A Word About This Issue
By Editor
Not in coin, but in character is continuance. Coin may be lost or melt and perish, but character survives all the storms of earth and tunnels the dark grave beyond. This issue of our paper is not a representative number. It is only half size. Our regular issue has sixteen pages. It has the departments of Editorial, Question Corner, Outlook, Home, Missions, General, etc. Look for our next issue. We had hoped that this issue would be a sixteen-page regular number; but we find it impossible to get it out on time either in our own office or elsewhere. We are sure our friends will be lenient. Next week we shall issue the regular size, printed on our own press. In the midst of all our trouble we are of good courage. "Tribulation worketh stedfastness; and steadfastness, approvedness," not "experience" as our common version has it. There are all sorts and kinds and degrees of experience; that is of man. But it is God who approves; and He approves only that worthy of approval." Periodicals Asked For.—Please do not send periodicals till we write for them. Many are sending late papers, which they could use elsewhere, and which we do not need. We will make as complete files as possible of the numbers sent in, and ask for what we need. This is what we prefer to do. We thank all for their kind offers. Please state just what you have. In another column will be found a call for a special Stockholders' Meeting for September 10 to consider the matter of rebuilding, where, how, etc. There is a great desire that we should rebuild here. There is also hearty and urgent invitations to other places. For instance on town offers us a tide-water site, and a cash bonus of $10,000. It has two steam and two electric railways. Another town offers us free land for our buildings and for employees. Certainly, it would be business folly not to consider these advantageous offers. The Endless Prayer Chains.—From time to time the SIGNS has had more or less to say against the foolishness of endless prayer chains or the endless chain letter scheme of any sort. One of the last that we referred to was the sending out of a prayer stating that it was endorsed or written by Bishop Lawrence, the recipient of the letter containing the prayer being asked to write nine others, and assure each one to whom he wrote, as he had been assured by the one who wrote him, that dire and dreadful calamity might come to the one who refuses to comply. An Associated Press despatch from Pittsburg, dated August 3, tells us that the post-office authorities have now taken it up, and that the promoters of it will be charged with a misuse of the mails. Just how the postal authorities can prosecute those who are doing the work we do not understand. It would seem as tho every person in the world has a right to ask prayer for anything. Now the postal authorities will be likely to make the promoters pose as martyrs. In all probability the fad would die out or give way to another equally as bad. The best way is for people of good common sense to have nothing to do with it whatever. If one writes them postal cards of this kind they are in nowise obliged to return the card or comply with the request or pay any attention to it whatsoever. That is the best way to treat the thing.