IF MEN WOULD ONLY CONSIDER.
By T.
We are right upon the shores of the eternal world. Every prophecy that God has given shows it. There are prophecies that foretell the rise and fall of the nations. History records the accurate fulfilment of these divine predictions. These great outline prophecies have not only told in advance what nations would exist on this earth, but have also enumerated the leading characteristics or distinguishing features of these nations. And it should be distinctly noted that every one of these prophecies points to this very time in which we are living as the last generation of men that are to exist on this earth before the Lord comes. Then in addition to these great outline prophecies, there are numerous other prophecies that tell of the labor troubles, of the amassing of wealth, of the vices and crimes, of the intense spirit of war, and numerous other things that would make times most perilous when this last generation is reached. These prophecies, too, are all being fulfilled most graphically. With one strong, resounding voice they are heralding the warning, The end of all things is at hand; prepare to meet thy God. What a thrilling thought it is! The end of time is actually here. Eternity, with all its blissful realities, is about to be spread out before us. The resurrection day is really almost here. Soon will we see the Lord face to face. What great issues are pressing upon us! What sublime events are confronting us! And what a blessed thing it is to know that this is all an assured reality! It can not fail, for it stands upon the never-falling Word of God. O, if men would only consider these things as they should! If they would only make a careful and honest study of the Word of God, how clearly they might know for themselves that the coming of the Lord is "even at the doors"! T. THERE is a shifting of scenes and a clustering of events in the political fields of the Eastern Hemisphere at present that can not but have an ominous meaning to those who are watching the fulfilment of God's Word. There are several nations that have been impatiently waiting for England to become involved elsewhere that they might push their territorial ambitions to a successful issue without fear of a disastrous clash with her masterful fleet. To some of them now the time seems about ripe for a move in that direction. Let us see what these nations are doing. France and Russia have for two years been cultivating friendship with Emperor Menelik, and through them his army has been equipped with the latest pattern of rifles and quick-firing guns. The intrigue has succeeded, and this Abyssinian chieftain is now moving down on Southern Egypt, it is reported, with 40,000 men. This will harass England in another quarter, and while she is at work in North and South Africa, Russia, France, Italy, and Germany will profit in China, Persia, Afghanistan, and Siam. The mobilization of a portion of the Russian and French fleets is in direct line with this policy. There is unusual activity even among the remnant of Spain's fleet. China is preparing with an army of 20,000 men to repel an invasion of her territory by the French in the Tonquin district, and it is reported that France is planning to take Siam and thus settle the difficulty that has existed in that quarter so long between her possessions and the Siamese Kingdom. Russia is threatening China on the north, and Italy is planning to again seize San Mun Bay. Germany is already profiting at England's expense. She has long been wanting the Samoan Islands. In order to retain Germany's friendship at this critical point, England is bargaining to turn over her interests in Samoa to that power. What other plans the nations may have in mind, time will develop. At least two of the powers have their eyes on Palestine; but Turkey will allow no interference here. England, it is reported, is planning to set up a rival sultan, or head of Mohammedanism, in Mecca. We can not tell how these things will finally shape themselves; but there is certainly in them every element that is necessary to bring on that last great conflict of this world. WORDS! BUT WHAT DO THEY AMOUNT TO?
We have no end of words in these days which tell of the peace that is coming upon this world. But what do these words amount to when every indication points in the contrary direction. The war spirit has taken possession of this age, and appeals are made in vain to those who are supposed to be in the governmental positions that enable them to exert a powerful influence against it. "Reasons of State" stand in the way so that they can not interfere. And, indeed, it is a serious problem in these times for one country to undertake to interfere with another when it is about to go to war; for it is hard to tell what kind of trouble might be brought about by such a course. Speaking of the present war between the British and the Boers, the New York World says:— "Less than four months after a Peace Congress of the nations made solemn declarations against war, and high resolves for peace and reason and arbitration, two civilized peoples are facing each other for a death struggle, a war whose inevitable miseries and horrors will shock humanity and give the lie to the nineteenth century's proud boasts of its superior civilization. "Further, this will be the first war between civilized peoples during this century which no disinterested nation has attempted to prevent by making friendly representations. Why should this be so, when not four months ago the Peace Congress declared that the making of friendly representations is a right possessed by any disinterested nation, even during the course of hostilities, and can never be regarded as an unfriendly act?" The World is deploring the idea that some great power does not intervene to stop this war. It is suggested that we are in the nineteenth century; that we are in the days of Peace Congresses, etc. Then why should this war be permitted? Every one knows that Europe is one great armed camp. And it is hard for one nation to make a move without getting into trouble with some other nation. And under such conditions any government is very loath to offer any suggestions or interference to England in her present war. The spirit of these times is war and not peace, and every one should look at the facts. A terrible destruction is sure to come to him who is dreaming of a temporal peace, while the very demons are filling the world with a maddening and contagious war fever. THE CONDITIONS IN AUSTRIA.
A DESPATCH from the London Times gives quite a full account of the disintegrating influences that are dissolving the Austrian Empire. Race hatred is at a white heat, and different sections of the empire may be said to exist in a state of half-supressed civil war. The Austrian congress has ceased to possess any meaning except as an arena for bitter and angry discussions and fist fights. The truth is that the whole of Southeastern Europe is in a turmoil, which looks as tho it was on the verge of a series of revolutions. Wherever we look there we find unrest, and a seeming eagerness for revolt and violence. When the restraints are broken, who can predict the awful conditions that will result. There are but few of the people of this time who are studying present-day conditions with sufficient seriousness. They think that all these dangers will soon pass by, and the world will be better than ever. But such can not possibly be the case. The world is being flooded with every form of evil and vice, and where is there any foundation for the hope that it is at all possible for a better condition of things to ever be realized in this earth? And should revolutions arise, it will only leave things in a worse condition than they were before. The only thing that can settle all of these difficulties is the second coming of Christ. And the evils of these days are making it absolutely necessary for Him to come in person to destroy sin and every sinner who chooses to cling to his wrong-doing. The solution of every social and political problem is the second coming of Christ; and the great event is "even at the doors." T. FOREBODING COMPLICATIONS.
THERE is much for thoughtful people to consider in connection with the present war between England and the Boers. London is very uneasy because of the fears that she entertains that Russia will seize the whole of China and take under her protection all of Afghanistan, and France will appropriate Siam while the South African war is in progress. The United States now claims to be one of the "world powers," and of course will not stand idly by and allow Russia and France to absorb so much territory. And Germany will desire to have something to say; and so it will be with Japan and all the rest of the nations, large or small. That the United States proposes to keep a close watch of events and developments is shown by the statement of the Secretary of the Navy that a squadron will soon be despatched to South African waters. Now the present struggle may not result in any of these complications. They are only matters that are talked of so far. But what we want to have every one see is the fearfully unsettled condition of this world. And the terrible rapidity with which things develop nowadays makes it possible for all the nations of the whole earth to be plunged into war in a very short time. "The battle of that great day of God Almighty" is just before us. Every one may know this who will read the Word of God and look at the conditions among the nations to-day. T. Not long since we chanced to fall into the company of two well-dressed and cultured-appearing men who had the general air of well-to-do merchants. A big race was on in the place, and betting was running quite high. One of these gentlemen remarked that there is no darker feature of these times than the way in which both men and women are giving themselves to gambling and the hilarity of sports. To very many the sober and necessary pursuits of life are most irksome. They want to be engaged all the time in some kind of sport or exciting pleasure. These are things worthy of serious thought. Have you ever considered what must result from such a course? A SPECIAL to the Chicago Times-Herald from Washington says: "The United States has demanded from the governments of Russia, Germany, and France, assurance that in their division of China into zones of political domination or spheres of influence, the trade rights of citizens of this country shall be fully respected." It is said that there was some little surprise in diplomatic circles when the demands of this government were presented through the embassies at Washington, but no sign of extreme displeasure was manifested. There are a great many complicated contentions among the nations, and those centering in China are by no means the least. The various things that are regarded to-day as questions to fight about are most numerous indeed, and it must be painfully apparent to all that the whole world is in the quarrel. It is interesting to note the efforts that some of the leading monopolists are making to prove that there are no such things, in reality, as trusts, and that "the formation of combines is simply the evolution of business methods." The formation of the commercial combines of this time is the evolution of the spirit of covetousness that the Bible plainly tells us will make these last days "perilous." The Word of God tells us what the disease is. It is just covetousness. It is that, and nothing else. Men may call it "business methods," but God says "covetousness." And we are right upon the time when every man will stand before the bar of God to answer to Him. And in that time nothing but the Lord's correct definition of things will stand. God's Word is a light that will keep us from falling into the errors of these times if we will only let it.9 THE experiments of some American naval officers with Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy in the Atlantic near New York a few days since were wholly satisfactory. Messages were conveyed a distance of twenty-one miles from one battle-ship to another, and accurately read without difficulty. The messages were as perfectly transmitted as tho they had been sent over wires on land. THE will of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt has recently been made public. Following the custom of his ancestors, he bequeathed the greater part of his vast fortune to one son. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt is made the new head of the Vanderbilt, and the possessor of the vast millions, while Cornelius, the elder brother, is said to be "practically disinherited," having received "only a million" under the will. But his brother, Alfred Gwynne, promptly gave him six million more than his father's will provided for. THE mills manufacturing steel rails notified the railroads that there would soon be a very substantial advance in prices. Nearly all the railroads in the country have sent in their orders for 1900, aggregating 1,200,000 tons of rails, or about $50,000,000 worth. As soon as these orders were received the prices for rails were advanced from four to seven dollars a ton, the price being governed somewhat by the size of the order. This action is regarded as a sure indication that the prices for iron and steel for 1900 will be much in advance of present figures. THE German emperor is still strongly urging the most rapid and extensive increase in the German navy. He says that he wants his navy to be second to none in the world, unless it would be the English navy. His present cabinet are not pushing the naval appropriations in the Reichstag strong enough to suit him, and so he is looking about for some other men who will be more in harmony with his will. The emperor thinks that the Spanish-American war, the seizing of Kiaochau, the looming up of the great Chinese question, and the sudden development of Japan as a big maritime power, make it so absolutely necessary for Germany to greatly expand her navy that it would be suicidal to do otherwise. All of these things come in to show us the feverish war spirit that is pervading the world. Do you know what it all portends? THE Northwestern Christian Advocate says that "many devout and thoughtful persons believe that the Christian world is on the eve of one of the greatest revivals in history." But what kind of a revival shall it be? Will it be a real turning to the Word of the Lord? Will it be the abandoning of the higher criticism, and other forms of infidelity? Will the pure Gospel be preached so that sinners will tremble and cry to the Lord for mercy and pardon? Or will there be a revival only in name? Will sin be glossed over so that the hypocrite and the evil man will feel at home in the church? Those who are truly "devout and thoughtful" should be very careful to consider these things; for there is much that passes for revival in these times that is not worthy of the name. Revivals that are revivals indeed, turn men away from sin; they work genuine and lasting reforms. They do not merely get a lot of men and women to rise to their feet at the revival service, or make long additions of names to the church books without the accompanying change of heart. A MESSAGE from Cape Town says, "General Joubet, the Boer commander, has sent a despatch of sympathy to Lady Symons, widow of General Symons." General Symons was an English officer who received a mortal wound in battle with the Boers but recently, his death occurring within a day or two after his wounding. Such expressions of sympathy may seem "humane," and may deceive some people into the belief that war is becoming more "civilized." The man who can apologize to you while he is piercing your vitals with a dagger may seem "humane," "civilized," and extremely "polite;" but his civilization and politeness are only a veneer that covers barbarity and cruelty. And all the so-called courtesies and regulations that pertain to "civilized warfare" are the merest coating on the outside of the grossest and most heartless cruelties. None but Satan could ever be the instigator of war. And we need to be careful that we are not made partakers of the spirit of Satan by being drawn into the war fever that pervades these times. Not Spain but Rome.—The Kansas City Star, referring to a recent remark of General Funston against the Catholic friars in the Philippines, says that "it is not understood, however, that the Tagals have revolted against the Catholic religion or the Catholic Church in general. The natives object to the rule of the Spanish Catholic priesthood, or some of the religious orders." And the Star's remedy is that "Archbishop Chappelle and all concerned will find that a necessary step toward the pacification and prosperity of the Philippines will be the absolute emancipation of the Catholics of that country from all Spanish rule, from any ecclesiastical connection with Spain, and the administration of the affairs of the church according to the rules and laws that prevail in the Catholic Church in the United States, and with the same understanding of the relations that exist between the church and the State, or religion and the State." But, however the natives or the Star may be deceived, the Roman Catholic Church is the same in Spain as in America, in America as in Spain. In Spain, and till lately in the Philippines, her opportunities have been greater. That is all. What Spain is, the Roman Church, which has had full sway for centuries, has made her; and it has been said by one of her advocates that what she has done for other nations she will also do for America, and that will be to bind, blind, and ruin her. An "American" archbishop will be found first of all to be a Roman Catholic archbishop. "Not in Politics."—Roman Catholics tell us again and again that the church is not in politics, but all the same the editor of the Catholic Mirror, in its issue of October 14, tells the Roman Catholic people that "the proposition is a business one, pure and simple. You need a Catholic paper for your own information and that of your family; to supply you with news of church and society happenings in which you or yours are interested; to give you tidings which you as a Catholic desire to know of affairs and conditions of the church in foreign parts; to keep you posted with regard to matters of doctrine which may be the subject of general public discussion; and to be informed from a Catholic standpoint at times, from an ethical standpoint always, of what position it is right and just for you to assume on questions of vital public interest and otherwise, which from time to time demand your decision. You need a Catholic paper for these reasons." This tells the story. The Roman Church has not changed; she is yet in politics; and, sad to say, the Protestant churches are following suit. More Consistent.—The New Voice ironically calls "Splendid Police Activity" the action of Chicago's watchman in arresting a woman for preaching on the street on a Sunday, while allowing the saloons to run wide open, contrary to law. But in this the police are more consistent than the Prohibitionists. If a saloon is good six days of the week, why not seven? It does not make the whisky sold worse or better because sold on a certain day. If it is evil Sunday, as it assuredly is, it is just as evil the other six days. Let the Prohibitionists put their effort on full-grown, consistent measures. An effort to close a saloon Sunday is to many a justification of its existence the rest of the week. It is evil all the time. Epilepsy from Coffee.—The New York Medical Journal reports a case from Germany which is of interest to coffee-drinkers. It says that "a previously healthy married woman, aged forty-four years, with a good family history, acquired the habit in 1893 of eating daily from five to ten drams of roasted coffee beans, while continuing to drink coffee in the ordinary way. Tremors of the hands and spasms followed, and finally, in 1897, epileptic convulsions, occurring regularly every two weeks or oftener." On taking coffee from her, the convulsions ceased. Caffein, the active principle of coffee, is a poison. It is of no benefit at its best, and, tho almost never causing epilepsy, it is responsible for a host of lesser maladies. GENERAL CASTRO, the rebel leader who has just driven out the president of Venezuela and established himself as head of the government, was not allowed to enjoy peace for more than a few days; for General Hernandez had a quarrel with the new president and left the capital on October 29 to start a revolution to unseat Castro. The new rebel leader already has 2,000 men following him. The situation is very critical. THE British forces in Natal, South Africa, have met a serious reverse at the hands of the Boers, whose main army, under General Joubert, has invested the town of Ladysmith. A sortie was made on October 30 by two English regiments and one battery of artillery. This force was drawn into a trap and compelled to surrender. There is much gloom in England over the disaster, and much jubilation in several European countries. A CERTAIN Mrs. Lindsay, in Long Island, is striving to make a six-hundred-mile ride on a bicycle. She has now ridden five hundred and forty miles, and is nervous and half sick from the strain. She can not sleep nights, but she says she has no idea of quitting. After she succeeds in accomplishing her feat, what has she really done?—Ruined her health, quite likely, and no good accomplished for any one. Why will people be so foolish? CAPTAIN MOHUN, who is in charge of the Belgian Tanganyika-Kongo telegraph expedition, has just returned to the Kongo Free State. He relates that toward the close of July his party was attacked by about 1,500 cannibals. He had three companies of Belgian soldiers for his protection, and with their repeating rifles they killed 300 of the cannibals and wounded 600 more. Nine of the Belgian soldiers were killed and 47 wounded. THE various countries of South America seem to be doomed to continuous revolutions and strife. One rebellion follows another in quick succession. And while, by the majority of mankind, this condition is not regarded very seriously, yet it helps to show that there is no part of the world that is not in a condition of unrest and strife. CAPTAIN LEARY, the naval governor at Guam, suggests the advisability of strengthening the forts there. A message to the World from Washington says that Mr. Leary has ordered the friars to quit the island, and never to return. He has discovered that they exercise almost absolute control over the government. MR. DANIEL G. REID, president of the American Tin Plate Co., testified before the Industrial Commission in Washington a few days since that Judge Moore had organized the Tin Plate Co., "and had received for his services $10,000,000 worth of the common stock" of the company. The company is capitalized at $59,000,000. SINCE 1890 there have been 230 train robberies in this country, and in connection with these about 80 persons have been killed outright, and nearly as many more wounded. One of the most recent of these robberies is the one that was committed a short time since in a suburb of Chicago. Desperadoes are becoming more daring and violent. A PETITION from the Cuban farmers asks the United States Government to protect them against the importation of American corn. They say that they have no machinery with which to compete against the Americans, and that corn from this country is brought to Cuba and sold so cheap that it is impossible for them to compete with it. IN 1898 there were $64,463,000 of gold mined in the United States; $64,860,800 of gold mined in Australia; and $79,213,953 in the South African Republic. It will be seen from these figures that South Africa leads the world in the production of gold. THE despatches say that England has positive knowledge that companies of Hollanders are being secretly despatched to the Transvaal to help the Boers. It is said that wealthy Amsterdam merchants are supplying the money with which to send them. A TELEGRAM from Jiboutel, French Africa, says that Emperor Menelik, at the head of 40,000 men, is marching on the State of Tigre. It is believed that he contemplates an action beyond the Abyssinian frontier, possibly against the British. A SPECIAL despatch from Lorenzo Marques says a strong force of Portuguese has arrived on the Transvaal border from Mozambique territory, owing to the fears regarding the hostilities between the British and Boers. A DECISIVE battle has been fought between the government forces and the rebels in Colombia. One of the rebel leaders was killed, and the other taken prisoner. It is believed that this will end the trouble for the present.