THE CLOSE OF THE VOLUME.
By Editor
THE year of 1889 will soon be numbered with the past. In many respects it has been an eventful year; not so much, perhaps, in what has actually eventuated, or occurred, as in the progress which has been made in great movements, and the spread of far-reaching principles, which are rapidly urging on the world to its final crisis. Famine, flood, and disease have wasted different portions of the Old World, notably China. War has threatened, as it has for years, the nations of Europe. Greater preparations have been made, armaments have been increased, and the preliminary growls of the conflict have been heard from the war dogs of the nations. But God in his mercy still holds the winds of strife. Revolution threatens every nation in Europe. The people have been ground down underneath ruinous taxation and lordly despots too long already, and when the hitherto suppressed forces of revolution are once broken from their fetters, it will be only a merciful Providence which will prevent scenes which will sink into insignificance the horrors of the French revolution. Great disasters have marked the year in our own land. The fearful blizzards in Minnesota and Dakota of last winter were succeeded by terrible droughts through sections of the prairie States last summer. But these things have not affected the general prosperity of the country. Great fires in the West and East have destroyed millions of dollars' worth of property and some lives. The busy valley of the Conemaugh, in Western Pennsylvania, in which was the city of Johnstown, was desolated by flood, and thousands upon thousands perished in the mad waters. Other parts of the country have been visited by similar disasters. In the religious world the tendency has been as ever toward the things of this life rather than toward things above. While many godly men and women in all Christian denominations, in all countries, have labored zealously, faithfully, self-denyingly, as far as they had light, for the Master's sake, the great mass have become more worldly. Worldly methods have been adopted, worldly influences bear sway, worldly principles control the life. Worse than all, the church has cast off Christ and his power, and is endeavoring to unite with the world. The movement for a "civil Sabbath" (as if such a thing could be) is becoming worldwide. The church acknowledges in the action she is taking that she has no longer the power of Christ to enforce these things on the hearts and consciences of man, so she leaves him to whom her vows have been plighted and unites with the world. The only thing thus far which has hindered has been the jealousy of sects, and the unwillingness of the world. But through compromise, these difficulties will soon be obviated. As an ally in this work, we have the Roman Catholic Church. She knows that every step in this direction places more power in her hand; that in wielding a political religion the daughters cannot hope to cope with the mother. While that church is weak and humiliated just at present as regards the Italian Government, it was never stronger in influence among the politicians of earth, and especially among representative governments. Rome controls votes and thus controls rulers, while they hate her. And Rome has expressed her willingness to unite with Sunday-law advocates for the legislation of Sunday. Why shouldn't she? Is it not her own? All these matters the SIGNS has endeavored faithfully to keep before its readers. They are the dark side of the picture. There is a brighter, better side. God's truth is shining from his holy word as never before. All the delusions of the last days are clearly revealed therein. None need to be deceived. Christ, our Advocate, our Helper, our Redeemer, still pleads for a gainsaying world. His light and truth have gone out to the nations of earth, and they will go till every nation has been warned of coming judgments, and pointed to the sure Refuge from all danger, the Living Rock, the Incarnate Word. The SIGNS will endeavor to present the truth of God as it is in Jesus throughout the year to come. Its mission is to preach the word, to enlighten those in darkness, to confirm those who are walking the narrow way. To do this acceptably to God, we must have his help. We ask the prayers of our readers that we may; that we may so teach God's truth that souls may be saved from error and sin. We also ask them to help us in circulating these precious truths to the world, in bringing them before others. We shall appreciate these favors, and with their help and prayers we shall by God's grace make the SIGNS of 1890 better than ever before. Permit us, dear readers, to appeal to you to make this new year just before you the best of your lives; not in your own strength, not by your own resolve, but in the strength of Him in whom all fullness dwells. If you do this, it will be indeed a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, and such we earnestly wish it may be.