News and Notes by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 59.

News and Notes.

By Editor

FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 17.

RELIGIOUS.

—Measures have been inaugurated by the clergy of San Francisco to organize a movement similar to that of the Lexow Committee of New York.

—A writer in the Canadian Magazine estimates the wealth of the Church of England at $800,000,000, yielding a yearly income of $37,000,000. Lord Beaconsfield said, "Nothing in this country [England] can resist churchmen when united." For a very potent reason, it would appear.

—Emperor Francis Joseph of Hungary has given his sanction to the ecclesiastical bills. These bills include measures legalizing civil marriages, allowing the conversion of Christians to Judaism, granting religious liberty to Hebrews, and renouncing the restrictions with regard to the children of mixed marriages. The Roman Catholics and Greek orthodox bishops bitterly opposed the adoption of the measures.

—The Literary Digest has published in several issues articles on the "theology" and "religion" of noted poets, presenting numerous excerpts from their works as indicative of such religion. It is truly illustrative of the spirit of the times that, above all else, these presentations teach to each man his own religion. The religion of Jesus Christ and the plain teachings of God's word are secondary. How much easier it is in this last age to accept the beliefs of men rather than the word of God, to look upon the serene and placid lives of some of earth's greatest as justifying a belief contrary to the teachings of the inspired page. But it was always so.

—The Occident, San Francisco, suggests an International Commission, to consist of representatives from England, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, with power to decide all questions between those nations. By this means it is hoped that other nations would join the great "Federation of Mankind," armies and navies would be disbanded, and "thus help to usher in the day for which the Prince of Peace was born into this world." Vain hope! For the Prince of Peace has left us word that just before his coming evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, and there shall be wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. The world is growing better in only one way,—better prepared for war. The Prince of Peace will not wait his coming on the announcement of a congress of peace.

—Commenting on the action of President Cleveland in sending a delegate with the Turkish commission to investigate the Armenian difficulties, an editorial in a leading daily says: "If the question at issue be one of an array of Christianity against Islam, we have no concern with it; not that the prevailing sentiment of this country is not favorable to Christianity, but because the Constitution of the United States in the strictest terms forbids sectarianism or religious distinctions; and if we disclaim theology and even religion at home, it would be illogical and absurd to uphold it abroad." The conclusion is to the point, but the present attitude of this government concerning religious affairs at home makes it neither illogical nor absurd for it to take whatever steps it pleases in foreign religio-political matters. Just now the United States is a Christian nation by decision of its Supreme Court. It legislates in religious things at home, and it is perfectly consistent for it to act as a "Christian nation" in "Christian" affairs elsewhere. The absurdity began at home. The Constitution is a thing of the past; the Christian(!) nation is the present.