IN THE YEAR TO COME by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Sep 11, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 37.

IN THE YEAR TO COME

By Editor

WE are nearing the close of this series of twenty-six special numbers of the SIGNS which began last May. As a result of the splendid efforts of our friends, the subscription-list has been largely increased (more than doubled), and thus we have had the privilege of forming many new acquaintances. The query has already been raised by many, "What is to follow this special series?" To answer this question, and for the information of all, we wish to give a brief outline of what is to come.

Over two years ago the inspiration came to the publishers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to get out a Special Missions Number, showing what had been accomplished during the past century in carrying out the Gospel commission as recorded in Mark 16:15, and what still remains to be done.

The great earthquake came and later the fire which destroyed our factory, and the work was delayed. But now we have decided to carry out the original plan and issue this great

World's Missions Special

It will be a double number (32 pages), finely illustrated and beautifully printed, bearing the date of October 30 and November 6. It will present in a striking manner the great work of missions its accomplishments, its open doors, its needy fields, and its glorious culmination in the harvest home.

The writers for this issue will be men whose hearts are burdened for the salvation of souls, men with hearts fresh and warm from mission fields, and men in those mission fields bearing the burden, seeing the misery, hearing the cry for help, and witnessing the power of the Gospel.

For many months we have been gathering from all parts of the world illustrations and material for this special issue, and we feel safe in saying that this will be the best missions number that was ever published by any journal on earth. Here are a few of the

Good Things It Will Contain

A CENTURY OF MISSIONS, or the great work that has been accomplished during the past century by missionary effort. The Bible has been given to the world in all of its various languages; every nook and corner of the earth has been entered by the missionary, all of which has been predicted by the prophets as something that shall take place, "and then shall the end come."

THE OPEN DOORS BEFORE GOD'S PEOPLE, by Dr. A. T. Pierson, editor of the Missionary Review of the World, showing the great opportunities in these times for missionary effort, and how God is going before His workers to lead them in preparing for the world's great harvest.

THE PREPARATION FOR A QUICK WORK, showing how that since the ground has been prepared, as set forth in preceding articles, the closing work can be accomplished in a very short space of time.

PROGRESSIVE WORK OF GOD IN PREPARING FOR CHRIST'S COMING, the majestic workings of God in preparing the way step by step for the grand consummation.

THE POWER OF THE WORD TO SAVE SOULS FROM SIN.

THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD IN THIS GENERATION, or the inscription on the banner of this people, which has become the great war-cry of the present hour.

THERE SHALL BE DELAY NO LONGER, the closing of God's work.

CHRISTIANITY, A LIFE, in contradistinction to other great religions, and to the view of Christianity as a system of ethics.

A PERSONAL SAVIOUR, the salvation and regeneration of the individual, rather than the salvation of the nation by ethics or politics.

THE LATTER RAIN—THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT.

Brief statistical matter in regard to missions, making the paper valuable as a work of reference.

MESSAGES FROM THE NATIONS—Burma, Malacca, the Philippines, China, Japan, Africa,— from Egypt, to the Cape of Good Hope, —Syria, Turkey, Russia, Korea, South America, and Oceanica. Under this head will be published brief statements from missionaries in all parts of the world, together with appeals that they will make for their respective fields. We hope that, in harmony with God's own prophetic word, these appeals will reach and touch hearts so that they will bring abundantly of their means to assist in finishing this great work in this generation.

We have been very successful in securing engravings that are not only attractive but which tell the story most emphatically. We will mention only a few of them:

1. A full-page cover drawing, by Mr. Charles Mente, illustrating Christ sending forth His disciples two by two into the dark world.

2. Illustration, by Mr. Mente, representing Christ standing at the door knocking.

3. A drawing of the heads of various tribes representing the great, needy world.

4. Portraits of the great pioneer missionaries of Christendom, from John Eliot, the apostle among the Indians, to John Paton, of Oceanica.

5. Photographs of various people and scenes from different mission fields of the world.

6. Various other drawings, such as initial letters and typical and symbolical borders.

7. Song and music, "The Bugle Call of Missions."

Everybody Interested in Missions

Not only Christians of all denominations, but infidels and atheists, are anxious to know what progress is being made in the matter of carrying out the commission of the great Teacher recorded in Mark

16:15: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." This Special Missions Number of the SIGNS will undertake to tell the story in a brief, pointed, and interesting way, and every person of whatever persuasion should have the privilege of reading it.

Immediately following this great Missions Number there will be

TWENTY-FOUR SPECIAL NUMBERS

which will be of peculiar interest to all. One of the most prominent and important features of these numbers is a series of illustrated Bible-readings which will appear under the heading of

Home Bible Studies for Winter Evenings

1. These readings will be in the form of studies, with notes and quotations from history bearing upon the subject. They will be illustrated by diagrams, drawings, and unique little illustrations that will explain the lesson and make it simple and impressive. The topics will include: (a) The Scriptures. (b) Prophecy. (c) The Coming of the Just One. (d) Signs of the Times. (e) The Sanctuary. (f) The Law of God. (g) The Everlasting Gospel. (h) The Everlasting Covenant. (i) Man; His Nature and Destiny. (j) Spiritual Gifts. (k) The Great Threefold Message.

(l) The Sabbath in all its Phases. (m) Religious Liberty. (n) Man's Eternal Home. (o) The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, etc., etc.

Articles on the books of Daniel and the Revelation.
Articles on the book of Romans, the "therefores" and the "wherefores," and the reasons for them.
Articles on the miracles, teaching, and life of Jesus. Christ as the Great Physician.
A series on the Ten Commandments.
The Kingdom and Priesthood of Christ.
Conditions in the world. Able correspondents in the Old World and the New. Labor and Capital, Wealth and Poverty, Plenty and Famine, Peace and War.
Health and Hygiene.
Home Instruction.

The regular departments of the paper such as, "The Outlook," "Missions," etc., will be maintained the same as usual.

The Outlook Department

In this department special attention will be given to current events that have a bearing upon the fulfilment of prophecy. We shall continue to send representatives to all important gatherings, both political and religious, in order that our readers may be kept informed of the natural trend of events.

Home Department

We can only suggest some of the good things to appear in our Home Department in the year to come. We know that our readers will be greatly helped by them. For instance, here is a list of twenty-one articles on

"The Building of the Home"

by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle, whom our readers know so well.

Home, What It Means.
Honorable Young Manhood.
Beautiful Young Womanhood.
Acquaintance, Friendship, Proprieties.
Honorable and Proper Courtship.
Marriage and Its Meaning.
The Husband in the Home.
The Wife in the Home.
The Family Altar.
The Father.
The Mother.
The Son.
The Daughter.

Reading in the Home.
Order in the Home.
Simplicity in the Home.
Economy and Thrift in the Home.
Mutual Helpfulness.
Gatherings in the Home—Associations.
The Master in the Home.
The Outshining of the Home.

Besides this list of helpful articles we have the promise of another series which we may entitle

"Observations on Home-Life"

from the pen of one known to some of our SIGNS family, and to many outside our SIGNS family, Mrs. Emma H. Adams, author of several excellent books, a lady of many years' experience, of wide acquaintance, and with a young heart. In a series of short articles she will give our readers the benefit of some of her keen observations.

Besides these there will be talks to the young, talks on health and hygiene, interesting information, and occasional helpful stories and sketches. The Home Department alone will be worth the price of the paper for a year.

With Our Inquirers

This department of the SIGNS seems to be becoming more and more interesting and important as is evidenced by the large number of questions that come to the editor's desk, and our readers will be glad to know that this department will be kept up the same as heretofore, and all are invited to make use of its columns.

Bible-Readers' Band

We hope to enlist many thousands among our readers who will read the Bible thru in one or two years. Of this we shall have more to say later. It will be one of the profitable departments.

These are some of the good things which we expect to lay before our readers in the year to come. We believe that they will appeal to one and all as being well worth the subscription price, and we not only hope to retain every name now on our subscription-list, but to add many more. Renewals should be sent in early so as not to miss the great Missions Number.