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THE BAPTISTS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Jun 27, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 26.

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THE BAPTISTS.

By Editor

THE following resolutions, passed in connection with the May anniversaries of the Baptist denomination, are a good expression of principle and a sound basis for good missionary work:—
"Resolved, That while we rejoice in the decision of our government to withdraw support from denominational schools among the Indians, and to provide for all our wards an unsectarian education, we urge that there shall be no backward step in this matter, and that the principle of separation of Church and State shall be the rule of our policy permanently and universally.
"Resolved, That we recommend to all our people the careful consideration of our obligations to our neighboring republic of Mexico, and express the hope that Christian liberality may speedily provide the means for establishing in the City of Mexico a training-school for native Christian workers, who may do the work for their fellow-citizens, as well as for Cuba and Porto Rico, that the missionary from the United States can never do."
This one, however, while having a good purpose, and expressing the proper course for the government to pursue, contains one dangerous precedent, namely, "demanding of our government." This is not the prerogative of the church, and its persistence would eventually vitiate the principle of Church and State separation expressed in the first resolution here quoted:—
"Resolved, That we deplore the introduction into our new possessions, where we have military authority, of vastly increased quantities of intoxicating liquors, and that we demand of our government that it take every practicable means of preventing the indiscriminate and devastating sale of ardent spirits in the camps of our soldiers and among the new peoples who are to be taught civilization by our example."
What Does It Mean?—A picture of President McKinley, Cardinal Gibbons, and Admiral Dewey, is said to have appeared in most of the Catholic papers of America, headed, "The Highest Trio in the Nation." Underneath this picture is the following: "The accompanying illustration marks an unique event in American history. The three figures pictured represent the highest dignity in the Catholic Church, the highest official in the United States Government, and the supreme officer in the American Navy. The photo from which the halftone was made, was taken on the occasion of the presentation to Admiral Dewey of the sword voted to him by Congress. The picture was caught at the moment when Cardinal Gibbons was invoking the divine blessing. To the right of his eminence of Baltimore stands President McKinley, with reverently bowed head, while to the left is the hero of Manila Bay." This is worthy of note.
THE Chinese Government has rescinded its order prohibiting foreign troops to proceed to Pekin to guard the various foreign legations, and small detachments of Russian, German, English, French, Italian, Japanese, and American troops have been allowed to enter the Chinese city. It is believed to have been Russia's intention to have forwarded a large body of troops to Pekin, which she would have kept there indefinitely, thus furthering her object of gaining control of this portion of Chinese territory. The other powers interested seem to have discovered her design and thwarted it. Several thousand Russian troops are reported to be on the Russian war ships now anchored at Taku. Advices from Tien-Tsin, China, under date of June 4, state that an attack of the Boxers is expected at any time. Chinese officials announce their inability to suppress the trouble, and Russia has offered to the Chinese Government troops sufficient to restore order. The Chinese Government is considering the offer. United States Minister Conger reports that the trouble grows more serious. Many of the foreign missionaries are missing, and murders of native Christians continue.
THE healing of disease by destroying the germs of disease with electric currents is a matter that is receiving considerable attention from physicians at the present time. At several well-known hospitals, systematic experiments are being made on consumptive patients. Currents of electricity are passed through the lungs each day, with the result that the number of living bacilli in the affected parts is reduced. When these currents are passed through sponges wet in formaldehyde, the destruction of bacilli is more marked, the theory being that this gas, so deadly to disease germs, is driven by the electric current into the affected tissue. The sputum of the patient after such treatment was shown to contain many of the dead germs of tuberculosis, and the patients showed marked improvement under the continuance of the treatment. A German physician has also demonstrated the fact that certain electrical currents will destroy bacteria, and thus painlessly heal the disease which they had caused.
REPORTS from South Africa indicate that the English army has surrounded Pretoria, but that it has not yet been entered by them. Reports differ as to whether the city will be defended; but the Boers seem to have rallied, and are preparing to make a desperate stand against the army of Lord Roberts. Several detachments of the Boer army are threatening the line of English communications. President Kruger is reported to have fled with other officials of the Transvaal, and much bar gold has been shipped on German and Belgian steamers to avoid confiscation at the hands of the English. There is much unrest and apprehension in Cape Colony in view of the action recently taken by the people's Congress denouncing the course of England toward the two Dutch republics.
THE Littlefield Anti-trust Bill passed the House on June 2, with but one vote in opposition. This bill provides an amendment to the Sherman Anti-trust Bill, of 1890, with the purpose of making it more effective in the prosecution of trusts and combinations and their agents. By this bill every contract or combination, in the form of trusts or conspiracy in restraint of commerce among the States or with foreign nations, is declared illegal, and every party to such combination is declared guilty of crime, punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, and by imprisonment not less than six months nor more than two years. It also provides that any person injured by a violation of the provisions of the law may recover threefold damages.
A PARTY of Denver scientists have just returned from a tour of five weeks among the ancient ruins of New Mexico. The party found everywhere traces of an extensive population that once inhabited this now desolate waste. Great roads were traced over the hills, and the foundations of large buildings were unearthed. In these foundations were found immense blocks of stone as large as any quarried at the present time. The Rev. C. M. Cobern, one of the members of this expedition, states that the design of these structures was identical with that of those which he had unearthed in Palestine, dating from 1400 B.C.
THE rebel forces in the State of Colombia, South America, are reported to be within six miles of the city of Panama. The foreign consuls had left the city with their families and fled to Tobago for safety. The United States gunboat Machias is at Colon under orders to land marines in case the city is threatened by the rebels. It is reported that the latter have sunk a Colombian gunboat near Colon.
A COMPROMISE has been reached between the Audubon Societies of the United States and the Milliners' Protective Association. The Audubon Societies have been pressing for the passage of a bill in Congress, known as the Lacey Bill, which would prohibit the use of bird plumage of all kinds on ladies' hats in the future. By the compromise affected, the milliners will be permitted to use only the plumage of such birds as are not found in North America. They can not even import for use the plumage of birds found in foreign countries, if that species is found in North America also. This protects the birds from which the fashionable aigrettes have been so ruthlessly stripped. Having been given this assurance of refraining from dealing in North American bird plumage, the Audubon Society will not press for the passage of the bill.
SO DISGUSTING are the oriental dances given in the Turkish quarter of the Paris Exposition that the sultan's brother-in-law has protested to the sultan against allowing them to continue. The sultan's relative closes his protest thus: "Are you destined to humiliate and destroy the religion of Islam, or born to sully the honor and glory of the noble Turkish nation? In the name of our national dignity, I beseech you to have these scandalous scenes removed from this place, which should be reserved for the great marvels of civilization."
"MISS WARD writes from Brazil," says Omega, "that the whole country is perpetually in a state of semi-intoxication on coffee—men, women, and children alike, and to babies in arms it is fed from a spoon. It is brought to your bedside the instant you awake in the morning and just before you are expected to drop off in sleep at night, at meals, and between meals. The effect is plainly apparent in trembling hands, twitching eyelids, mummy-hued skin, and a chronic state of excitability worse than that produced by whisky."
AT the recent Episcopal Convention of the Diocese of Massachusetts, a new canon was adopted, by the provisions of which any minister of that church who has labored in Massachusetts for twenty-five years and is 65 years of age shall, at his own option, be retired with an allowance of $500 a year. This is a benevolent act, and one which will be appreciated by the aged local minister. It would seem more fair, however, if the canon applied also to the aged minister who had spent a portion of his time in labor in foreign lands.
RECENT reports from the Philippines indicate that Aguinaldo has been killed or seriously wounded. His party had been followed by a party of American soldiers for many days. As the Filipinos were leaving the town of Lagat, a company of Americans fired upon them. The officer in command was shot from his horse, and was carried away by his followers. The blood-stained but richly-caparisoned horse was captured, and in the saddle-bags were found private documents and proclamations of Aguinaldo.
DURING the last 100 years the Baptist Church in the United States has grown from a membership of 105,000 to more than 4,000,000. Dr. J. E. Darby, in speaking of this large increase in membership, attributes it to the active foreign mission spirit in the church. As proof of this, he cites the fact that the anti-mission Baptists have decreased in membership during the last 50 years from 68,000 to 40,000. The denomination now has 7 theological seminaries, 36 colleges and universities, and 126 other schools.
THE discussion, by the Berlin Synod, now in session, in regard to the immorality of that city, revealed a terrible condition of morals there. If evidence were lacking to show that we are living again in the days of Sodom, it was certainly furnished by the facts brought out during that discussion. The Synod decided to lay these facts before the imperial chancellor, the ministers of justice, and the police, urging them to institute methods of supervision and prevention.
SECRETARY ROOT, in response to an inquiry from the Senate, has given out the following information in regard to military operations in the Philippines. Since the beginning of the war, 48 officers and 608 enlisted men have been killed in battle or died of wounds, while 22 officers and 1,138 enlisted men have died of disease, and 7 officers and 77 men have committed suicide. In the same period, 128 officers and 1,836 men have suffered wounds which did not prove fatal.
FROM reports received in official circles at Washington, it is learned that Russia is manifesting more than usual activity in naval affairs. Her fleets are being rearranged with a view to making them more effective, and a large naval force is to be maintained on the Asiatic station in readiness for whatever may develop in Eastern politics. With the present temper of the nations it would require but a slight misunderstanding to precipitate war in the Orient.
THE manufacturers of absinthe, that dangerous and demoralizing drink so common in France, are planning to establish distilleries in New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco, in an attempt to popularize the beverage in America. This is the intoxicant which the French minister of war recently prohibited in the French army, on account of the debilitating effect which it has upon those who use it.
ALL attempts to effect a settlement between the striking street-car men and their employers in St. Louis have been futile, and small disturbances have occurred during the week, in which a few have lost their lives, and several have been more or less seriously injured. A force of 2,500 special deputies has been sworn in to preserve order during the continuance of the strike.
THE commission appointed by President McKinley to formulate laws and establish a government in the Philippine Islands arrived at Manila on June 3. General McArthur will continue to act as governor of the islands until such time as the commission shall recommend the appointment of a civil executive, when the military will become subordinate to the civil government.
THE Methodist Episcopal Conference in session at Chicago, on May 28, refused to adopt the majority report of its committee on resolutions censuring President McKinley for his course in reference to the canteen question in the army. The minority report, striking out all reference to the President or the Attorney-General, was adopted by a considerable majority.
ADVICES from Guatemala indicate an almost complete suspension of business in that country on account of the financial stringency. The country is reported to be flooded with paper money, and silver is rarely seen. The acting government, having lost the confidence of the people, is expected to collapse before many weeks, with a repetition of the disasters of 1898.
A JOINT resolution was introduced into the House of Representatives on May 31, directing the President to issue a proclamation, declaring the purposes of the United States toward Cuba and its inhabitants, and specifying a time when the government of the island would be left to the inhabitants. No action has yet been taken upon this resolution.
THE editor of the Sunday Call, published at Easton, Pa., was recently fined $4.00 and costs for publishing his paper on Sunday. The prosecution was begun by an ex State senator, who threatens to prefer a similar charge every time the paper is issued on Sunday. It is expected that the case will be carried up to the Supreme Court.
HUNTERS have discovered the remains of a huge animal in the marsh at Grassy Point, New Jersey. Over fifty feet of the backbone have been located, and several of the large bones have been removed. Three of these measure forty inches in circumference. The entire length of this prehistoric animal has not yet been ascertained.
A SYNDICATE of American capitalists are reported to have furnished Brazil with a loan of $30,000,000 to tide that government over its financial difficulties. In return for this loan valuable concessions have been granted the syndicate in the matter of coffee and rubber plantations and valuable timber land.
THE total cost to the English of the war in South Africa, up to the present time, is $214,260,000. This is for actual war expenses. The total cost of the war, including losses to property and business, is estimated at $3,000,000,000. Over 24,000 men have been killed, wounded, captured, or invalided
ON June 2 the Senate passed the bill providing for the extradition of persons who have committed certain crimes in Cuba from the United States to that island. The bill provides that such criminals shall be tried and punished under the laws of Cuba as administered by Cuban courts.
A GREAT military reception is being planned for General E. S. Otis, when he shall arrive at Rochester, N. Y. The estimated cost of the elaborate program mapped out for this occasion is $60,000, which will be met by the government.
AN extensive strike is in progress in the city of Chalon sur Saone, France, and the city has been surrounded by soldiers. A large number have been wounded and some killed in the battles between the soldiers and strikers.
THE Senate Committee on Interoceanic Canals have reported favorably a bill for the abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which is regarded as standing in the way of the construction of the Nicaragua Canal.
"MISS SUSIE SWIFT, graduate of Vassar, and formerly a brigadier in the Salvation Army, has just made her profession as a nun of the Dominican Order in Albany," says the Catholic Mirror. This is not surprising.
SEVEN Americans were killed and four wounded during a Filipino attack on the garrison of Lotian, island of Mindanao. The Filipinos are reported to have lost in this engagement fifty-seven killed.
GENERAL MACARTHUR reports from the Philippines that the number of Filipinos killed in battle up to the present time is 10,780. Almost an equal number have surrendered.
GENERAL HERNANDEZ, the leader of the Venezuelan revolution, has been captured by government troops, and the revolution in that State is believed to be at an end.