Current Mention by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1916

Current Mention

By L. L. C.

The Bible and the Newspaper

Progress of Prohibition

On the day following the election, the Anti-Saloon League claimed that five more States had been won for State-wide prohibition: Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Utah, and Nebraska. Adding these States to those already in the prohibition columns, there are now twenty-four States, or one half of the Union, which have State-wide prohibition. Every reader of the Bible may rejoice at this advance of the prohibition movement, for as the wise man says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Prov. 20:1.

Universal Military Training

The Washington Post, in an editorial on military service, says:—

“One of the probable effects of the European war will be to end for all time dependence upon voluntary service in times of national stress. The voluntary military system was on trial in the early days of the European conflict, and was found wanting.”

Without doubt this editorial opinion is well founded. It seems strange, however, to think of a minister of the gospel urging universal military training from the pulpit of a Christian church, yet Dr. W. T. Manning, rector of Trinity Church, New York, did this recently. The Baltimore Sun of October 31 records his words as follows:—

“I advocate universal military training because of its military effectiveness; because it is the only military system that is truly democratic; because it will weld our nation together, and help to make of our many races one united people; because of its moral and spiritual value; and because we need among our people a great renewal of the spirit of true religion.”

Perhaps from the standpoint of the statesmen of this world, with the tendency on the part of the strong and prepared nation to take advantage of the weak and unprepared, preparation for war is the only wise thing. The student of prophecy, however, recognizes in this a sign of the times, and thinks of the words of the Scripture:—

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 4:9-14.

Financial Prosperity

All have noticed the great increase in the amount of gold held by the banks of this country. A detailed estimate of the gains made in the last three years (two of them during the European war) is given in the Washington Post of November 1. We can quote only a general statement:—

“The increase in resources, it is declared, is greater than the total resources of all the country’s national banks a little more than a decade ago. In New England the three years’ increase has been 21 per cent, in the Eastern States 12, in the South 12, in the Middle States 12, and in the West 31.

“Deposits since the Reserve Act went into force have made an unprecedented jump also. Their total increase is put at $6,250,000,000, or 31 per cent, nearly as great as the resource increase. In New England it was 23 per cent, in the East 39, the South 18, the Middle States 26, the West 37, and the Pacific States 19.

“Banks and trust companies are lending $3,250,000,000 more than they were three years ago.”

Some days later the same paper editorially predicted a still greater prosperity ahead, especially for the farmers of the United States. After giving reasons for this expected prosperity the editorial concludes with the words, “The year 1917 should be the most prosperous in the history of the United States.”

Again our minds turn to the Scriptures, to that statement which points out the time when great quantities of money should be piled up. Those who have made this accumulation are told: “Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:3.

A Big Railroad Strike

Evidently industrial peace for our country is not yet assured. The public press indicates that the railroads will contest the constitutionality of the recently passed Adamson law giving an eight-hour-day schedule to the railroad employees. On the other hand, the employees again threaten to strike if the railroads fail to put the law into effect on January 1. W. G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, is quoted to have said:—

“Any railroad which attempts to cancel the present schedule of hours and pay, or refuses to put the eight-hour law into effect, will find itself with a strike on its hands.”

There seems to be no prospect of a final solution of the industrial problem which will bring permanent peace between capital and labor. The apostle James, foreseeing this, warns the Christian:—

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” James 5:8, 9.

Radio Communication with Japan

One of the most recent developments in that most remarkable invention which makes it possible for communication to take place without wires, is recorded in the Washington Post of November 16. President Wilson opened the direct transpacific service between the United States and Japan by sending the following message to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan, at Tokio:—

“The government and people of the United States of America send greetings to Your Imperial Majesty and to the people of Japan, and rejoice in this triumph of science which enables the voice of America from the Far West to cross the silent spaces of the world and speak to Japan in the Far East, hailing the dawn of a new day. May this wonderful event confirm the unbroken friendship of our two nations, and give assurance of a never-ending interchange of messages of good will. May the day soon come when the voice of peace carried by these silent messengers shall go into all the world and its words to the end of the world.”

While we cannot believe, in the light of the Scripture, that the peace which President Wilson wishes will ever come to this present world, we can but recognize in these many inventions for the dissemination of knowledge God’s means for accomplishing his last work in the earth, as well as the fulfilment of the angel’s words to the prophet Daniel:—

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

L. L. C.