Is It Long?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 14, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 49.

A highly-esteemed state paper prints an article from the president of the General Conference on “Prayer and Missions.” It was excellent. We read it in about two minutes. Turning to the last page we read in a little note that “the article from the president of the General Conference is a little long, but we hope will be carefully read by all.” We had not remembered to note its length, and we turned back, took out our watch, and read it slowly enough to be intelligible to ordinary hearers if read aloud. How long did it take, think you, reader? Just three minutes, that is all. Surely not a long article on so important a subject. We do not in any wise say this to criticize the paper in question, which we prize highly. This instance is but an index of a general demand arising in every quarter and from all classes for “short” things, especially in all serious matters. Short sermons, short prayers, short private devotions, short articles, short hours, easy, short studies, short days, but long seasons of pleasure. In many cases the cry is the expression of a need, as well as of a want. But the great danger is that the tendency will utterly unsettle and ruin all true character. God likens true character to a solid building founded upon the rock. But the many souls to-day demanding constant change, are indicative of juvenility, and may well be likened to bounding, swaying, hot-air balloons, settled on nothing, sheltering nothing, helpful to nobody, awaiting speedy collapse and, perhaps, ruin. Our reader, as you value your own soul, be willing to devote some time, some thought, some study, to the great, important questions of life here and hereafter.