The Signs of the Times by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 10.

The Signs of the Times.

By Editor

OAKLAND, CAL., SECOND-DAY, MARCH 11, 1889.

We send no papers from this office without pay in advance unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read.

THE annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company will be held on Monday, April 22. A general State meeting will be held in connection with this meeting, and will begin Thursday, April 18. Further particulars will be given next week.

AMONG the good things in this number of the SIGNS, we call the attention of our readers to the article on "Inspiration," from the Occident. It is unusually healthful reading for these days, when "sound doctrine" in so many places is not loved nor endured.

IT is stated that fifty thousand foreign paupers and lunatics have entered the United States during the past six months through Canada. Perhaps such immigration as this may explain the fact that while from 1850 to 1880 our population only doubled, the defective classes, including blind, deaf, and dumb, idiotic and insane, increased 400 per cent. The increase of the blind was from about 9,000 in 1850 to about 50,000 in 1880; of deaf and dumb, from 10,000 to nearly 35,000; of idiots from 15,000 to over 75,000; of insane, from 15,000 to over 90,000. It is highly probable that the increase since 1880 has been even more rapid than prior to that date.

REFERRING to the wine interests of California in a recent address before a committee of the Legislature, Charles A. Wetmore, Viticultural Commissioner of this State, said:—

"The people must be educated to understand the wine question. Just now the wine men are feeling a little blue. A great industry has been built up here, but the people will have to be educated to drink wine."

And why must the people be so educated? Simply that the coffers of the wine growers and wine dealers may be filled with the price of that which "at the last biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."

THE following from the Christian at Work, we commend to the readers of the SIGNS, not as censure for the past, however, but as counsel for the future:—

"When you see a paragraph in your favorite paper that you don't like, before you punish yourself for your impulsiveness by stopping a paper which your family want, sleep on it one night. It is the best way. If you are still dissatisfied, write a line to the editor and you may find the trouble lies all in your misdirected imagination, and not in the newspaper at all."

We are at all times glad to hear from our readers, whether it be in the line of profitable questions, personal work, or items of interest. If you do not understand us, let us know.

A CORRESPONDENT wants some explanation of the words of Nathan to David. He writes:—

"Surely David's sin was the greatest sin man could commit, and yet the Lord put away his sin, and said that he should not die. Could he have meant the second death? since all men must die once. Please explain."

When Nathan went to David and spake to him the parable which the Lord had commanded him (2 Sam. 12:1-4), "David's anger was greatly kindled against the man" who had so terribly wronged his neighbor, "and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die." "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man."

Thus David had unwittingly pronounced sentence against himself. But when he confessed his sin, and expressed sorrow for it, Nathan said unto him, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die;" or the text might be paraphrased thus: "Since you have repented of your sin, the Lord has forgiven you, and your own sentence shall not be carried out against you." The words, "Thou shalt not die," meant only that he should not die for that sin, and evidently had no reference to total exemption from either the first or the second death.

EVIDENTLY the editor of the Christian at Work uses tobacco; else what does he mean in the following, clipped from that paper of February 21:—

"Next to the use of intoxicating liquors, the habit of using tobacco in any form stands at the front as the most damaging."—Independent.

"Oh, no! strike out 'tobacco' and insert 'opium,' and then go ahead."

It is a sad thing when editors of Christian newspapers become apologists for tobacco; for this is certainly a plea for the vile weed. If it were not, the editor would be willing to have it remain and place opium in connection with it; he would not ask to have it struck out. Both are bad; it is difficult to say which is worse. Happy is he who is under the bondage of neither.

THE Baptist Standard, of Chicago, says:—

"The voice of God on baptism is all we need to know on the subject. The simple word of Scripture ought often to be put before the eye without a word of comment, and Baptists can afford on this matter to let the Bible speak for itself. We saw, or rather heard, a Bible-reading of this sort (Dr. Bailey's) given in one of our suburban churches; the leader quietly issuing the references and diligently refraining from application or inference. The effect of the whole was overwhelming. There was indeed nothing left to be said save this: 'Is there anyone who, reading these passages over one by one, would think of anything else than of immersion as the original and approved mode?' To this query there was no answer, and the Bible-reading adjourned."

Would the Standard be willing to have the Sabbath question settled in the same manner? And if not, why not?

THE SIGNS only desires credit for what belongs to it; this, however, it does not always get. Nevertheless we find no fault with this. If our neighbor "Feels the want of powers And plume himself from ours, Why, then, we shall not be losers by the theft."

We are glad if the truth is thereby extended. What we wish to say is this: When the SIGNS has made some choice selection and given due credit therefor, we object to its being reprinted and credited to the SIGNS. It is not ours, and while it might do us honor if it were, we wish only such honor as rightfully belongs to us. We shall give credit for all articles or extracts of any length if we only know their source. Right wrongs no one. "Honor to whom honor is due." Selections are credited in italics; original articles, in SMALL CAPITALS.

A WRITER for the Carrier Dove (Spiritualist), refers to a report of a Spiritualist meeting in which, after the close of the remarks of the medium, the audience burst forth into singing, "All hail the power of Jesus' name," and says that it must have been because they did not realize the full meaning of what they sang. The writer then adds:—

"I say it with all seriousness, there is no name under heaven, the power of which we as a progressive people have greater reason to fear, than the name of Jesus, as used by religious people."

We believe this; but it is an additional evidence that Spiritualism is of the devil. We read that the devils believe and tremble. When Christ was on earth he did much in the line of casting out devils, and on one occasion, the devils cried out saying, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" And then they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the "deep," the abyss, thus showing their fear of him and their knowledge that his power was greater than theirs, and was against them. No; there is no name that Spiritualists who are bound to persevere in their ways, have more reason to fear than the name of Jesus. But still he is willing to receive even them if they will accept his offer of salvation; for unto all he says with gentle voice, "Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

SAYS the Examiner (Baptist) of January 24, in referring to baptism other than by an ordained minister:—

"But it seems equally clear that to say baptism can never be performed by any but an ordained minister, is to go beyond the authority of the Scriptures, to which Baptists profess obedience in preference to any human authority. If any Baptist rule or tradition or usage is contrary to Scripture, so much the worse for the rule."

And so we say, be the rule Baptist or anything else. But if the Scriptures are above any human authority to Baptists, why do they still hold to the man-made institution of the Sunday, or so-called Lord's day. Is not the evidence of the Scriptures sufficient for the Sabbath? Is there any evidence for Sunday to be found in the sacred record? Yes; it is so much worse for the denominational rule which is contrary to Scripture, and it is so much worse for he who will blindly and stubbornly to such rule. The Bible is just as safe concerning the Sabbath as any other question.

THE Catholic Mirror of February 23 has an article on "Bonfires of Bibles," in which it ridicules reports which have been circulated by Protestant newspapers about the burning of Bibles in Spain by Catholics. It speaks of those "ignorant enough to accept these statements," "of the gullibility of American Protestants," and tries to throw discredit on the Bible societies by sneeringly asking, "Where are the Protestants made in Catholic countries by the distribution of Bibles?" But it is a noticeable fact that in the whole article, of about a column's length, not one word of denial of the reports is uttered. If the Protestant press has lied, why cannot the Mirror say so. Its beating about the bush is no evidence of the truthfulness of the report that Catholics in Spain have burned Bibles.

But one glaring exaggeration, to use a mild term, occurs in the Mirror's attempt to hide the intolerant spirit of its church. It refers to the reports of Protestant missionaries in Catholic countries as "provender of highly seasoned stories about the delight of the poor wretches who escape the notice of the terrible priests long enough to peep into the Bible and discover the truth. This is the sort of stuff and rubbish that fills the columns of the average Protestant newspaper."

It is not so. We are sorry to say that the average Protestant newspaper is often found apologizing for the Church of Rome, lauding her progress, or pleading for her co-operation. All such things as the Mirror charges them with is the exception, not the rule. Would to God that professed Protestants were Protestants in truth, to protest against the Romish error, which is eating out, like a gangrene, the very vitals of Protestant nations.