Notes

148 IMPROVEMENT ERA. oin us in wishing that the choice blessings of our Heavenly Father may rest upon the Sabbath Schools of Zion, and that their workers may be refreshed with new strength and determination to magnify their responsible callings. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Unauthorized Administration — Symbolisms* 1. Does Mark 9: 38-39 in any way sanction unauthorized andministration? 2. What, if anything, do the three measures and the meal of Matt. 13: 33 symbolize? 3. Are the seven pillars of Proverbs 9: 1 symbolical? If so, what do they symbolize? 1. Jesus did not authorize the administration of the man referred to. He merely instructed John not to interfere with him because he was a friend. The miracles he performed were evidently the result of his faith, to which God responded. 2. The three measures of meal are symbolical of the world. The leavening of the whole is now in progress. 3. The seven pillars are evidently symbolical of seven conditions which in oriental proverbialism, constitute the perfection of wisdom. "Short Sessions" of Congress* When will the representatives which were chosen in November assemble in Congress? Congress meets again on December 3, this year. But the recently elected members of Congress, in all the States, will not meet until December, 1901, unless an extraordinary session should sooner be called, which is not likely. The old Congress, which was elected two years ago, will hold its second, or "short" session, beginning as stated, on December 3, and continue until just before the inauguration of the new administration, March, 1901.

EDITOR'S TABLE. 149 This Congress is fully organized, and can begin its work, right where it was left off; whereas, in a new Congress, all legislation must begin anew. The "short session" comes on alternate years. The Congress which meets in "short session" in a presidential year, is in good shape to do valuable work, because it is entirely free to utter its honest convictions, being untrammeled by "political considerations," or "expediency" arising from fear that what may be done may influence the elections. It is therefore possible that the Congress soon to assemble will be able to do an amount of useful work largely out of proportion to its length. Among its important considerations will be the army bill, fixing the limit of the standing army; the Isthmian canal bill; the ship subsidy bill; and the reappointment of congressional representation on the basis of the returns of the twelfth census. BOOK MENTION. The Women of the Bible, This is the title of a new book, by a well-known home writer, which is just out of press. Professor Willard Done, Salt Lake City, has presented in this volume valuable precepts and lessons gained from the lives of the women of the Holy Bible. In a series of interesting story and character sketches of the great women who have aided in making Bible history, he records their lives in such a way as to throw the strongest possible light on their characters; and he shows the "lessons which may be drawn from the excellencies and the defects, the successes and the failures of these women." The book is written in clear English, plain, attractive and to the point, and is an appropriate guide to some of the best models of purity, nobility, and high ideals of character, to be found among the women of Holy Writ; while, at the same time, the opposite side, with its defects, is not passed by unnoticed, but is made as prominent as it needs to be. The book is published by the author, and is sold by subscription. It is a fitting present for the holiday season.