"They Pray to Strike Him Dead"
By Editor
A VERY unusual scene was witnessed on Tower Hill a few days ago, where 20,000 London dockers that were out on a strike assembled for the purpose of unitedly repeating a prayer against Lord Devonport. The leader of the strikers, Ben Tillett, is said to have solemnly repeated the prayer, and those assembled followed him in unison. They prayed, "O God, strike Lord Devonport dead." Lord Devonport is chairman of the "Port of London authority," a branch of the government which has control of the docks, and everything else related to that port. He has insisted that the strikers surrender unconditionally, and the bulk of the men have refused to do this. Devonport made a fortune as a grocer, and subscribed large sums to the Liberal party funds, and in due season he was made a peer. He at one time held a minor post in the Cabinet, when Campbell-Bannerman was prime minister. He is said to be obstinately determined to crush the men, and they are just as determined that they will not be crushed. And the untold distress which the strike has brought upon the strikers and their families is causing much desperate feeling, as can readily be seen by the prayer offered. There is talk now that a general strike of transport workers will be declared as the result. The intensity of these strikes, and the spirit of violence that is becoming more and more apparent, make it clearer every day that we are in the time just preceding the second coming of Christ, so literally and so definitely foretold by prophecy. These conditions, which have been growing worse and worse during the last three or four decades, will continue to grow in intensity until there will be the most awful scenes of violence. The Lord will come in the midst of it, to save those who are ready to meet Him. We have set this matter forth over and over again in these columns. The sure word of prophecy is our guide in making these positive statements.