p. 15 | A Foreword for 1906 by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 47.

A Foreword for 1906

By Editor

Days of Uncertainty and Perplexity

THE year just closing has been in every department of life one of the most fruitful in earth's long history.

One of the bloodiest wars of modern times changed the map of Asia, opened the Hermit Kingdom, crushed its autonomy, struck the autocracy of Russia from the governments of earth, and completely upset the calculations of all the nationalities of Europe.

Great movements are in progress in the political, social, and religious worlds, which will develop into no one knows what.

A scientist recently declared that all scientists except mathematicians are in a state of "mental chaos," and that scientific men are certain of nothing.

What is true of the scientific world is true of the religious world; men are at sea; the faith of thousands is tottering. In the language of a late statesman, "No one knows what a day may bring forth."

The Lessons of History

Said Patrick Henry, the old Revolutionary patriot, "The only lamp by which my feet are guided is the lamp of experience; I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past."

And the past has its lessons, its tremendous lessons for the thoughtful and observant, lessons which history teaches; lessons which even the thoughtless and careless ought to learn and so become thoughtful and careful; lessons which the bestial Belshazzar should have learned, for, according to the prophet, he knew all the facts which taught the lesson, but he heeded them not. Dan. 5:17-24.

It certainly behooves the statesmen and reformers of to-day to learn the lessons taught by history.

A Better Teacher

There is another Teacher; the Most High not only ruleth in the kingdoms of men, but He declares "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done." Isa. 46:10.

Far transcending the light of experience and history, He has given us the "more sure Word of prophecy," which is as "a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day-star arise" in the hearts of God's children as they expectantly wait for the coming morning.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES for 1906

will deal with the great lessons of history for these times.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES for 1906 will present the great lessons of prophecy for this time.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES for 1906 will present the great principles of divine truth which make for righteousness and usefulness here, and for an eternally righteous character hereafter.

It is not great men that we have to present to our readers; that is, not great in the estimation of men, but great principles and great truths, which are more than men, and which if accepted will make men truly great in the sight of God.

Let us tell you of some of the subjects with which the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will be filled in the year to come:

Witnesses in Stone

There will be a series of articles on the testimony which archeology presents to the truthfulness of God's Word, testimonies written in brick and stone and buried for centuries until now, confirming the truths which have come down to us from the old Hebrew prophets.

What Is True Liberty?

Articles on religious liberty; what has been taught in the lessons of the past, and what is needed to-day.

Time-Tables of God

Articles on two of the great prophetic books of the Bible, which outline the world's history, and present before us God's great time-tables of events in the world's onward rush to eternity. These articles will show the fulfilment of history, and will reveal the only true view-point from which history should be studied. The worth of these articles will not rest upon the reputation of the writer or writers; they will so show the fulfilment of the prophecies of God that the articles themselves will be the self-evident testimony of their truthfulness.

A Year of the Teachings of Jesus

Lessons from the life of Jesus covering the whole church year from His birth to His resurrection, illustrated by reproductions from the great masters.

Articles on the work of Jesus Christ our Lord, in sacrifice, in teaching, in mediation, in judgment, in eternal atonement.

The Meaning and Fulness of Christianity

There will be articles on the great system of Christianity, the law and the Gospel, their relation and interrelation, what sin is, how it can be obliterated in the hearts of humanity, and how it will be swept from the world.

Articles on practical Christianity and vital godliness, in the inner life, in the home, in the church.

The Coming Reign of Christ

Articles which show that this world is rushing on toward its grand and glorious climax of all the ages, to the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who shall take to Himself His great power, and reign.

Lessons on the current events of to-day and their bearing on Bible and prophecy.

True Temperance

Articles on the great temperance question and its vital importance to the world; what true temperance means.

Corruptions of the Christian Faith

Articles showing the corruptions of the Christian faith, what that faith is, how the corruptions came in until the Dark Ages was upon the world, and pure, simple Christianity had well-nigh been lost. These articles will be fortified by the testimony of history.

The Nature, Influence, and Progress of the Papacy

One of the mightiest powers in the earth to-day is that of the Papacy. There are those who have thought either that the power of papal domination had been destroyed by the Reformation, or that the Papacy itself had changed in nature since the Reformation. These articles will show that not only has the nature of the Papacy not changed, but that she is making progress, wonderful in its rapidity and scope, toward a world domination, and that in doing this she is fulfilling prophecy.

Voices from the Mission Fields

Do you want to know of the great mission fields by missionaries who are on the ground, and whose hearts are burdened for the field and for the souls in darkness there? There will be articles on China, on Japan, on Korea, on the great Dark Continent, north and south, on India,—all illustrated.

What the World Powers of Europe are Doing

Do you want to know what candid, Christian, keen, observers see in the world movements among the world-powers of Europe, rather than to depend upon the sensational news which the dailies give us? There will be monthly letters in the SIGNS from the great European news and political centers,—London, Paris, Rome.

Are You Among the "Elect"?

Have you ever been troubled over the doctrine of Election or Foreordination? The right understanding of that glorious truth magnifies God's love and makes the Bible shine with new hope and promised blessing.

Bible-readings

Do you want to know from its own words what the Bible actually teaches? There will be from twenty to thirty Bible-readings on its great important doctrines, and faith, and hope, and conduct.

Our Monthly Experience Meeting

We will not forget the isolated, devoted, earnest, Christians who are reading the SIGNS. There will be a monthly experience meeting for them.

Help for the Mothers

We will not forget the mothers who are moulding the men and women of the world, and whom God would have mould characters for eternity. There will be a monthly mothers' department, the design of which is to be practical help and encouragement to all mothers.

Home Instruction

There will be health talks, helpful hints on hygiene, fresh air, sunshine, proper food and clothing, instructive and helpful stories and incidents for the home circle.

Talks to Young Men and Women

There will be short talks to young men and young women, original poems, and many other articles on many subjects too numerous to mention.

There will be a full Question Corner of interest to our readers.

Many of these articles before named will be illustrated. There will be striking cartoons which will speak the truth.

Special Numbers

Besides all these there will be Special numbers on the following subjects:

A Special New York City number.

A Special number in the spring of the year on a subject which is threatening the very existence of present governments, and which is now a political power in every nation of the world—Socialism. In this number both sides of Socialism will be treated.

There will be a Resurrection Special, in which the meaning of the resurrection will be set forth.

A Fourth-of-July Special. What the day should mean.

A Thanksgiving Special.

A Christmas Special.

Our Contributors

A. G. Daniells; W. W. Prescott; W. A. Spicer; J. A. L. Derby; G. W. Rine; A. T. Jones; A. J. S. Bourdeau; H. A. St. John; F. M. Wilcox; L. A. Phippeny; C. P. Bollman; Frederick M. Rossiter, M. D.; W. S. Sadler, M. D.; David Paulson, M. D.; M. E. Olsen; C. T. Everson; John Vuilleumier; "Abdiel;" Mrs. E. G. White; Mrs. S. N. Haskell; Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle; missionaries, J. L. Shaw, J. N. Anderson, F. W. Field, W. H. Wakeham, W. S. Hyatt; and other contributors, equally able, whom we can not now name.

Look over all these again, dear reader; consider the scope of the paper.

Do you know of any other periodical in Christendom that will give you so much of the great and important things of this world, and the world to come?

Yet all of the above we hope to present to our readers in the year 1906 in such a way that at the close of the year all who have read the paper will say that we have done more than we promised to do. We want your help in giving the SIGNS OF THE TIMES the circulation which it demands for a paper that presents such mighty truths to the world.