THE NEW ISHAM SHELL

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 16, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 33.

THE NEW ISHAM SHELL.

A SUCCESSFUL trial of a new shell was made at the Sandy Hook proving grounds a few days since that was most remarkable. Much study has been put upon the problem of using the high explosives as a bursting charge in shells that are thrown from cannon by ordinary slow burning powder and in the ordinary way. But until the present, success has not been attained because the shock from the powder is so great that the shells would be exploded before leaving the gun.

Mr. Isham, however, has overcome this difficulty by the invention of a shell that has its chamber divided into several smaller chambers by diaphragms at right angles to the long axis. "These diaphragms so break the shock of firing that even such a dangerous high explosive as explosive gelatine can be safely used as a bursting charge."

In the recent trial at Sandy Hook, the shell fired was the regular 12-inch projectile, and weighed 1,038 pounds. It was charged with 113 pounds of explosive gelatine, and 450 pounds of brown powder was used in firing it from the gun. Just one such shell exploding in the hull of the most formidable battle-ship afloat would send her at once to the bottom of the sea with no one left to tell the story.

This country—neither any of the other countries of the world—is not in the least degree slackening its efforts to prepare for war. And since the "Peace Conference" went into session at The Hague on May 18 last, there have been some of the most remarkable developments in the work of waking up the mighty men for war. There is a most intensely unnatural war spirit prevading the whole world. But there are comparatively few who keep sufficiently clear from the excitement of it to calmly view it and recognize what it means.

Whether men will receive it or not, there is one strong, clear passage of Scripture that tells the whole story. It reads thus:—

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16: 13, 14.

The great day of God Almighty is right at hand. And one of the evidences by which we so positively know it is the marvelous war spirit that is taking possession of the whole world in direct fulfilment of the foregoing scripture.

Sects in Syria and Palestine.—In Syria and Palestine at the present time there are said to be 140,000 adherents to the Greek Russian Church; of Protestants about 2,000 to 6,000 (14,000 attend their schools); 1,800,000 Mussulmans, 300,000 Maronites, 100,000 Druses; probably about 75,000 Jews; 600,000 Catholics. When the American Protestants established a medical college at Beyrout, and gathered 100 students, the Jesuits founded another, French in its personnel, which soon had a hundred students, and reduced the American college by more than half. Catholicism is having a wonderful growth in the East as well as elsewhere.

Divorce.—In 1895 "infidel" and "fickle" France was shocked that statistics showed an average of one divorce a day. But it is said that a conservative statistician estimates the divorces in this country at 200 a day or about 63,000 divorces a year. The four States most guilty are California, Oklahoma, Illinois (Chicago), and South Dakota. This fearful sowing is bringing a harvest of half-orphan children. All over the world there is growing laxity in marriage relations. One paper says: "Sociologists have sought in vain for a reason for the startling increase in divorce, but they have been unable to find one, or even to formulate a satisfactory explanation. Education has been held responsible for the invasion; others have declared that it is a sign of universal degeneration. Neither explanation seems to be satisfactory." The true reason is that God's law is

ignored in both Church and State. When ministers will sneer at one precept of the law, the Fourth, they must not wonder that thousands despise the Seventh precept. Lawlessness is one of the signs of the last days. "And because iniquity [lawlessness] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matt. 24:12.