WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE EARTH?
By G. B. Thompson
Under the above heading the New York World of Oct. 30, 1902, in an editorial says:— Up to last Saturday there were forty-five distinct earthquake shocks at San Cristobal, Mexico. Changes were observed in the shape of the San Juan Mountain, and loud and prolonged subterranean noises have been heard frequently of late in that district, and showers of ashes fell last Sunday. A wide area in Southern Mexico is almost hourly shaken by earthquakes or volcanic explosions, and telegraphic communication with the disturbed areas is interrupted. Of itself the news of these earth-quakings and volcanic action in Mexico is not surprising. Taken in connection, however, with similar recent phenomena elsewhere at widely separated points on the globe they constitute a record of seismic disturbance which is impressive and puzzling even to those scientists who have made a study of the subject. To speak only of comparatively recent happenings since the terrible eruptions of Mounts Pelée and Soufrière last May startled the world, there is the great landslide, supposed to be due to an earthquake, in Transcaucasia August 17, and earthquakes about the same date along the coast of Alaska. About the middle of September there was another grand series of phenomena, volcanoes in the Philippines showing activity, and a wonderful electric storm on the coast of Colombia, when “the whole sea and sky were a mass of fire,” the phenomena continuing for fifteen days. About the same time the great crater of Kilauea, in the Hawaiian Islands, increased in activity; columns of smoke issued from Mount Copperas, near Bainbridge, O., and five craters were reported blowing in Guatemala. A week later and Stromboli, “the lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” was in violent eruption. Vesuvius showed signs of eruption and severe earthquake shocks were felt in Central America. September 22 the island of Guam had 180 earthquake shocks in a day, and October 9 Texas had several slight shocks. These are not a complete list of volcanic phenomena even for the past month or six weeks, but they are sufficient to show that mighty forces are at work under the earth’s surface, and that for some reason these are specially active at the present time. It is certainly true, as the writer says, that “mighty forces are at work under the earth’s surface.” And the student of God’s Word is informed why these forces are “specially active” at the present time. The earth has waxed old as doth a garment (Heb. 1:11), and is trembling with age as it hastens on to the close of human history, and the ushering in of a reign of righteousness. Our Saviour has forewarned us of “great earthquakes in divers places” (Luke 21:11). These should remind us of the instability of9all things earthly, and cause us to transfer our affections to that “kingdom which can not be moved.” Rome, N. Y. G. B. Thompson.