of what we should, had the effect to arouse some 
to a sense of their lukewarm condition, and of 
their need of help from God. A good degree of 
courage and hope was expressed in the camp be-
fore the meeting closed. 
The effort made by Bro. Butler on Monday 
morning to show the extent of the work of the 
closing message of mercy, and the wants of the 
missions in Europe, and of the International T. 
and M. Society, had a good effect on all. The 
call for pledges to sustain these enterprises was 
cheerfully responded to. The sum of $1,350 was 
pledged. 
Taking all in all, this was a good meeting. 
Though this Conference is feeling severely the 
loss of some of their leading men, who have gone 
to labor in other important fields, they feel of 
good courage, and several of the young men re-
solved to take hold and improve the talents God 
has given them. �I. D. VAN HORN. 
Chicago, Sept. 19, 1883. 
Mondovi, Wisconsin. 
ON account of the Merrillon camp-meeting we 
closed our labors here for about two weeks, when 
we expect to return and follow it up as the way 
may open. The enemies of the truth have be-
come violent in their feelings and speeches, but 
we trust that the wrath of man may be turned to 
the glory of God. A few have accepted the truth, 
and we hope for others, so that we may form a 
good class of those who keep the commandments 
of God and the faith of Jesus. There seems to 
be quite a general desire to hear the truth. 
G. C. TENNEY, 
C. F. STILLWELL. 
North Pacific Conference. 
WE held our last meeting in the tent last even-
ing. The results of our missionary efforts and 
meetings is not yet fully developed. Seven or 
eight have expressed their decision to keep the 
Lord's Sabbath with the rest of the command-
ments of God. Others attend the Sabbath meet-
ings whom we trust will yet take a decided stand. 
One week ago last Sabbath, two willing souls 
were baptized in the Willamette River. One of 
these is a promising young man who merged from 
the darkness of skepticism into the glorious light 
of the Third Angel's Message. One story of a 
building, in the most central part of town, to be 
used for a public reading-room, State T. and M. 
Depository, and Librarians rooms, is now ready 
for the work of the mason, which commences to-
day. By the grace of God we expect to make 
this a missionary station, from which we trust the 
light of truth will be sent by railroad, by ships, 
and steamers, to lands both near and far. 
CHAS. L. BOYD. 
East Portland, Or., Sept. 20, 1883. 
O LORD, thou givest bounteous spoil 
To the poor measure of our toil, �
• 
For our few gray, dark sowing days 
The glow of August's evening blaze. 
And what can we give for the pain 
With which thou sowed immortal grain ? 
Nothing—for all we have is thine, 
Who need'st not corn, nor oil, nor wine; 
Nothing—unless thou make us meet 
To follow thee through tares and wheat, 
And from the storm of wrath and sin 
To help thee bring thy harvest in. �
—Sel 
atinferanct, 
Liquor Selling. 
THE following is an extract from a thrilling pro-
hibition speech made by John B. Gough, on the 
ourth of July last:- 
1 will tell you my idea of liquor traffic very 
briefly. God forgive me, I do not speak of it 
boastingly, for my sin is ever before me; seven 
years of my life was a dark blank. I know what 
the burning appetite for stimulant is; I know all 
about it, and I have sat by the dying bedside of 
drunkards; I have held their hands in mine; I 
have tried to lead them at the last gasp to the 
Saviour who never turned any away who came to 
him; and yet, in the light of my own experience 
and the experience of others that I have seen 
through my observation, I could say: Father in 
Heaven, if it be thy will that man shall suffer, 
whatever seemeth good in thy sight of temporal 
evil, impose it on me; take from me the friends of 
my old age; let the bread of affliction be given to 
me to eat; let the hut of poverty be my dwelling-
place; let the wasting hand of disease be laid 
upon me; let me walk in the whirlwind, live in 
the storm; let the passing away of my welfare be 
like the flowing of a stream and the shouts of my 
enemies like rain on the waters; when I speak 
good let evil come on me—do all this, but save 
me, merciful God, save me from the bed of a 
drunkard! And yet, as I shall answer to thee in 
the day of judgment, I would rather be the 
veriest sot that ever reeled through your streets 
than I would be the man who sold him his liquor 
for a month. 
I think it is the most awful business that a 
man can possibly engage in. There is no good 
in it. How much benefit is it to a town that a 
man shall start a saloon ? I wish Mr. Bowen, 
when he gives the next grand entertainment, 
would invite some of the liquor-sellers of Con-
necticut to come here and show the, benefits of 
their business to this people. Let them bring a 
few specimens of their work. They can't do it. 
The raw material is always worth more than 
the manufactured article, always. As a boy said: 
"I know So—and—so's saloon is finished." " How 
do you know it!" " I saw a fellow coming out 
of it drunk." A liquor-seller was very angry 
with a boy who, when he saw a drunken man 
had fallen down in front of a saloon, said: " Mister, 
your sign has fell down." 
I hate it because we have no redress. There 
is not a mother here that has any redress. There 
is not a wife here that has any redress. A wo-
man went into a grog-shop—and I give you facts 
that I can prove—to plead with the liquor-seller 
not to give her husband any more liquor. He 
took a tumbler of dirty water and threw its con-
tents in her face. She told her boy, and he 
thrashed that liquor-seller so he was on his back 
several days. Then the liquor-seller prosecuted 
the boy for assault and battery. and got the dam-
ages. They tried to prosecute him for throwing 
water in the woman's face. They failed, because 
she was intruding on his premises. There is not 
a liquor-seller that can't sell your husband drink, 
and you may plead with him if you will. You 
talk about moral suasion. Make it your own 
case. A young man once said to me: " I believe 
in moral suasion. I believe we have no right to 
attack the men." I told him a little fact that 
occurred, and asked him: " Suppose that was 
your mother that was kicked out of a rumshop 
when she came to plead with Mr. Leonard not to 
give her boy drink, and when he made her little 
boy nine or ten years old drunk and sent him 
home out of spite because she tried to prevent 
him selling liquor to her boy. What would you 
do ?" He said: " I would shoot him as I would 
a woodchuck." Said I: " I would not. I believe 
in the simple way. 1 believe in the annihilation 
of the traffic in intoxicating liquor ; and the 
sooner we get rid of it the better." 
AN equity suit has been brought in Philadel-
phia to compel an owner to cut down a tree whose 
roots were undermining an adjoining dwelling. 
Would not an equity suit be just as righteous 
against a man whose sale of liquor was " under-
mining" the moral character of his neighbor, the 
happiness of his wife, and the future prospects of 
his children? 
442 �
Tim SIGNS OF THE TIM 
I-I:S. �VOL. 9, No, 37. 
the �
Cute. 
CIIILDRJEN S' JOYS. 
THE children's world is full of sweet surprises; 
Our common things are precious in their sight: 
For them the stars shine, and the morning rises 
To show new treasures of untold delight:— 
A dance of bluebells in the shady places; 
A crimson flush of sunset in the west; 
The cobwebs, delicate as fairy laces; 
The sudden finding of a wood-bird's nest. 
Their hearts and lips are full of simple praises 
To Him who made the earth divinely sweet; 
They dwell among the buttercups and daises, 
And find His blessings strewn about their feet. 
But we, worn out by days of toil and sorrow, 
And sick of pleasures that are false and vain, 
Would freely give our golden hoards to borrow 
One little hour of childhood's bliss again. 
Yet he who sees their joy, beholds our sadness; 
And in the wisdom of a Father's love 
He keeps the secret of the heavenly gladness; 
Our sweet surprises wait for us above. 
—Sarah Doudney, in Christian at Work. 
A Bit of Experience in Cigar Smoking. 
" HERE comes a big boy; I guess he'll give us 
one." As Herbert Raymond looked up, he saw 
two ragged little fellows, a few paces in front of 
him, sitting on a stone by the roadside. The 
smaller one appeared to be about six years 
of age, and the other not more than two years 
older. 
It was the smaller one who had spoken, and he 
evidently referred to Herbert as the " big boy." 
" Say, won't you give us a match ?" asked the 
larger boy, as Herbert drew near and stood be-
fore them. 
" What do you want with a match ? " asked 
Herbert. 
" Want ter smoke," said the boy. 
" What! such a little fellow as you are ? Do 
you smoke ?" 
" You bet I do. I've smoked for more'n a year. 
But I'm not little. How old do you think I be ?," 
" Oh! about eight," said Herbert. 
" Eight! I guess I be. I'm almost ten. But 
what do you think of this little feller, not more'n 
half as big as me? He smokes, and chews, too." 
" What do you smoke ? " 
" Why, cigars, of course." And he stretched 
himself up, and thrust his hand deep among the 
patches of his ragged trousers. After fumbling 
about for a while, he drew forth three stubs of 
cigars, about an inch and a half long. 
" You've been using them already, I see," said 
Herbert. 
" No we hain't, either. That's what we want 
the lighters for." 
" How did you get the stubs, then ?" Herbert 
inquired. 
" Oh! some fellers was passin' and throwed 'em 
at us; but the fire had so nigh gone out that we 
couldn't make 'em go." 
" Let's share the cigars with him, if he'll fur-
nish the matches," broke in the smaller boy. 
" Of course we'll do that," said the other. 
" There'll be just one apiece." 
" I am just as much obliged to you," said Her-
bert, " but I don't care for the cigar; and as for 
matches, I haven't any with me." 
" Hain't got a match ? " 
" No." 
" What dye do when yer want a smoke ? " 
" I don't smoke," said Herbert. 
" What! a big feller like you don't smoke ? 
What'll yer do wen yer a man ?" 
" Indeed, I don't smoke. Do you think I 
would be seen with a dirty cigar or pipe in my 
mouth ? It is a filthy, useless habit at the best; 
and, if I were you, I would throw those old stubs 
away, and quit while able to do so." 
" Yes, cigars are mean, dirty things," said the 
boy, " and we are tryin' to get some fire so we can 
burn these up. But here comes Dick Jones. 
He's the boy for us. He always carries matches, 
and he'll be glad to share with us." 
At the mention of Dick Jones' name Herbert 
started quickly along, for he did not care for 
Dick to hear his lecture against cigars. 
Dick had seen him on one occasion trying to 
smoke, and he might mention it here, and then 
they would have a good laugh at his expense. 
True, Herbert had never smoked but twice in , 
all his life; but as he walked along trying to 
associate the idea of the manliness of smoking 
with the scene he had just witnessed, he felt a 
keener sense of the ridiculousness of such a 
thought than ever before, and he felt heartily 
ashamed of himself for having been so foolish as 
to try to learn to smoke. 
We will let him give an account of his experi-
ence with cigars in his own words, that other 
boys who have never tried them may catch a 
glimpse of the pleasure they afford. 
" It was about six months ago when Dick Jones 
got me to try one of his cigars. Dick is two 
years older than I, and learned to smoke when a 
small boy. We had been over to Meadow Brook 
fishing for trout, and had sat down to rest a few 
minutes before starting for home. Dick drew out 
a case of cigars and asked me to try one. I re-
fused to do so, when he lighted one, and began to 
smoke. He said they were very mild—wouldn't 
make a baby sick—and laughed at me for not be-
ing able to smoke. He continued to urge me till, 
at last, I lighted one and put it into my mouth. 
" I can taste it in my mouth now, and it makes 
me sick whenever I think of it. 
" I had not smoked more than a minute before 
I began to feel a strange sickness at the stomach, 
and my head seemed 'to have converted itself 
into a top, and set itself to spinning. 
" As soon as I felt able, we started for home. 
The first thing we had to do was'. to cross the 
brook on a rather shaky log that lay across it. 
I got along very well until about two-thirds across, 
when the rocking of the log, the dancing of the 
water below, and the whirling of my head, were 
altogether too much for me, and down I went 
into the stream. The water was quite shallow, 
but it managed to get all over me, and made me 
just as wet as though it had been twice as deep. 
After considerable effort I succeeded in getting 
home, changed my clothes, ate a very light supper, 
and went to bed much earlier than usual. The 
next morning I felt as wise as Solomon on the 
subject of using tobacco. 
" The next time I saw Dick he offered me 
another cigar, but I firmly refused. I told him 
that I had concluded to leave off smoking before 
the habit got too firmly fixed, and advised him to 
do the same. 
" Still he gave me no peace. Every time I met 
him he would broach the subject, and insist that 
I must learn. He said it was boyish to give up 
in that way, that I ought to have the manliness 
to stick to it. He had promised to say nothing 
about my smoking affair, but he told one or two 
of his associates, and they joined with him in a 
laugh at me for my weakness. 
" Some time after this one of the boys gave me 
a cigar, which he said I could smoke some time 
when I was alone, and then there would be no 
one to laugh at me. I thought this would be just 
the plan. Besides, this boy told me that the first 
cigar always made one sick, but that there was 
no difficulty in smoking the second one. 
" It was on one 'Saturday morning, about a 
month after my first attempt, that I thought I 
would try it again. I thought I would smoke a 
few times, just to show the boys I could do it, and 
then I would quit. 
" In the afternoon of this day there was to be 
an excursion to a lake about five miles distant. 
Our whole school was to go, and arrangements had 
been made for a grand time. I had a few chores 
to do during the morning, among which was 
the splitting of a few pieces of wood for starting 
the fires. Just before commencing this work, I 
lighted my cigar and puffed away as fast as I 
could. I had determined not to smoke very much, 
but thought I would do it as quickly as possible 
and have it over. 
" Soon I began to feel dizzy, and throwing 
aside the cigar, I took the axe and commenced 
my task. I thought I could work off the ill feel-
ing; but the harder I worked the more dizzy I 
got. Soon the wood-house seemed wrong side up, 
and the pieces of wood appeared to sway from 
side to side as though trying to evade my blows. 
My feet and the wood got badly mixed together, 
and my axe never would go where I aimed it. 
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my foot, and 
found that I had made a gash in it which nearly 
severed one of the toes. 1 managed to get into 
the house, and a surgeon was called to dress the 
wound. 
"That day was the most miserable one I ever 
spent. The pain in my foot, the dizzy feeling in 
my bead, and the disappointment in not being able 
to accompany my schoolmates on their excursion 
seemed enough to render my misery complete. 
"I did not tell any one of the part the cigar 
had played in causing the accident. None of the 
boys know anything about it, and Dick still urges 
me to try a second cigar. He says unless 1 learn 
to smoke that all the boys will laugh at me, and 
say that I tried to learn but wasn't man enough 
" I can now see how much easier it would have 
been if I had firmly refused at the first. But 
cannot undo the past. I can only so act in thc, 
future as to avoid getting into deeper trouble. I 
have decided to let them laugh all they please at 
my past experience in smoking, but shall furnish 
them with no more similar matter for sport. 
They may rest assured that my experience in 
using tobacco in any form is at an end."—Ii. L. 
Charles. 
Only Looked On. 
THE music and the patriotic speeches were over 
with the day; but the boys gathered at evening 
around a bright bonfire in the street, laughing 
and chattering, adding fresh fuel and stirring it 
to a brighter blaze. The cheerful light—and per-
haps the warmth also, for it was a cool night—
attracted one unlike the others of the group. A 
barefooted, ragged boy drew near and hovered on 
the outer edge of the company for a few minutes, 
but presently made his way nearer to the fire and 
stood beside it in evident enjoyment. 
Then the largest, roughest boy in the crowd 
suddenly discovered_ him. 
" Hello, Tatters! where did you come from ?" 
The boy tried to draw back, but he was too late. 
"Bare feet and such a cap as that! Well, you're 
too fine entirely. Don't you know that kind of 
a cap is better roasted ?" and a quick blow sent 
the faded head-covering into the fire. 
Its owner made a vain effort to recover it. 
" That was mean, Jim," said one of the boys, 
faintly. The others said nothing, and one or two 
lyighed. 
The forlorn stranger drew back, escaped from 
the group and sat down on a door-step at a little 
distance, drawing his ragged sleeves across his 
eyes to wipe away the tears of anger and grief. 
A pitying, indignant little face looked down upon 
him from an upper window, and a pair of childish 
eyes that had watched the scene grew tearful in 
sympathy, and then brightened with the hope of 
comforting. Lily hurried away and was back in 
a few minutes with an outgrown cap of her 
brother's, a package of sandwiches and cookies 
that she had coaxed in the kitchen, and a bright 
silver dollar of her own. She put the other arti-
cles,into the cap, fastened a string to it, and low-
ered it softly toward the boy on the steps, drop-
ping the end of the string as it reached him. 
" Why, Lily, what are you doing ?" asked a 
voice as she drew back. 
Lily shook her bright hair and looked up at 
her brother. 
" Doing what that speaker man said this morn-
ing. He said, ' Let some of your blessings fall 
into the lap of those who haven't so much;' and 
I did. It fell right straight into his lap, and I 
guess he didn't know whether it came from a win-
dow or from heaven, for he looked up real quick 
and queer and said, Thank you. Amen!' and 
then ran away." 
Guy laughed, and Lily's face was reproachful. 
" You were there by the bonfire all the time. 
0, Guy, I don't see how you could do it." 
" Why, I didn't knock his cap off, said Guy. 
" It was Jim Gregg; he's a rough fellow always. 
I didn't do anything or say anything; and the 
other fellows didn't either. 
" That was just the trouble," said his aunt, 
gravely. " I, too, watched the whole thing from 
the window, Guy; and if I were going to talk to 
American boys on a day like this, I should care 
far less about urging them to join this or that 
political party than about warning them against 
belonging to the great party in this world—those 
who only stand and look on. I believe they are 
responsible for the larger share of its evils. They 
do not help any good cause; they only look on 
and do nothing. They never hinder a wrong 
cause; they only watch it and say nothing. 0, 
Guy, did you ever think how our Lord's parable 
makes the final condemnation rest, not upon act-
ual transgression but upon omission I was a 
stranger, sick and in prison, and ye did it not to 
me.' They only looked on and did nothing."—
Morning Star. 
Religious Notes. 
—The Salvation Army has been expelled from the 
Prefect of Savoy, France. 
—Father Riordan, pastor of St. James' Parish (Cath-
olic), Chicago, has been appointed Coadjutor Bishop of 
California. 
The tenth missionary journey of Mr. Geo. Muller 
of Bristol, England, was commenced Sept. 26, when 
they started for Madras, in order to spend six months 
in gospel itineracy throughout India. 
Mr. Pointet has instituted a Bible-carriage move-
ment in France. In a suitable vehicle furnished with 
religious reading, he has traveled through ten depart-
ments of the republic, selling Bibles and tracts, and 
using his carriage for a pulpit when he finds opportu-
nity to preach. 
One of the Chickasaw Indians proposed to the Amer-
ican Bible Society to pay half the cost of supplying 
the school children of his tribe with New Testaments 
if the society would pay the other half. The Bible 
Society accepted the offer and forwarded him a box of 
500 Testaments, which he is now distributing. 
Sitting Bull, the famous Indian Chief, was to have 
been received into the Catholic Church at Fort Yates 
last week, but the ceremony had to be postponed be-
cause he could not decide which of his two wives to put 
away. The forms of the church forbid more than one 
wife to a communicant, and, although the great war-
rior received all the other tenets with " readiness of 
mind," this requirement has so far proved too much 
for him. 
—The 400th anniversary of the birth of Martin 
Luther will occur November 10, but the citizens of Wit-
tcnberg, Germany, began the celebration on the 13th 
inst. It is reported that 50,000 visitors were present, 
including the Crown Prince and about 2,000 clergymen. 
The exercises began with religious services and a grand 
procession. Relics of Luther's day and work were on 
exhibition, and portraits of Luther, Melancthon, Calvin, 
wingle and other reformers ado: ned the walls of the 
hall where the services were held. 
—The awakening of Japan to an imitation of Amer-
ican and English progress is not all in the interest of 
Christianity—not as much perhaps as it might be, if 
the " children of light" were as " wise in their genera-
tion" as the "children of this world." The infidels are 
said to be outdoing the Christians in the production of 
their standard works in the Japanese language. The 
works of leading infidel authors—Paine, Ingersoll, J. S. 
Mill, Draper, and Buckle—are all translated, and quite 
extensively circulated. And it must be remembered, 
that it is a much easier task to lodge error in the mind 
of a heathen, than it is to plant the truth in his heart. 
The average school-boy would not be apt to find 
much religion in an arithmetic; but the Spanish au-
thorities .lave discovered it. Some Germans sent to 
Spain a book entitled " An Easy Method of Reading 
and Arithmetic." A few thousand of these, not long 
ago, were stopped in the Custom House, and so high a 
duty demanded on them that the owners refused to 
reclaim them. But the authorities decided that they 
were religious books, and as such could not be offered 
in public sale without the authority of the State Coun-
cil, and this body decreed that they must be burned, 
because any book not written by Catholics must be 
against the State religion. Is it any wonder that Spain, 
once at the head, is now at the tail-end of nations in 
progress and influence ?—Christian at Work. 
News and Notes, 
OCTOBER 4, 1883. 
SIGN S OF TILE TIMEs. �
443 
 
 
 
—The Postmaster-General is urging the establish-
ment of a postal telegraph system. 
—France and China are yet unable to agree on terms 
regarding the occupation of Tonquin. 
—Fires on the mountains in the vicinity of Los An-
geles have done great damage to bee ranches. 
S. S. Montague, chief engineer of the Central Pacific 
Railroad, died suddenly near Shasta on Sept. 24. 
The superintendent of the work on the Panama 
Ship Canal indicates that it will be completed in 1888. 
—Forty-eight of the fifty-two counties of Georgia 
have been carried by the advoctaes of local prohibition. 
--Governor Butler of Massachusetts has been re-nom-
inated by both the Democratic and Greenback Conven- 
tions. 
—A negro woman was hanged on Sept. 24, at Rich-
mond, Va., for complicity in the murder of her hus-
band. 
—The proposed commercial treaty between the United 
States and Mexico is creating considerable jealousy in 
England, both in business and Government circles. 
—Near San Buenaventura, on the 24th ult., Peter 
Kohar shot his wife, though not fatally, and then killed 
himself. He was a native of Alsace, aged 45 years. 
—A young lawyer in Brooklyn, N. Y.. died recently 
of nicotine poison from cigarette-smoking and tobacco-
chewing. He had been addicted to the habit only nine 
months. 
--Senator Sharon, one of the principal mine owners 
in Nevada, gives the opinion that the silver mines of 
that State are about exhausted, especially the great 
Comstock Lode. 
The widow of the late Dr. Glenn has offered her 
house for the use of the new choking school to be estab-
lished in this city by Miss Juliet Corson of New York. 
—A terrible hurricane is reported in the vicinity of 
the Bahama Islands last week, resulting in great dam-
age to shipping and, so far as heard from, the loss of 
fifty-three lives. 
—General Sherman will turn over the command of 
the army to General Sheridan November 1, although 
his actual retirement from active service will not take 
effect until February. 
—There is newspaper complaint that at least two of 
the United States Supreme Court Judges are figuring 
for the Presidency, and making rulings and decisions 
with an eye to influence. 
—Last week a hail-storm swept over the Ohio Val-
ley, from Carrollton to the vicinity of Lawrenceburg, 
covering the ground with hail to a depth of from two 
to four inches, and ruining all standing crops. 
At Los Angeles, early in the morning of Sept. 
25, a Southern Pacific railroad fireman named H. C. 
Amadon, was waylaid and killed while going from his 
train to his home. The murderer is as yet unknown. 
—A young Irishman named Feeney, supposed to be 
insane, fired two shots at Mr. Hoare, British Vice-Con-
sul at New York, on the 25th ult. No damage was 
done. Feeney was arrested, and has been sent to an in-
sane asylum. 
—The Dominion Government has disallowed the bill 
passed by the local Legislature of British Columbia 
permitting United States capitalists to construct a rail-
road through that province to connect the Canada 
Pacific with lines in this republic. 
—Great damage was done during the early part of 
last week, by fire raging in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 
Immense destruction of timber, fences, and pastures 
was the result, and only by the desperate efforts of 
organized parties was much other property saved. 
On the 12th ult., a dreadful explosion took place 
in the rocket factory of the Woolwich (England) ar-
senal. Fortunately only two lives were lost, but a 
great amount of property"was destroyed in the vicinity. 
Some projectiles were hurled a distance of five miles. 
The Alta says: "So long as millions of dollars are 
annually sent out of the country in payment for Med-
iterranean raisins, figs, prunes, nuts, oranges, lemons, 
and olives, the fruit-growers in California can feel free 
from anxiety lest they overdo the business in those lines." 
—Last week, near this city, E. Moon struck Henry 
Fink and injured him so that he died a few days after-
ward. Fink had bought some wood from a man who 
owed Moon one dollar, and refused to satisfy the latter's 
demand for payment of the other man's debt; hence 
the assault. 
—Another explosion of the California Powder Com-
pany's works at Pinole Station, took place Sept. 29. 
The entire works and buildings were destroyed. The 
foreman of laborers was killed, and another white man 
seriously injured. Of forty-two Chinese laborers, only 
two were found alive after the explosion. 
Justice Field, of the U. S. Supreme Court, has 
affirmed the decision of Judge Sawyer, that a China-
man who is a native of the English colony of Hong-
kong is not, under the treaty, entitled to enter the 
United States any more than a native of the Chinese 
Empire. This just reverses a late Boston decision. 
—A young lady named Ada Atkinson, aged 15, whose 
family resides near Oxford, Indiana, was left alone at 
the residence one day last week. When her sister re-
turned towards evening, Ada was found in the room 
dead, her throat cut, and her body covered with knife 
gashes. There was at last reports no clue to the mur-
derer. 
—There is lively times in the vicinity of Tucson, A. 
T. A sheriff's posse of twenty-five men surrounded 
four " cowboys" and succeeded in killing one of them. 
Two escaped unhurt; the fourth was wounded, but made 
his way to the hills and could not be found. Another 
dispatch says fears are entertained for the safety of 
two officers who went in search of stage robbers. 
—About $50,000 worth of fashionable dress goods 
was seized by the New York Custom House officers last 
week, that had been smuggled by four lady passengers 
from Europe. The officers affirm that dressmakers from 
the large cities have been systematically defrauding 
the revenue for some time, and a special effort is now 
on foot to break up the business of smuggling in this line. 
--The regular equinoctial storm, which is every year 
a terror to navigators on the grt at lakes, was unusually 
severe this year. On the night of the 24th ult., the 
wind attained a velocity of fifty-four miles an hour at 
Buffalo. Several vessels were wrecked, and much prop-
erty adjacent to the lake shore was destoyed. Also, on 
Lake,Ontario the gale was fearful. Three vessels were 
driven ashore, one of them was foundered and all hands 
(seven persons) lost. 
—In North San Juan a Chinese father is carrying on 
the process of cramping. his little daughter's feet, to 
make them conform to his notion of aristocracy, and 
complaint has been made to the District Attorney, who 
will speedily ascertain if there be any law in this coun-
try to prevent such cruelty. Speaking of the case, the 
Alta pertinently remarks: " According to the doctrines 
of the development philosophers, the feet of Chinese 
women, having been cramped out of shape for several 
hundred generations, ought to be naturally small and 
need no artificial treatment. Why is it not so? Here 
is a nut for evolutionists—' Christian' or otherwise—to 
crack at their leisure." 
—A drowned man named F. Wilkinson, picked up on 
the San Joaquin River; two men killed and several 
wounded by a boiler explosion at Albany, N. Y.; four 
men and a large number of cattle killed by a railroad 
collision near Shakopee, Minn.; two U. S. Marshals 
killed while attempting to arrest whisky peddlers in 
the Indian Territory; three negroes hanged at Chatham, 
Va, and one at Savannah, Georgia, for murder; a duel 
near Lancaster, Va., and probable death of one of the 
combatants; a negro woman burned alive in her son's 
house at Bloomington, Indiana; an attempted murder and 
suicide at New Orleans; the death of two Portuguese at 
Yreka, caused by the caving of a ditch; the suicide of 
Daniel Lewis at Linden, San Joaquin County; the 
shooting of a litigant by his opponent, in the Superior 
Court at Downieville; the finding of three men in a 
fishing dory off the New Brunswick coast, who had been 
out six days without food, and one of whom was suck-
ing his own blood to quench his thirst; and the robbing 
of a train, by three men, of $15,000, near Peru, Indi-
ana—form part of the news budget of one daily paper 
last Saturday. 
—Quite an extensive counterfeiting institution, just 
getting ready for operations in this city, was taken in by 
San Francisco police officers and detectives on the 25th 
ult. It consisted of a young man giving the name of 
S. F. Upson, about twenty-five years of age, a large 
iron stamping machine of 1,500 lbs. weight, two steel 
dies for five-dollar pieces, crucibles, punches, and con-
siderable working material. It was the bringing of the 
peculiar-looking machine across the bay that led to a 
surveillance of the party in charge and particlar notice 
as' to the destination of the article. The truck was 
followed until its load was deposited in the basement 
of a neat cottage in an aristocratic part of the city, 
where the future enterprise evidently was to have been 
conducted. The young man was " shadowed" to his 
room in San Francisco, where the remainder of the out-
fit was found. We have stringent laws against counter-
feiting, but they do not effectually put a stop to the 
crime, and the query arises, what shall be done about 
it ? We suggest a high license upon the business. This 
will at least shut off the " low dives." where they stoop 
to counterfeiting copper pennies, while the license tax 
from the " respectable" establishments, where golden 
eagles and hundred-dollar notes would be produced, 
would add immensely to the revenue cif the Govern-
ment. 
bituau. 
CROSS.—Died, September 8, 1883, Brother Isaac Cross, 
aged 76 years, 10 months, and 22 days, at the home of 
his daughter, Mrs. W. M. Shearer, Sacramento, Cal. 
Brother Cross was for many years a member of the 
Baptist Church, and embraced " present truth" at the 
tent-meeting which was held in Sacramento six years 
ago. He has fallen asleep with a full confidence in the 
gospel hope of a resurrection from the dead. , Funeral 
services were held in the Calvary Baptist Church by 
J. Q. A. Henry, who spoke highly of the Christian life 
of the deceased, using as a basis for his remarks, 2 Kings 
4 ; 26. " It is well with me." �
W. M. HEALEY. 
LIVELY.—Fell asleep, in Oakland, Cal., September 
24, 1883, Mary, daughter of R. P. Lively, aged 1 year 
and 21 days. Death has grievously afflicted this family 
of late, robbing it of three of its inmates within about 
14 months. First, little six-year-old Edith was taken. 
About six months later, the mother, Sr. Annie Lively, 
fell asleep, leaving little Mary and brother in the care 
of their grandmother, Sr. Mary Carman. Now only 
little Frank and his father remain. The funeral was 
held from the house. Words of comfort and hope were 
spoken by the writer. �
J. D. RICE. 
International Tract and Missionary 
Society, 
THE International Tract and Missionary Society was organized Aug. 
13, 1874. It has furnished health and religious publications to co-oper-
ative missions and individuals in every State and Territory in the United 
States, and to every civilized nation on the globe. During 1883 it placed 
in free public libraries in this country over 6,000 volumes of standard 
religious books at a cost of over $6,000, two-thirds of which was donated 
by other funds and the publishers. It has also placed valuable books in 
many libraries in England, and supplied reading-rooms with health and 
religious periodicals. 
It has a free reading-room, No. 371, Third Avenue, New York City, 
where it will keep constantly on hand Health and Temperance publica-
tions to furnish co-operating missions and branch offices on the At-
lantic-Coast and in Europe. William J. Boynton, 200 East 27th Street, 
manager and city missionary. 
It has also a free reading-room 316 Fremont Street, Sari Francisco, 
Cal., from which place all ships are visited which enter that harbor. 
Andrew Brorsen and H. C. Palmer, city missionaries. 
Free reading-room at H Street, between Sixth and Severith, East Port-
land, Oregon. Boston, Mass., J. R. Israel, residence Rowly, Mass. New 
Bedford, Mass., Mrs. Anna H. Bradford, residence Acushnet, Mass. The 
ship work at Liverpool, England, is under the charge of Geo. R. Drew, 
40 Price Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire, Eng. Eld. A. A. John, 161 Wil-
lingham Street, Great Grimbsy, Eng. At the above-mentioned places 
the public are cordially invited. 
The society is sustained by the liberalities of friends of missions. Do-
nations by draft or otherwise will be thankfully received and gratefully 
acknowledged by any of the above-mentioned agents, or Miss M. L. 
Huntly, Secretary South Lancaster, Mass., U. S. A. 
S. N. HASKELL, President. 
INDIANA, Bunker Hill, Miami CO., 
ALABAMA, Choctaw Co. 
Missoula, Higginsville, Lafayette Co., 
KANSAS, Eldorado, Butler Co., 
Oct 1-10 
" 4-9 
" 11-16 
" 11-21 
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, 
Michigan. 
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract 
Society, South Lancaster, Mass. 
S. E. WHITEIS, Sec. Nebraska T. and 
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, RAVENS-
wood, Shirley Road, Southamp-
ton, England. 
MRS. C. L. BOYD, Salem, Oregon. 
M. Society, Fremont, Neb. 
444 �
THE SIGNS OF TII 
Fi] TIMES. �
VoL. 9, No. 37. 
neither can be recovered. But we request all those do-
ing business with this office to 
SEND NO MORE POSTAGE-STAMPS. 
We much prefer to buy our stamps as we need them. 
As we use many of large denominations in our book 
sales, we can best meet our wants by purchasing at the 
post-office. This will be no inconvenience to our pat-
rons, but will be a convenience to us, and enable us to 
do justice to the post-office of our own city. 
The above was prepared for last week's paper, but was 
laid over by mistake. 
Time of Camp-Meetings. 
Oakland Post-Office. 
IT is only because the SIGNS is not a local paper that 
we have omitted notice of the improved management 
of the Oakland Post-office. But with the changes 
which are about to take place in postal matters we now 
call attention to some things which all the residents in 
this city ought to understand. 
There have been hitherto forty mail boxes in the city; 
thirty have just been put up, which is a great accommo-
dation to the peoAe. Mr. Dargie has made the greatest 
efforts, since his appointment, to have our citizens well 
served. But certain difficulties stand in his way which 
only the citizens themselves can remove. The P. 0. 
Department rates the offices according to their sales of 
stamps, cards, and stamped envelopes. Many of the 
residents of Oakland do business in San Francisco, and 
purchase their stamps in that city. In this they are 
doing injustice to their home office by making it im-
possible to increase the service by carriers. The follow-
ing items from an address just circulated show the im-
portance of this matter :-- 
" Owing to its small and insignificant sales, Oakland, 
with a population double that of Sacramento, has a 
post-office which ranks lower than the Sacramento 
post-office. 
far as the revenue of its post-office is concerned, 
considering population, Oakland stands on the official 
record at Washington as the poorest city in the United 
Sta:es. Not a single one stands so low! 
“ This is because the citizens of Oakland, not under-
standing the facts above presented, purchase their 
postage-stamps abroad, and other offices thereby get 
the credit of the business, which has to pass through 
the Oakland post-office, though without an adequate 
force to properly and regularly perform the same." 
 
Heretofore it has been most convenient to send sums 
of less than one dollar in postage-stamps, and the SIGNS 
Office has received large quantities thus sent. Here-
after there will be no necessity for this, and now is the 
time to make a change. 
On the first of October the letter-rate will be changed. 
Single postage on a letter will thereafter be two cents 
instead of three cents. 
Postal notes are for sale at all post-offices. These are 
no safer, for large sums, than greenbacks; being made 
" payable to bearer," if lost they cannot be recovered. 
Therefore money orders are to be preferred. But for 
small sums they are convenient, and no more hazardous 
than stamps, as both are liable to be lost, and if lost 
Social Meetings—Queries. 
A Demand Already Supplied. 
A BAPTIST clergyman has expressed a desire for a 
" Baptist Bible, with immersion written on every page 
and watered' with the paper." On this the Chris-
tain at Work suggests that each denomination should 
have its own peculiar Bible, and then, all of the 75,000 
ministers of the country preach sermons synchronously 
on the text, " That they may be .one as we are." It 
seems to us that there would be no more inconsistency 
in preaching from different Bibles than in teaching so 
many varying doctrines from one Bible. 
As to a " Bible with immersion written on every page" 
(where that subject is alluded to), 'we believe the one 
in common use fills the bill; and we always supposed, 
judging from their teaching, that the Baptists held that 
opinion. We have never heard of any one, who had 
read the Bible in the absence of pedobaptist explana-
tions, having any difficulty in seeing immersion written 
on its pages. On the contrary we have known many 
people who had read it under their tutorship who could 
nct even then see baptism in any other light than the 
example of the Saviour—immersion. Aud we are of 
opinion that any set of teachers, acquainted with the 
original language, who would construe the Greek word 
baptizo, to mean "sprinkle," would not scruple to mis-
construe its English synonym in the same way. As 
the substitution of sprinkling for immersion was made 
by order of the Roman Catholic Church rather than by 
authority of the Scriptures, it makes no difference, in 
its bearing upon the change, whether the word repre-
senting the ordinance be Greek or English. The Bap-
tists have already a version of the New Testament (the 
Bible Union Version) which has " immersion written 
on every page," yet they themselves do not generally 
use it—having practically pronounced the verdict that 
it adds nothing to the common version in its teachings 
regarding the original and consequently the only mode of 
administering the ordinance of baptism. 
$2 5,00 0 Wanted. 
WE, the undersigned, hereby give the sums set to our 
names, to raise the sum of $25,000 to be placed under the 
control of trustees chosen at the annual session of the Cali-
fornia Conference. Said sum to be loaned to some of our 
Institutions at 5 per cent., the proceeds of which shall be 
used to assist those who are seeking an education at the 
Healdsburg College, to fill positions in the cause of God. 
Said individuals must be recommended by the Conference 
Committee and the College Faculty. 
William Butcher. 
�
$5,000 
Joseph Leininger 
�
5,000 
John Morrison 
�
1,000 
F. H. Adams �
500 
Mrs. Mary Scott �
500 
A Friend to the Cause �
800 
" Who'll be the next?' 
Quarterly Meeting. 
THE district quarterly meeting of District No. 2 will 
be held with the church at Lemoore on the second 
Sunday in October. The reports from all the churches 
will be expected in due time; and we would earnestly 
request as many of the officers and members of the 
different societies as can to be present. �
DIRECTOR. 
A MINE OF INFORMATION. 
HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AND FIRST 
DAY OF THE WEEK. 
BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS. 
THE Bible record of the Sabbath ; the secular history concerning it ; the 
successive steps by which the change to the first day was made, and the 
work of restoration, are given in detail. 
EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE concerning the Sabbath is commented 
at length ; and the COMPLETE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS in 
t egard to the Sabbath and first day is given. The comparative merits of 
the seventh and the first-day Sabbaths are fully shown. A copious index 
enables the reader to find any text, or the statement of any historian. 
Should be read by everybody. 524 pp. Price, $1.25. 
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
THE SEVENTH PART OF TIME. 
A SERMON OX TILE .SABBATH QUESTION. 
BY W. H. LITfLEJOIIN. 
Tins is a refutation of the theory that God sanctified simply a seventh 
part of time as the Sabbath, without fixing that time to any definite day. 
The necessity for a 
UNIFORM DAY OF REST, 
Is admitted by nearly all, and is advocated in this book. The author also. 
shows that the Creator understood and anticipated this necessity, and 
proves b five different processes of reasoning that the seventh or last 
day A the week, and no other, was in the beginning, and is now, the. 
Sabbath of the Lord. 
32 pp. Price 4 cents; $3.00 per hundred. 
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
UR COUNTRY'S FUTURE FORETOLD. 
THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY. 
BY ELD. U. SMITH. 
This is a full exposition of a portion of prophecy which applies to our 
own Government, showing the position the United States holds in proph-
ecy, and the part it has to act in the closing scenes of time. 
THE SUNDAY MOVEMENT, 
Which is now attracting such general attention, is thoroughly canvassed, 
and abundant testimony is given to prove that it is fast coming to be the 
ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION in this country. Facts and statistics are 
largely presented, showing in the most conclusive manner that this Gov-
ernment is. the one pointed out in the prophecy quoted. 
200 pp. Bound, 40 cents. Paper covers, 20 cents. 
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT 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 Corning of Christ, Harmony of the-
Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home 
Circle, 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, atkland, Cal 
—OR-- 
Pt *iglu of fly Chne5. 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. 
NOTICE. —We send no papers from this Office without pay in advance, 
unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without 
ordering them they are sent by other parties, and we can give no infor 
'nation in regard to them. Persons thus receiving them are not indebted 
to the Office. 
A HEAVY rain visited Oakland the afternoon and 
evening of September 29. All nature looks refreshed. 
Our camp-meeting was held about the right time. 
GENERAL CONFERENCE is appointed to convene Nov-
ember 8, at Battle Creek, Mich. The annual meetings 
of the several Associations in Battle Creek will be held 
in connection with it. 
CHURCH quarterly meetings, October 6, 7. The reg-
ular time for Tract and 'Missionary quarterly meetings 
is one week later, October 13, 14. All these should be 
well attended. There should be vigilance all along the 
line now. 
OF the Southern Indiana Camp-meeting, Eld. Lane 
says:— 
" We did not expect to see a large turnout, as our 
brethren are few and scattered in Southern Indiana, 
but we were happily disappointed to meet one hundred 
and fifty Sabbath-keepers- on the ground, fully fifty of 
whom have embraced the truth during the past sum-
mer." 
This is a good note of progress. Indiana is a good 
field, in which we take a deep interest, having many 
acquaintances in the churches there. We are glad that 
her laborers ate having so good success in the work of 
the truth. 
Is it advisable for the leader of a social or prayer-
meeting to read, a long chapter at the opening ? 
It is not advisable to read any chapter at all. A few 
verses for a lesson, presenting a single prominent idea 
of instruction or duty, is better than more. A few 
words concerning the thought in this lesson would be 
in place. 
How much time is it allowable for a leader to spend 
in looking up his chapter and the hymns, after the 
brethren and sisters have come together ? 
Not a moment after the time to commence the meet_ 
ing. The proper way is to have both the lesson and the 
opening hymn selected before coming to the meeting. 
Then commence on time; if all are not in, do not wait. 
Commencing promptly is the way to lead them to come 
promptly. 
How many hymns should be sung in a social meet-
ing? 
Generally but one, and that at opening. To take 
time to look up a hymn, and then sing a long hymn af-
ter the first season of prayer, or at any time during the 
meeting, is a most effectual way to kill the meeting. A 
single verse, struck up at once, is best. Church mem-
bers, and especially the leaders, should become familiar 
with good devotional hymns, and not be dependent on 
the book for a verse to sing at proper times in a social 
meeting. 
It should be the prayerful study of a leader how to 
make the meetings profitable. To be so they must be 
spirited, alive. Cold, dull, formal meetings are a dis-
couragement to the church. 
How long should a social meeting continue ? 
Generally an hour is plenty long. Better fall short 
of that time than go beyond it. In a small, company, if 
the meetings are properly carried on every one will have 
time to both speak and pray in one hour. If not prop-
erly led, if they are dull and tedious, an hour is too long. 
But under some circumstances it may be advisable to 
run beyond the hour; but not as a rule. 
These questions have been some time on our table. 
We beg pardon for the delay. The answers are the re-
sult of long experience and careful observation.