MANY of the readers of the SIGNS have become more or less acquainted with the volcano of the Samoan Group. It is on the island of Savaii, which is the largest island of this archipelago. No one can form a just idea of it until he sees it with his own eyes. There have been a number of eruptions previously, but this seems to be the longest in duration. Fully two years have passed since this last eruption began, and it has lost none of its initial energy.
The crater is about twelve miles from the coast, and it pours forth a constant stream of molten lava, which flows down in this liquid state till it drops over the cliffs into the sea.
One strange feature of this volcano is that the lava is not thrown up into the air, but is more like a mighty artesian well. It has formed its own channel to the sea, filling up valleys and crossing rivers. A hard crust has formed over this channel up near the crater, while the heated mass flows on underneath. Further down it again emerges and runs on till it reaches the ocean.
It is a grand and awe-inspiring sight to see it pouring thru numerous channels down over the rocks into the sea. When it comes in contact with the water below, there are great explosions, and the water is lifted in the air to a great height. At night the track of the lava can be seen for a number of miles by the glowing light. It looks as if there had been a great conflagration and only the burning embers were left.
The light of this volcano can be seen thirty-five miles away. Surely "Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it."
All of these manifestations of what is in the bowels of this earth should convince us that God has prepared His great arsenal of fire to forever blot out sin from His dominion. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
The great question for you and for me to face is, Where will we stand in that day—under the shadow of the Almighty, or with no place for shelter? May the Lord help us to build wisely to-day for the future. The sure foundation is the word of God. It is the rock which is higher than I.