The Signs of the Times by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 12, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 18.

The Signs of the Times.

By Editor

OAKLAND, CAL., SECOND-DAY, MAY 12, 1890.

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.

WE call attention to the article beginning on page 275, entitled "An Astronomer's View of Our Father's House." It is not the less interesting because it is long. It will be concluded in the second paper.

WILL our readers in the Northern Pacific Coast Conferences please notice the articles relative to their coming camp-meetings and yearly gatherings, on page 287. Some of these articles were doubtless designed for our last issue, but they came too late.

WE trust that the friends of the cause will not fail to read the report of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, found on another page, because it is long. It is important, and contemplates some changes and new enterprises in which all ought to be interested. We are sorry that we could not give even more of the meeting than we have given.

ACCORDING to the New York Voice of April 24, "the New England Methodist Episcopal Conference declares that the first duty of all good men is to 'pledge themselves not to support any candidate for any office in town, State, or nation who is not opposed to the legalized liquor traffic.'" (The italics are as given in the Voice.) Now we have no objection to any man pledging himself to any reform measure he pleases; and we freely admit that the liquor traffic is a great evil; but we do most decidedly protest against any religious body pointing out as the "first duty of all good men" a purely political act. It is strange that a Christian organization should take such action; but the church is becoming more and more political in her aims and tendencies. The Christian idea of the duty of all good men transcends the above idea as heaven is high above the earth.

IT is only adherence to a false theology or worship of humanity which leads men to expect a temporal millennium, or the conversion of the world. Looking at the matter independent of all theology, a common-sense view would show that there is no evidence in the past or present which would warrant us in looking for that predicted time of peace when the nations of earth will cease all strife and lay aside all differences, and war between nations and races and classes will be no more. And such is the opinion of not a few eminent men who are neither adherents of a false theology or worshipers of humanity. This is the conclusion of Prince Bismarck, the great European statesman, in looking upon the world from a social standpoint, as expressed in a recent interview with a New York Herald correspondent. In speaking of the conflict of classes, he said:—

"No; this conflict of classes will never cease. To solve it is like trying to solve the problem of squaring a circle. It is a Utopian dream of a thousand years of millennium, to be realized only when men become as angels."

"It is useless to think this question is capable of eternal settlement to exclude all future struggle. Socialism will give a good deal of trouble yet."

And all this is true, not because wise and far-seeing men who to some extent understand human nature, declare it, but because God, who understands human nature perfectly, has declared it. There will ever be strife so long as the unregenerate human heart exists. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13. The tyranny of labor is against the tyranny of capital, and the strife will cease only when selfish hearts are satisfied or exist no more. But selfish hearts will never be satisfied, and they will ever exist till the wicked are destroyed at the revelation of Christ. Before that time God would gladly change hearts by his grace and truth, which he offers freely to all. Beyond that time it will be too late. In the world it is truly "distress of nations, with perplexity," but to the Christian, all these things indicate nearing redemption. Luke 21:25-28.

THE recent meetings held in Oakland were a success. The Publishing Association speaks for itself in this paper, as will the Tract Society next week. Meetings were also held in the interests of the work in the Conference, the Healdsburg College, and Rural Health Retreat. These meetings were characterized by unity and earnestness, and the prospects for these institutions are favorable.

The preaching was practical, dwelling largely on the necessity of faith and God's willingness and power to help. Sabbath was a good day, Elder Underwood speaking in the forenoon and Sister White in the afternoon. The six o'clock morning prayer-meetings for the workers and the general social meetings at 5:30 P.M. were seasons of profit. The meetings closed with a lecture on "Humanity," by Elder W. M. Healey. This lecture was illustrated by stereopticon, or magic lantern, views, showing the consequences of sin on the human race, the evils of false religions, and the deplorable results of religious legislation. The speaker held the closest attention of those present. The lecture was interesting and instructive.

As to the dependence which can be put upon newspaper reports of sensational events, let the following illustrate. A moderate earthquake shock occurred in California a little after three o'clock on the morning of April 24. In some places it was quite severe, but in San Francisco and Oakland it was slight. The same day a correspondent telegraphed to the New York World that the followers of certain religious enthusiasts "rushed from their homes in their night robes shouting prayers and ran toward high ground. A number of women fainted. One old man, whose name nobody knows, mounted a fence post in his robe of white and preached fervently until the subsidence of the excitement and the cold morning air caused him to leave his perch." It is said that "a Swedish servant-girl broke her leg jumping from a second-story window," and much other nonsense, of which there is not the slightest foundation in truth. The reporter evidently thought that after the extravagances committed by these people, many would believe anything of them. We have no sympathy with any of this so-called "Church of God," but we have no more sympathy with such unblushingly false reports.

IT is well known that the Sunday question was one of importance at the recent Labor Conference at Berlin. Probably no delegates who met there were more opposed to each other than those of Italy and the representative of the pope, Bishop George Kopp. This shows the secret of their opposition to anything proposed by the Papacy. According to the Catholic News' Rome correspondent it was the Catholic Church which led in the Sunday agitation, supported by Protestant England and Germany and Catholic Austria. Italy and France opposed. The News says:—

"When the question of Sunday rest came up, the president of the commission, Bishop George Kopp, set forth concisely how necessary it was to establish a general legislation for Sunday rest, as required by the moral, economical, and hygienic principles of the church. The Italian delegates opposed the bishop, saying that in Italy (a thoroughly Catholic country) all religions are now equal; that there the Jews have the right to keep their Sabbath and not our days; consequently that a rest in a week of one day was a matter to be settled between proprietors and workmen, but that a Sunday rest was out of the question. This proposition found support only with some of the French delegates, but it was strongly opposed by the English, Austrian, and German delegates."

The support of papal dogmas by civil law always throws additional power into the hands of the Papacy.

IT is thus that the Christian Guide voices its sentiments on the Church and State question:—

"We emphatically advocate the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:— "'No State shall pass any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or use its property, money, or credit, or any power of taxation, or authorize either to be used, for the purpose of founding, maintaining, or aiding any church, religious denomination, or religious society, or any institution or undertaking under sectarian or ecclesiastical control.'"

This is good, but the amendment needs amending, brother. Prohibit also legislation in regard to religious and ecclesiastical institutions. There are many who are endeavoring to support such by civil law.

THE Christian Union of April 10 says that twenty-eight biographies of Tammany leaders, those who control New York City, have been published by the Evening Post of that city. This number includes "four professional gamblers, five former keepers of gambling-houses or 'dives,' four liquor dealers, five former liquor dealers, six members of the Tweed gang, four former 'toughs,' three former pugilists, one man indicted for bribery, one indicted for assault, one tried for murder and acquitted, and one convicted murderer." It is a terrible showing. And yet this same combination is able to control politics year after year so as to retain office. It has no other object.