Evolution and the Sabbath
Christianity is not a form; it is not a system of ethics; it is not a school of theology; it is not a mere religion. Christianity is a life, sent down from God unto a needy and dying world. Do you know it as a life? If not you do not know the religion of Christ. In a Paris paper, in the same column, are two advertisements illustrating the extremes of modern-day civilization. The first is this: 'TOY, pure white, French silk poodles, the real small kind, three months old; parents' weight, four pounds; long, silky, fluffy hair, large black eyes; pedigreed and eligible for registration. Male $15.00; female $15.00.' The second: 'Baby girl, three months old, will be given away to any one who calls.' A dog is worth from $15.00 to $16.00; a child is considered worthless. Evolution and the Sabbath.
—A new tract just out, by George McCrady Price, bears the above title. It is a review of Biblical evidence for the Sabbath, considers briefly the assumptions on which modern evolution is based, and closes in a study of Creation and Redemption. It is an excellent little tract and should receive a wide circulation. Price, post-paid, single copies, two cents. In larger quantities, one cent each. Address, Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal.; or its branch offices, or any tract society. —We are grateful for all the good words which come to us from those who are getting help from the Bible-Band readings. Here is an extract from a lady of culture, education, and long Christian experience: 'No words can express the pleasure and profit I am deriving from the readings. I thought I knew all that Old Testament history well. But now new light, impressive, even startling light, is thrown upon chapter after chapter of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. What a thrilling object-lesson for all time was that deliverance from Egypt, that long, busy remarkable stay at Mt. Sinai, and then the methodical start toward the promised land! I do the reading chiefly at evening, because then I am quite sure to be alone, and can think, think, down into the wonderful history, the astonishing movement of the mighty host. Never before did the great spectacle take hold of me as now. I hesitated long before sending you my name. I am now most thankful that I did so.' A French military engineer, George Cascarine, from Japan, where he has been in the employ of the Japanese Government in directing the work of placing big modern guns on fortifications, just recently passed thru San Francisco. In the most casual manner he spoke of the military defenses of Japan, and the readiness of that government to defend its territory. He declares that 'nothing that electricity can do in the way of making the big, high-power guns effective has been neglected by the Japanese. They have, in fact, more modern ideas as to the application of electricity than most people possess, and are losing no chance to utilize the tremendous power in every way. The result is such perfection in mechanism and operation that no country can boast of a state of coast defense better than that of the Mikado.' He declares that immense sums of money are spent in the mounting of scores of the most costly guns. The arsenals are well stocked, and the country is put on what is considered a good war basis. Money formerly used for public improvements is turned to war preparations. He says that you will find Japan ready for war whenever it comes and from whatever direction. He had heard, however, no talk of war with America. —A New Brunswick correspondent feels that we are reflecting upon Great Britain because we speak of her in the same category as ancient Greece and Babylon, because they worshiped idols, while of the British
'a great majority of them worship the true God.' 'The British constitution is founded upon the principle that all power (both civil and religious) comes from God. Such was not the doctrine held by the heathen. . . . You appear to think Christians should not favor war. But the nations not Christian may fight as much as they please for all you care. This is very far from a proper Christian feeling. You seem to regard Roosevelt's sending his 'Armada' to the Pacific as a 'great peace measure.' When I learn of your government taking the name of God off your coinage I think your nation is going to the devil at railway speed. May God prevent such a consummation.' Replying to our frank correspondent we would say that we regret greatly that he has so misunderstood us, or that we have not made ourselves clear. Let us say again: 1. There are no Christian nations in the world in the Bible sense of what is Christian. Christianity does not consist in mere profession, but in life, in conduct, in character. Great Britain's constitution, or America's (the grandest in the world according to Gladstone), will not save them. At the same time we believe that God has used Britain, and that all things considered she has been the best and most just government the world has known. That does not say that she is Christian. It has not been Christian to force opium upon the Chinese, or to tax the East Indians oppressively. While it might be Christian to send out ships with tons of Bibles, it is not Christian to send on the same ships brandy and beer and idols for the heathen. The sad thing about both United States and Great Britain is that they are Christian only in name. 2. We do not believe in war, either by Britain, United States, Germany, or China. But nations will continue to go to war till Christ comes; for so declares God's word; and each has equal choice. We have, however, accepted the word of those who ought to know, that the sending of the American fleet to the Pacific was not a war measure nor designed to provoke war. But it is, doubtless, with the idea of better preparation for the future. No one would deny this, nor should there be so much excitement over it. 3. Let our correspondent rest easy if only the motto goes, 'In God We Trust.' It never was on all coins; it never was the action of the people; and if it had been it speaks falsehood instead of truth. Do not worry over these things. There are far worse things. Character and conduct, not profession, tell in God's sight. —Here is how one man gets around a scripture he can not understand, or easily bend to his theory. He writes: 'I forgot to mention in my last letter that the word 'husband' in Matt. 1:16 is a mistake, and should read 'father.'' But there is not an intimation of such an error in the original. And then this would make Joseph Mary's father, yet verse 18 reads, 'Mary had been betrothed to Joseph.' Verse 19 reads, 'Joseph her husband.' Verse 24: 'And Joseph . . . took unto him his wife.' Luke 2:4, 5: 'And Joseph . . . with Mary, who was betrothed to him.' That 'mistake' helps wonderfully to settle a false theory of the genealogy, but it makes a dozen others more difficult. The lesson is, if you can not see light on a scripture to-day, and there seems to be no reasonable, harmonious explanation, wait. It is better to wait than by one inexcusable blunder make a dozen others. —One brother writes that when he came to the matter of accepting Christ, his tobacco habit faced him. He says: 'I could leave this idol and the blood of Christ would cleanse and keep me from chewing, or I could keep the idol and Christ would leave me. I quit from that time, and now I have no desire for tobacco. O brother, there is power in the blood of Jesus, and I know it.' Yes, there is power in Jesus Christ to save from all sin if we desire it, and to save to the uttermost. Give up the evil habit, whatever it is, and invite the presence of Jesus Christ to come in and take its place. Do not hope for His presence and blessing while retaining a rival in the heart. The author of the article on page 12, entitled the 'Song of Moses and the Lamb,' is one of our old veteran workers and hymn-writers. He is known thru the South where he labors as the 'singing evangelist.' He is the author of a collection of hymns entitled, 'Songs for Service in Church and Home,' and has also written a number of songs that have been prepared in sheet music form. Among the songs may be mentioned 'Memorial of His Power,' 'Sing the Songs of Zion,' 'Mercy's Final Call,' and 'Joyful News.' These four songs may be had for twenty-five cents by addressing the author, and his song-book is thirty-five cents a copy, or $3.50 a dozen. His address is Charles P. Whitford, Orlando, Fla. A copy of the 'Florence Crittenton Magazine' has come to our table. It is published by the mission of that name at 21-23 Bleeker Street, New York. It is probably known to most of our readers that Mr. Crittenton started his work for fallen girls as his monument to the memory of a lovely daughter who died. He has been the leading worker in this great needy field, and homes similar to the parent one have been established in different cities. Mr. Crittenton has been instrumental in God's hands in saving many of the poor, lost souls. Yet he constantly urges that the time to save children is when they are young. The earnest little magazine is $1.00 a year. The first church in America is said to have been built in Salem, Mass., in 1634, and that Roger Williams was its first pastor. It was therefore dedicated to religious liberty, as this country ought to be. The building is still preserved in the rear of the Essex Institute. Are its principles, or rather the principles of its first pastor, still preserved?