Quality instead of Quantity
By Editor
This is our last issue of the year. Many friends have been with us all through months and weeks and days of 1905. They have found the Signs of the Times what it ought to be, a blessing. Some of our readers have been with us only for a little time. They are still unacquainted, to a great extent, with the paper, its aim, its purpose. We invite them to stay with us in the year to come. There are other good papers, many of them; but there is no other paper which deals with the great questions before the world as the Signs of the Times does—from the standpoint of the "sure Word of prophecy." We believe, as has been stated, that "the Bible is the most up-to-date book in the world to-day. It meets all the world's needs, in warning, in instruction, in comfort and consolation, in strength and support." This great federation movement of the churches of Christendom, the peace congresses, the spread of Socialism, the advance of the Papacy, and their meaning, are all foretold in the Word of God, and the Signs of the Times will lay all these before its readers. It will be a pure, strong, home paper, a help to mothers, a strength to Christian young men and women, a steady, advancing light by the highway of righteousness. It has but one interest to serve, that of the cause of Christ—the salvation of souls by the living truth of God in Christ Jesus. Such we hope by God's grace to make it. For this purpose we ask your prayers. For its wider circulation we ask your co-operation. And for the future, we wish all our readers the perennial blessing of God. Quality instead of Quantity
Quality instead of Quantity is what tells in the work of God. The world generally looks upon it otherwise. It works for the mighty army to fight its military battles, for millions of dollars to fight its financial battles. The same idea possesses the great worldly churches. In fact, it has always been the case that as the church departed from God, she set greater store by mere numbers. The more she increases her membership roll, the better. Consequently she compromised truth, made the way of the cross easy, tried to avoid the Hill of Difficulty and the Valley of Humiliation, fixed up an excursion railway with Apollyon for engineer, and as many of the world on board as could be induced to sacrifice their ideal of the eternal fitness of things. Numbers have increased marvelously; but what of piety and righteousness and integrity and purity of heart and life, and power to save souls from sin? Our modern engineers would question the advice of the Lord to Gideon. Thirty-two thousand would seem too small an army to our modern reformers to meet a force spread throughout the land and dominant in every phase of life. But the Lord says, "Gideon, they are too many. Say unto the fearful hearted, Go home." And the thirty-two thousand were cut down to ten thousand. "Once more test them, Gideon; find out the eager and earnest ones, and those who dally by the way." The test is made and only three hundred remain. By three hundred God saved Israel and destroyed the power of the enemy. It is not quantity which God wants first, but quality. Given quality, and quantity will follow. Place quantity, numbers, first, and inevitable backsliding, worldliness, and ruin is the result. "Courage" or "Stupidity"?
Discussing the revelations of corruption as manifest in the rascalities of the insurance companies, President Butler, of Columbia University, says: With all this shameful story spread before us, it takes some courage to follow Emerson's advice not to bark against the bad, but rather to chant the beauty of the good. To this that noted observer and critic, Ambrose Bierce, responds that one must have "more than courage;" he "must have a good equipment of stupidity." And in cutting language he refers to those who are uttering inane platitudes of peace in the face of strife, who are "hailing the dawn of a new era" which never comes. And Mr. Bierce is right. It is worse than folly, it is senseless stupidity to blind one's mind to the undermining destructive evils which confront us on every hand. It would be well if some of the old prophets could arise. But, like his compeers, he would be stoned for his message. It is now considered settled that there will be two new states organized by Congress this winter. The caucus of Republicans in the lower house have decided to report such a bill, which is said to be sure of passage. Oklahoma and Indian Territory are to be united, and Arizona and New Mexico will also come in as one state. The people of both the latter territories are opposed to the union, but national politicians want it so, and have the power to so order. The burning question in Indian Territory is, Can the Indians maintain the prohibition protection which is now enforced for them by the national government? If not, the fate of the Indians is sealed. Intoxicating liquor is the most destructive foe of the red race, and if the white man be allowed free access with his soul- and body-destroying traffic, the Indians will soon succumb, and their property will become a prey to their white fellow citizens. It is easy to see who is behind the union motive in this case. Most people take the blessings of life and the conveniences of invention as merely a matter of course. Others ponder the benefits and express appreciation and thankfulness. A judge of the Supreme Court of Mexico recently told a correspondent of the California Christian Advocate that he felt very grateful to the Americans for three inventions in particular—the sewing machine, the typewriter, and the bicycle. He also stated that a number of years ago his grandmother secured a sewing machine, and ever after, when she said her prayers at night, she would add, "And Lord, bless the Americans for inventing the sewing machine." Would that Christians would be as thankful for greater gifts. McClure's Magazine for December has a tremendously strong article by Ray Stannard Baker on "Railroad Rebates." The scope of the discussion is indicated in the subhead, "What Rebates Are, How They Are Paid, and How They Affect Industry." He calls attention to the fact that while for the running of the entire Federal Government, including army, navy, post-office deficiency, Panama Canal, and all, costs each inhabitant an average of $7.00 annually, the railroad tax in freight averages over $26.00 a year for every man, woman, and child, nearly four times as much. He also shows that notwithstanding the Elkins law, the criminal work is going on all the time, more, even, than before the law was enacted. It is a tremendous arraignment. An educational program for Christmas week from the state university at Berkeley comes to us too late for prior mention. We should have been glad to have noticed the State Farmer's Institute and the discussion of the question, "Why the friends of agricultural progress believe that agriculture should be taught in the public schools." Professor Hilgard led in the discussion, and Governor Pardee also addressed both teachers and farmers on the same subject. Back to the land in a more intelligent way ought to interest many more. A Fiendish Act is reported from Warsaw, Russian Poland. Some workmen in a chicory factory were holding a meeting, when the soldiers appeared and ordered them to disperse. The workmen refused to do so, and the soldiers did not urge the demand, but remained near the building. The meeting was held in the factory, where the workmen also slept. In the middle of the night, when the men were asleep, the soldiers set fire to the building. Hundreds of men jumped from windows, many of them being more or less injured, while about forty were burned to death in the factory. Two Russian Provinces, Livonia and Courland, have rebelled against the imperial rule and set up an independent government, declaring the independence of the Lithuanian people. Many of the imperial troops are said to have sympathized with the movement, and the former governor and other imperial officers of high rank were held as prisoners at the time of the report. Good words come to us from our school in Healdsburg.
Students are enthusiastic and making splendid progress, and the spiritual influence in the school is good. There is one thing lacking; not more; there is a double need: the college needs more students, and there are scores of boys and girls in this state who need the very instruction and discipline the college can give. "Street Trees in California."
The California Promotion Committee (25 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco) is sending out a little booklet with the above title which is full of helpful suggestion in the beautifying of streets; and it offers good counsel as to the kinds of trees to plant. The publication is one of their excellent little "Hand Book Series."