The Chicago Calamity and Its Warning
By Editor
The whole civilized world was shocked last week by the awfulness of the calamity which overtook Chicago just as the old year was going out. The particulars of this dreadful visitation are given in our news columns. To us this terrible catastrophe, appalling in its suddenness and the wholesale loss of life, speaks most impressively of the nature of the times to which we have come. A playhouse was suddenly changed into a charnel house, and Death assumed the title role. There came at once to our minds the words of Jesus: “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” God is dealing with this generation. He is making his final call to a world in wickedness such as characterized Sodom and Gomorrah. In the unusual calamities which are following one another with alarming frequency, he is reminding the people of the earth of the day of judgment, and is calling upon them to escape from those things which are coming upon the unrepentant sinner. We ourselves have experienced the visitation of God's judgments because of a swerving from right principles, but in the great property loss there was a merciful sparing of life. In the Chicago calamity the destruction of property was altogether overshadowed by a death roll reaching to about six hundred. What thoughtful person can fail to note the difference? When we say that the judgments of God are in the earth, shall we remember that God has spoken to his church as well as to the world? Let the church hear and repent, and then carry the call to repentance to a world on the very verge of eternity. “How is it that ye do not discern this time?”